After laying waste to an alien civilization on Venus, the three-headed, lightning-emitting space monster Ghidorah brings its insatiable thirst for destruction to Earth, where fierce foes Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra must join forces in order to deal with the unprecedented threat.

Aliens from Planet X make an irresistible offer to the people of Earth: let them borrow Godzilla and Rodan to help defeat King Ghidorah, and in return they will provide a cure for all known human disease. But the aliens’ duplicity is soon revealed, as they deploy all three monsters in their quest to conquer Earth.

Join us for the kickoff of Birmingham Design Month with a conversation featuring three women who have turned creativity and good taste into nationally recognized businesses: Margot Shaw, founder of FLOWER Magazine; T. Marie King, independent filmmaker; and Leigh Spencer, owner of Alabama Sawyer. We’ll talk about what it takes to build a creative business, how Birmingham shapes their work, and why investing in local design talent matters.

Doors open at 3:45 pm, panel at 4 pm, book signing to follow.

Come meet the women helping make Birmingham a more beautiful, interesting, and distinctly Birmingham place to live.

Join us at the Sidewalk Cinema for Monthly Movie Trivia from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm, immediately following Networking Nights. Hosted by Owen Roberts. Invite your friends and school your contemporaries over some movie trivia. We'll see you there!

*This is a FREE event and SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.*

Aliens intend to take over the planet and, just in case Godzilla tries to interfere, have built a mechanical version of him to put an end to his interference.

In Godzilla’s last gasp of the Showa era, aliens retrieve Mechagodzilla’s remains and rebuild it with the aid of an unhinged biologist, in hopes of defeating Godzilla for possession of planet Earth.

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 33 minutes

Directed by Rachel Feldman

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

Sponsored by Gregory, Fann & Turner

When Lilly Ledbetter discovered that she was being paid much less than male co-workers doing the same job at the Goodyear plant in Gadsden, Alabama, she sued, taking the case all the way to to the US Supreme Court. Patricia Clarkson portrays Lilly in this 2024 film, showing the personal risks and emotional costs of that fight.

Tara Hulen - Screening Committee

Joining us for a post-screening Q&A will be: Vickie Saxon, Jon Goldfarb, Lanier Isom. Moderated by Katie Rogers.

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

An eclectic mix of shorts from Alabama.

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

Within Me

Directed By Sherlyn Reyes Zamora

15:21 • United States • Alabama Premiere

ANIMATED, DOCUMENTARY, LIFE & LIBERTY, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM

"Within Me" explores the adversity and resilience of a Mexican immigrant family in Alabama as each member reflects on how far they've come.

Memory Work

Directed By Jada Brielle Ceaser

03:21 • United States

ALABAMA, BLACK LENS, DOCUMENTARY, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM

VHS collector Justin Cottingham doesn't just preserve media; he keeps memories alive through his one-of-a-kind hobby.

Mr Jesus

Directed By Emily Best

15:38 • United States

ALABAMA, GENRE,, WOMEN IN FILM

A down on his luck actor wakes up one morning to discover his image has been stolen to make a Gen AI Jesus, and now everyone thinks he's the second coming.

Terrarium

Directed By Morgon Dickerson

10:12 • United States

ALABAMA, NARRATIVE

Isolated from the desolation outside, a woman reckons her quiet existence against the forces of nature and ruin.

Man and Mattress

Directed By Andrew Reisfeld

23:35 • United States

ALABAMA, NARRATIVE

A messy loser is forced to battle his outspoken mattress after refusing to clean his room.

Escudo Invisible (The Invisible Shield)

Directed By Maximilian Barrón

23:32 • Mexico

ALABAMA, NARRATIVE

When Mexico City locals learn they're being evicted due to tourism pressures, they decide to reverse the American-led gentrification by staging a kidnapping. But when their plans go awry, the whole thing heads rapidly towards comedic disaster.

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 44 minutes

Directed by Leland Hall

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

Sponsored by Alabama Entertainment Office

Warriors reveals the story of Mobile’s 2009 Davidson High School football team which featured the first high school duo drafted by the same NFL team, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt. The reminiscences of the players, coaches, and family members of this dynamic team overlap to reveal the combined pressures of young athletes doing everything to follow their NFL dreams.

Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 31 minutes

Directed by A.R. Ephraim

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A+ B

The SHOUT LGBTQ+ Track is sponsored by Birmingham AIDS Outreach

A remarkable story of an Appalachian community. A Woman's Work shares the natural beauty of the region while focusing on the hard-working people and their daily struggles. A stirring portrayal of a female coal miner working to support her sisters while dreaming of a life with her secret girlfriend. This film truly makes you feel for these characters and the beauty and sadness of their daily lives.

