Photo courtesy of Joseph De Sciose.
Sidewalk has announced a selection of buzzy narratives and documentaries from this year’s festival circuit, including “A Ghost Story,” a paranormal drama starring Oscar winner Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara.
Courtesy artsBHAM
A classic Hollywood meet-cute might involve a boy meeting a girl for dinner and a movie. However, Dwight Garvin of Birmingham took that classic trope to the next level when he took now-wife Dana to the Sidewalk Film Festival for their first date back in 2008. Turns out, catching a film followed by a Q&A with the film’s director/star guaranteed a second date.
“He knew that I liked films,” Dana Garvin said, “but I had never been to an independent film festival before. I just thought that this is the coolest thing I’ve ever done on a first date. It was more of an experience than just a first date — falling in love with each other and falling in love with the festival. It became part of who we are and what we do.”
In fact, Dana Garvin loved Sidewalk so much that she jumped in and started volunteering, and now she serves on Sidewalk’s board of directors. This year’s festival is Aug. 22-27.
“The very first year that I volunteered I was the swag bag coordinator,” she said. “My friends teased me, ‘Where are you going to find swag? You don’t have any swag!’ Then I hosted the VIP venue.”
“I’ve always been passionate about film,” she said. “I studied communications and theatre in college, and I actually moved to California after college for a short time. But [that passion] took me in a different direction and I am really happy [to be involved] with Sidewalk.”
That passion has turned into an annual celebration of the Garvins’ love for each other as well as a fun event for the whole family.
“We have five kids, ages 12-21,” Dana Garvin said. “We started bring our youngest kids when they were 6 or 7, and they loved it. At first we just took them to see the shorts at the kids’ venue, where kids are able to watch films and give them a score so they feel a part of the awards. They all came home wanting to make films of their own.”
She continued, “I think it’s important to expose them early and show them there is so much more out there besides Vine and YouTube and besides mainstream films playing at the movie theaters.”
Over the years, the Garvins have developed some key strategies for making the most of the film festival. Their tip: plan ahead.
“We like to sit down with the whole family and preview all the films and choose what we want to see during the festival. There’s just no way to see everything you want to see,” Dana Garvin said, “but pre-planning and putting together a calendar of events for ourselves is really important. Dwight is really good at organizing, so he handles a good bit of that.”
To create a plan of your own, keep an eye on Sidewalk’s website later this month when the full schedule of films, parties and Q&A sessions will be posted. If it’s your first time to go or you are feeling overwhelmed by the options, Dana Garvin has some simple advice: just go.
“Go,” she said. “I think once you go, it gets into your blood. If you’ve never been, just go see one film and then spend the afternoon walking around, taking in the sights, hearing the bands and just hanging out. It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced.”
As much as Dana Garvin loves the anticipation of getting to see the films they’ve chosen each year, she says her favorite part of Sidewalk is the overall scene. “I love opening night. I love a packed house in the Alabama Theatre; it really makes me kind of teary to see all those people in one place, all passionate about something — films in general, a particular project, or supporting a friend involved in a film.”
She added, “Dwight and I are so passionate about embracing what we love about Birmingham and bringing downtown back to life. So many people from across the country have participated in [Sidewalk] for years and it’s now nationally renowned. We are so proud that this is just right down the street from us.”
While the full schedule of events had not been released as of Iron City Ink’s press time, Sidewalk has announced a selection of buzzy narratives and documentaries from this year’s festival circuit. These features include “A Ghost Story,” a paranormal drama starring Oscar winner Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara; “Whose Streets?,” a documentary about the Ferguson, Missouri riots; “Lucky,” a comedy-drama starring the legendary 91-year-old actor Harry Dean Stanton; and the surreal dark comedy “Lemon,” starring comedian Brett Gelman.
Find out more about the 19th annual festival at sidewalkfest.com.
Sidewalk Film Festival
WHERE: Birmingham’s Historic Theatre District
WHEN: Aug. 22-27
WEB: sidewalkfest.com
