I Think You Should Watch These Films at the 2026 Sidewalk Film Festival

The 28th annual Sidewalk Film Festival is finally upon us here in balmy Birmingham, Alabama! The festival kicked off last night with the first of four spotlight nights at the Sidewalk Cinema, and we’re just a few days away from the opening night festivities.1 Thousands of movie lovers will be walking the streets of Birmingham this weekend and frequenting our many lovely theaters (it’s called the Theater District for a reason, you know), and I can’t wait to be there.

If you’re anticipating the festival as much as I am, you’re probably still mulling over the schedule. There are, quite simply, very many films to choose from. That’s by design, of course; with an overwhelming number of options, there’s something for everybody. But it can be exhausting trying to figure out which films are for you.

In 2024, then again in 2025, I dropped some Sidewalk recs into your inboxes. Thanks to some regional film fests and some virtual film fests, I've usually seen quite a few of the films on the schedule before Sidewalk begins.2 This year, however, has been the busiest year of my life (complimentary), and I haven’t been able to do my research as well as I have in years past.

But don’t you worry, reader. Because I got by with a little help from my friends. And my taste is still impeccable as always, even if it’s mostly predictive in this case.3 So if you haven’t already, check out the full Sidewalk Film Festival schedule, buy your weekend passes and day passes, and check out a few of my our recommendations.

Saturday Morning Cartoons (10:00 Saturday at the Sidewalk Cinema)

This has been a Sidewalk tradition for more than a decade—one that I’ve shamefully never participated in. But that will change this year when I bring one or both of my stepdaughters to experience the revived magic of a late 20th century event. Sidewalk has carefully selected clips from a plethora of classic cartoons (including the retro ads that ran between them), and they’ll be serving up free bowls of sugary cereal for everyone in attendance. Best of all, it’s free! So whether or not you’ll be around all weekend, bring the kids (or just yourself) and let’s party like it’s 1992.

The Best Summer (12:30 Saturday at the Lyric Theatre)

This archival documentary is one of top films on my Sidewalk wishlist this year. I was only 9 years old the summer of 1995, but that era of pop culture held a big influence over me and helped shape my taste during those formative years. As luck would have it, my friend Corey Craft, head programmer over at the Sidewalk Cinema, saw this one during virtual Sundance and had this to say about it:

“Unlike director Tamra Davis, I’m betting you didn’t spend much time backstage with the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Bikini Kill, and a host of other punk and alternative rock bands in the mid-90s. The second-best thing next to a time machine, her new documentary follows some of the most influential bands of their era across a global tour, assembled from hours of her personal footage. It’s a time capsule of great music and a behind-the-scenes look at thoughtful (and very young) artists on the crest of a culture-defining wave.”

The General (3:00 Saturday at the Alabama Theatre)

I wrote about The General years ago, and I can’t wait to rewatch it this weekend. It’s a remarkable early-period action film, and you’ll find no better occasion to celebrate its 100th anniversary. But if you need a second opinion, here’s what my director buddy Ben Stark of the Ben/Stark/Film Substack had to say:

“Imagine seeing Mission: Impossible - Fallout in a grand old movie house with a live musicians blasting Lorne Balfe’s score. Now remove all the talking and triple the stunts. Interested? Of course you are. The General is a thrill and a delight no matter how you see it, but we get to experience it on a screen as big as it deserves, accompanied by the epic sounds of Tom Helms’ Mighty Wurlitzer, in a venue as old and storied as the film itself. Thanks be to Sidewalk!”

Show Me the Line (5:00 Saturday at the Lyric Theatre / 7:00 Saturday at the Alabama School of Fine Arts)

I’m actually waiting until the festival to watch this one, but given that it was made by dear friends of mine, you’d better believe Show Me the Line is getting a wholehearted recommendation from me. It’s also going to be one of the hottest tickets at Sidewalk, as evidenced by the fact that it’s already got a rare encore screening on the schedule.4 If you’re worried that a documentary about IVF regulations in Alabama will be a heavy subject, director Kelsey Ianuzzi promises that it’s also “humorous and hopeful.” Kelsey wrote about the film and one of its chief influences on her Steal the Elixir and Run Substack last week, so read all about it and then go see it.