Dawn Mills - Screening Committee

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

A selection of short documentary, and narrative films that highlight the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities.

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

The SHOUT LGBTQ+ Track is sponsored by Birmingham AIDS Outreach

Sofia

Directed by Camila de Ilhéus

09:44 • United States • Alabama Premiere

NARRATIVE, SHOUT, WOMEN IN FILM, FESTIVAL DE CINE

A quick waxing session turns into a nightmare when a Brazilian accidentally gets a brazilian.

Leo Lets It Rain

Directed by Jasmin Prophete

11:20 • United States • Southern US Premiere

NARRATIVE, SHOUT, BLACK LENS, STUDENT

Leo, a trans man with undiagnosed ADHD, is on his way to win back his ex-girlfriend when his plans are thwarted by a storm, forcing him to slow down and reevaluate.

Dirty Fuzz

Directed By Daniel Chimes

15:00 • Canada, United States • World Premiere

SHOUT, STUDENT

After rookie cop Lurleen impulsively shoots her obnoxious squadmate, she needs to raise $1000 to fund a back alley surgery to remove the bullet. A desperate attempt to shakedown a strip club for money turns into a paradigm shifting experience.

Love Birds

Directed by Elliott Kennerson and Angel Morris

27:40 • United States • Alabama Premiere

DOCUMENTARY, SHOUT

In 1972, when married biologists George Hunt and Molly Warner discover that a great number of nesting seagull pairs on one of California's Channel Islands are all female, their research on “lesbian seagulls” triggers outrage and jubilation in a nation grappling with a growing LGBTQ+ rights movement while also threatening to tear apart their own relationship.

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

MEX, FRA, USA • 1 hour 58 minutes

Directed by Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

The SHOUT LGBTQ+ Track is sponsored by Birmingham AIDS Outreach

Jaripeo offers a nuanced exploration of queer identity within the deeply traditional world of hypermasculine Mexican rodeos. Set in rural Michoacán, the film captures the eclectic lives of rancheros that navigate this secret subculture which both honors and defies the rigid cowboy mythology. Lensed beautifully on Super 8, Jaripeo is the feature directorial debut of Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig.

Allan Monterrubio - Programming Manager

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

MEX • 1 hour 16 minutes

Directed by Alejandra Alcala and Alex Garcia Martinez

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

Once a grim prison, now a Malawi migration camp. Asylum seekers convert hardship into inspiration, which is meant to crush the human spirit. The camp, on fire with resistance against inhumanity, empowers young people to host a vibrant festival that draws tens of thousands. Spoken word speaks truth to power, weaving strength and unity. Even in oppression, dreams are reborn and an unbreakable sense of community flourishes, defying every hardship.

Lisa Provost - Screening Committee

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

Films from the Black community in front of and behind the lens.

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

Spilled Milk

Directed By Jared Leaf

13:04 • United States • Alabama Premiere

NARRATIVE

A father's innocent errand leads him to an encounter with an enigmatic figure called The Milk Man in this Jordan Peele produced film.

Dreamwalker

Directed By Luca Schenato, Sinem Vardarli

15:00 • United Kingdom • Alabama Premiere

ANIMATED, INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN IN FILM, GENRE

When a shaman embarks on a quest to save his village from extinction, he connects with a scientist from a different time who is also striving to save her civilization.

Eternal

Directed By Joshua Jeffrey Miller

17:15 • United States • Alabama Premiere

ALABAMA, STUDENT, NARRATIVE

"Eternal" is an allegorical tale about a man who, in his grief, seeks out death and the ability to see his loved one again.

Wall of Sound

Directed By Anissa Latham-Brown

11:02 • United States

ALABAMA, DOCUMENTARY, WOMEN IN FILM

Watch the electrifying and intense journey of the nationally recognized Purple Marching Machine from Miles College—an HBCU in Fairfield, Alabama—as the band prepares for the 2025-2026 season.

Free Joan Little

Directed By Yoruba Richen

35:17 • United States

DOCUMENTARY, LIFE & LIBERTY, WOMEN IN FILM

In 1975, Joan Little became the first woman in US history to be acquitted of using deadly force to resist sexual assault. As a Black incarcerated woman in North Carolina who killed her white prison guard who was trying to rape her, Little's murder trial sparked a nationwide discussion on sexual assault.

