2008 Woodie Awards
Independent films hit the big screen
Sarah Kate Boltz
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Expressions
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The festival is a trademark of the Alabama Moving Image Association. Since it began in 1999, film junkies have eagerly awaited the new masterpieces that will be displayed to the local public each year.
In the past, the Sidewalk Motion Picture Festival has been named one of the "top 10 film festivals for the rest of us" by "TIME Magazine" and was considered the "best kept secret" by "Movie Maker Magazine."
"What's so great about a film festival is the fact that this is such a foot-in-the-door experience to art and culture," Chelsea Reynolds, sophomore musical theater major, said. "Movies are something that most everyone enjoys, so they go to a movie at the festival and then are introduced to other interesting things there."
The Sidewalk Film Festival draws in diverse and energetic crowds of filmmakers and film lovers from across the country.
"Last year we had close to 15,000 people attend," David Barry, Sidewalk's public relations representative, said.
"It brings people socially together as a community and even city-wide," Joseph Echols, junior business management major, said.
Even film celebrities such as Dash Mihok ("The Thin Red Line" and "Romeo and Juliet"), Vincent Kartheiser ("ER" and "Angel"), Adrian Grenier (HBO's "Entourage"), Daniel Wallace ("Big Fish"), Louise Fletcher ("One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest"), David Keith ("An Officer and A Gentleman"), Chris Mulkey ("Twin Peaks") and Julianne Moore ("Forces of Attraction") have participated in the Sidewalk Film Festival.
Friday is the opening night of the festival and will feature the film, "The Ten," at the Alabama Theatre. Directed by David Wain, "The Ten" features Adam Brody, Jessica Alba, Winona Ryder, Paul Rudd and Gretchen Mol.
"We're very excited about this film kicking off the weekend. It's very rare to come across an independent film starring such great actors," Barry said.
There are about 70 different screenings of films. The majority of these are 20-minute short films, but there are approximately 30 main films; 11 feature films and 19 documentary features scattered throughout the weekend at different locations downtown.