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 17 minutes

Directed by Jason Goldman

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

Sponsored by Woodlawn United

Award-winning, lifelong environmental activist Dr. Jackie Echols is dedicated to protecting Atlanta’s South River, the largest freshwater system in the state. When planned construction of “Cop City” (the largest police training facility in America) threatens the ecosystem and forest that serves predominately Black communities, activism and politics intersect into a story of environmental defense and grassroots activism. This observational documentary shows how environmental issues affect us all while also serving as a call for immediate action.

Brian Ratigan - Features Programmer

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre B

Join award-winning animator Bill Plympton as he discusses animation and reviews his long career. This event will be a specially ticketed event and include a Q+A, signing, and photo opportunity.

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

A selection of animated shorts from around the world.

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

Dormilón

Directed by Olivia Marie Valdez

9:09 • United States • Alabama Premiere

WOMEN IN FILM

In a quest to become the performer of his dreams, Dormilón, a starry-eyed and middle-aged janitor living in an abandoned theater, must confront his nightmares face-to-face.

Deep in the Folds of My Mind

Directed by Mac Muggeo

5:05 • United States • Alabama Premiere

ALABAMA, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM

When a peculiar man's nightmares begin to breach his waking life, he must find a way to quell them or risk losing his mind for good.

Living with a Visionary

Directed by Stephen P. Neary

14:58 • United States • Alabama Premiere

Based on John Matthias's memoir, "Living with a Visionary" is a soulful, bittersweet reflection on John's fifty-year marriage to Diana, an art curator grappling with Parkinson's.

The Ottoman

Directed by Mike Stamm

12:00 • United States • Southern US Premiere

FAMILY

The Ottoman, a hotshot mechanic and amateur robot gladiator, is looking forward to proving himself in the arena. But when his obsession with winning endangers the lives of his family, the Ottoman must face harsh lessons about what victory truly requires.

Forever Home

Directed by Ashley Wong

3:21 • United States • Southern US Premiere

ALABAMA, FAMILY, WOMEN IN FILM

Benson, the three-legged mastiff, lives alone in a quiet house. He spends his days content to watch the world pass by until one day a mysterious dog shows up at his doorstep, followed by many more.

Blessed

Directed by Birute Sodeikaite

7:30 • Canada • Alabama Premiere

INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN IN FILM

A tough, no-nonsense Buffalo has always seen himself as strong, fearless, and ready to take the world, but when his long-awaited dream of fatherhood finally comes true, he is thrown into uncharted territory.

The Nest

Directed by Aurélien Coquery, Léa Kermanach, Soline Mauguin, Abel Tixador, Jean Baounon, Romane Selter-Fiette

7:12 • France • Southern US Premiere

INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN IN FILM, STUDENT

A shy young luthier, Aurore returns to work in the family's prestigious workshop. As she reunites with her beloved mother, she uncovers a monstrous family secret.

A Sparrow’s Song

Directed by Tobias Eckerlin

9:10 • Germany • Alabama Premiere

INTERNATIONAL, STUDENT

Inspired by a true story, a widowed World War II air raid warden struggles to overcome grief and rediscover joy until a tiny bird enters her life.

113 Words for You Today

Directed by Bo Qing Tang, Lan Zeng

12:31 • China, Taiwan, United States • Alabama Premiere

INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN IN FILM

A team of workers is sent to planet Gliese 12b to build a gravitational portal. To conserve energy for survival on the frozen planet, each worker is allowed to speak only 138 words per day.

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

JPN • 1 hour 17 minutes

Directed by Yukimitsu Ina

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

The debut feature from Yukimitsu Ina, Cocoon combines the gracefulness of Miyazaki animation with the emotional impact of Grave of the Fireflies. War rages in Japan, and even children can't escape it. When friends San and Mayu are forced into a war zone, their loyalties to one another are tested.

Joi Tribble - Shorts Programming Director

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 40 minutes

Directed by John Wilson

Alabama Theatre

Sponsored by Gilead Sciences

The hilarious directorial debut from John Wilson follows our eponymous hero on a journey through a Hallmark writing class, to filming New York potholes, to visiting the oldest street in America on a mission to know more about concrete. From Vimeo Staff Picks to HBO’s How To with John Wilson, we now find John documenting mysterious characters and urban locations (as only he can) to help us uncover more clues to one of life’s greatest mysteries.

Brian Ratigan - Features Programmer

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 44 minutes

Directed by Frederick DeShon Murphy

Kress Building Ballroom

Sponsored by Rubio Law Firm

Film director, Sidewalk alum and mental health therapist Frederick DeShon Murphy brings together families of both the enslavers and enslaved connected to the Forks of Cypress plantation in Florence, AL, to share their deeply personal histories and to create an opportunity for community and reconciliation.

Deni Owens - Screening Committee

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 44 minutes

Directed by Leland Hall

First Church Birmingham

Sponsored by Alabama Entertainment Office

Warriors reveals the story of Mobile’s 2009 Davidson High School football team which featured the first high school duo drafted by the same NFL team, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt. The reminiscences of the players, coaches, and family members of this dynamic team overlap to reveal the combined pressures of young athletes doing everything to follow their NFL dreams.

Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre A + B

Sponsored by MainStreet Family Care

One tradition you don't want to miss at Sidewalk Film Festival is Saturday Morning Cartoons! Adventure awaits in the most wonderfully cartoonish fashion as we present another decades-spanning selection of classic cartoons, complete with some nostalgic commercials as well. Relive the adventures of Saturday Morning Cartoons on the big screen for all ages!

Nick Ferlisi - Screening Committee

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 45 minutes

Directed by Brian "B+" Cross and Eric Coleman

Carver Theatre

Sponsored by Birmingham Doin's

As a means to reframe outdated half-truths, this vibrant narrative illustrates a new chapter of Birmingham’s legacy. This story aims to linger beyond our stained reputation by highlighting the people and places that embody the essence of what makes this city “Magic.”

Ariel Gary - Screening Committee

USA • 46 minutes

Directed by Michele Forman

Birmingham's Front Lawn explores the creation of Railroad Park in the heart of Downtown Birmingham. Watch as the park, which has become an integral part of life downtown, transforms from unassuming acreage to a lush urban green space and hear from the park's champions who turned their dream into a reality in order to uplift Birmingham.

Jessica Chriesman

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 31 minutes

Directed by Nico Lopez-Alegría and ZZ

Birmingham Museum of Art

The SHOUT LBGTQ+ Track is sponsored by Birmingham AIDS Outreach

For those who couldn’t get enough of the successful Artemis II mission, comes a space documentary unlike any other. Director Nico Lopez-Algeria invites us along on a deeply personal journey and a look behind the curtain of what families of career astronauts experience when their loved ones dedicate their lives to space exploration.

Rebecca Baer - Screening Committee

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 31 minutes

Directed by A.R. Ephraim

ASFA Recital Hall

The SHOUT LGBTQ+ Track is sponsored by Birmingham AIDS Outreach

A remarkable story of an Appalachian community. A Woman's Work shares the natural beauty of the region while focusing on the hard-working people and their daily struggles. A stirring portrayal of a female coal miner working to support her sisters while dreaming of a life with her secret girlfriend. This film truly makes you feel for these characters and the beauty and sadness of their daily lives.

Dawn Mills - Screening Committee

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

Films that highlight the variety of Alabama filmmaker skills.

ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre

Sponsored by Four Corners Gallery

Picklish

Directed by Jori Parson, Clea Collins

9:39 • United States

ALABAMA, BLACK LENS, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM

Upon the rapid rise of Pickleball, three Alabama teens decide to fight back.

Job Search

Directed by Lewis Bruce

4:17 • United States

ALABAMA

A new job candidate becomes unnerved when an interview becomes too personal. Sidewalk 48-hour film Scramble winner.

Growing Up in the 4th Dimension

Directed by Dylane Thomas Hurd

23:14 • United States

ALABAMA, BLACK LENS

A recent college graduate reflects on the passage of time and the existential crisis it leads to.

Scrambled in Space

Directed by Lih Cunha Rohleder

2:50 • United States • World Premiere

ALABAMA, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM

The seemingly innocent act of fixing an egg for breakfast launches into an unexpected space journey. Assisted by Professor John Hill and completed over a 48 hour period.

"Bleeds Through" by Noah Praise God

Directed by Julian Clark

3:46 • United States

Music Video for "Bleeds Through" by Noah Praise God.

A Shot in the Dark

Directed by Grantland Thomas Earle, Regan Arnett

6:26 • United States

ALABAMA

A young detective unravels the mystery surrounding his best friend's death as he falls deeper into a web of intrigue and adultery. Winner of the Sidewalk Jingle Scramble 48-hour filmmaking competition.

Cause of Death

Directed by Benjamin Johnson

2:15 • United States • World Premiere

ALABAMA

When technology allows coroners to relive the last moments of a person's life rather than following physical evidence, what crimes might be covered up?

Mr Jesus

Directed by Emily Best

15:38 • United States • Alabama Premiere

ALABAMA, WOMEN IN FILM

A down on his luck actor wakes up one morning to discover his image has been stolen to make a Gen AI Jesus, and now everyone thinks he's the second coming.

Man and Mattress

Directed by Andrew Reisfeld

23:35 • United States • Southern US Premiere

ALABAMA

A messy loser is forced to battle his outspoken mattress after refusing to clean his room.

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 40 minutes

Directed by Ken William Kwapis

Alabama Theatre

After a father in rural New Hampshire is inspired by his own mother’s prophecy that his three daughters will be world famous rock stars. The problem was that the daughters, Dorothy, Betty, and Helen Wiggin, had no interest in playing music. This did not stop their father who bought them their own recording studio which produced music that was once called the worst band in rock history.

Eileen Kiernan - Screening Committee

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

USA • 1 hour 39 minutes

Directed by Aaron Schock and Mark Becker

Lyric Theatre

Sponsored by AllerVie Health

In a David-and-Goliath fight over one of the world's most recognizable toys, the widow of the Sea-Monkeys creator battles for control of her husband's legacy. What starts as a quarrel over quality control uncovers an unexpected history and the troubling affiliations buried beneath the packet of instant pets.

Charlie Sanders - Festival Programming Director

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

Films appropriate and fun for all ages.

Kress Building Ballroom

Sponsored by Bama List

Doggozord

Directed by Kelsey Norden

4:46 • United States • Southern US Premiere

WOMEN IN FILM

The Moon has risen early to threaten dog utopia, and Major Walnut has called his team of guard dogs to pilot Doggozord, a giant canine mecha, to fight it off.

Chasing Dreams

Directed by Gerald Crummie

7:46 • United States • Alabama Premiere

ALABAMA

Raeann "Rooster" Gibbs is a rising racecar driver from Weaver, Alabama with big dreams. At the age of 12, she is currently competing against adults in 602 and 604 late models.

Sunspark

Directed by Danny Bourque

11:00 • United States • Southern US Premiere

While scavenging for spare parts, a lonely robot discovers someone who desperately needs his help.

Symphony in the Skies

Directed by Nathan Winston Burrell

7:13 • United States

ALABAMA, BLACK LENS, TEEN

Amid the urban landscape of Birmingham, a 12-year-old filmmaker and birder discovers a different kind of world through his binoculars.

Jamie’s Cosmic Chase

Directed by Gabrielle Foret

5:39 • United States • World Premiere

ALABAMA, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM

Shortly after a rookie zookeeper's shift begins, a baby creature escapes its enclosure and begins to wander around an intergalactic zoo resulting in chaos and comedy.

Creep

Directed by Daniela Abarca

2:16 • United States

STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM

In a library where nothing happens, a kid gets a creepy feeling he's being hunted by a creature of the night.

The Epic of Enkidu

Directed by Mike A Smith

9:26 • United States • Southern US Premiere

When the catastrophic king Gilgamesh meets the grass-fed Enkidu, things don't go according to the clay tablets. A fractured take on the cuneiform tale, featuring doom, despair, deception, and sheep.

Flick: A Fingerboarding Story

Directed by Graham Abney

11:08 • United States • Southern US Premiere

BLACK LENS

An ambitious entrepreneur reflects on how the fingerboarding community has changed his life and given a space for passionate creatives to express themselves.

The Ottoman

Directed by Mike Stamm

12:00 • United States • Southern US Premiere

The Ottoman, a hotshot mechanic and amateur robot gladiator, is looking forward to proving himself in the arena. But when his obsession with winning endangers the lives of his family, the Ottoman must face harsh lessons about what victory truly requires.

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

CAN • 1 hour 25 minutes

Directed by Mike Lobel

Sidewalk Cinema Theatre B

Mike Lobel of Degrassi: The Next Generation fame makes his directorial debut with this true crime tale about his own family. Lobel sets out to uncover the truth about his father that his parents kept hidden for 35 years. During his entire childhood, Lobel’s family had two major rules: Don’t ask what Dad does for a living and never go upstairs when he’s working.

Rebecca Baer - Screening Committee

- As a part of the 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival -

POL • 1 hour 29 minutes

Directed by Bartosz Szpak and Helena Ganjalyan

Birmingham Museum of Art

Sponsored by Kodak Film Lab Atlanta

Filled with stunning, sun-soaked cinematography and big questions about what it means to be a girl in the world, GLORIOUS SUMMER conjures an atmosphere of curious serenity—a series of perpetually peaceful summer days in which three young girls live, play, and commune in a crumbling idyll. Amid this visual poetry, however, tensions surface.

Caroline Rogers - Screening Committee