Joybubbles (8:00 Saturday at the Alabama Theatre)

This archival documentary about a phone hacker pioneer who discovered a way to make long-distance calls for free promises to be one of the best documentaries of the weekend. But you don’t have to take my word for it, because my friend Bradford Thomason (one of the directors behind Jasper Mall and Butterfly in the Sky) edited the film and had this to say:

“This is a movie I knew would scratch my nostalgia itch—with telephones, answering machines, and vintage computers. But I had no idea I’d feel both intense moments of tension and joy while working on Joybubbles. His life was a rollercoaster, and he is truly one of the most inspiring individuals I’ve ever encountered in film.”

Last Shot (10:00 Sunday at the Alabama School of Fine Arts)

Birmingham’s film community is really thriving these days, and if you want to see some visual proof, look no further than Last Shot, a film that was shot right here in the Magic City. I interviewed director Andy Palmer—who lives on the West Coast and has no real Alabama ties—earlier this year about his experience filming locally and he had this to say:

“The sheer versatility [of the location] was amazing. It can feel like a huge city, a small town, stunning historical architecture and futuristic looks as well. But beyond that is the kindness people show towards films shooting there. The city really embraces films and filmmakers. I truly love the city and people of Birmingham. Portland had my heart and feels like home, but I would say Birmingham is probably a close second of favorite places.”

The Birds Tell Me All There Is To Know (12:00 Sunday at the Sidewalk Cinema)

The beauty of a festival like Sidewalk is that you’ll stumble into films that you would’ve never sought out otherwise—and you’ll usually wind up glad you did. The Birds Tell Me All There Is To Know has all the makings of a hidden gem for patient viewers, and it’s being presented by my buddy Brian Ratigan of the Non Films Substack, who had this to say about it:

“A debut feature from 27-year-old writer/director Aidan Cronin, The Birds Tell Me All There Is To Know is a film unlike anything else you will see at this year's festival. Shot on a Sony CCD-TR640E Video8 camera (looking akin to MiniDV footage), the film presents the story of an unlikely connection through the lo-fi, fractured lens of a director who is simultaneously looking forward as he examines the past.

Snake Oil Song (2:30 Sunday at the Alabama School of Fine Arts)

Sidewalk isn’t all about documentaries, you know. It’s become a proven showcase for soon-to-be noteworthy directors to exhibit their early works, and Snake Oil Song has “breakthrough narrative feature” written all over this. My friend Anton Jackson, director of the Montgomery Film Festival and frequent guest contributor to this newsletter, confirmed my suspicions:

“Snake Oil Song will transport you to the darkest, seediest parts of the jungle that you would typically associate with Sorcerer. It’s an epic, trippy, grueling descent with danger from Mother Nature and its inhabitants at every turn. I don’t know how this has played so few festivals, it’s awesome.”

Possum Town (4:45 Sunday at the Carver Theatre)

Speaking of the Montgomery Film Festival, I had the pleasure of catching Possum Town a few weeks ago, and I can safely say it’s a great film that will create a lot of buzz at the festival. Told through the framework of one local photographer’s significant collection, the documentary paints a memorable picture of Columbus, Mississippi, and the people who call it home. If you enjoyed Natchez at last year’s Sidewalk Film Festival, or you just love seeing small Southern towns represented lovingly but honestly on film, then Possum Town is the place to be.

Sell Your House (7:15 Sunday at the Sidewalk Cinema)

This one’s for the filmmakers and the true cinephiles who want to see how the sausage is made. I haven’t seen Sell Your House, but I have seen The Last Stop in Yuma County, the subject of this making-of documentary, and I can’t resist learning how indie filmmakers pull off such accomplishments with very few resources. If you want to see and understand what it takes to make a breakthrough independent film—and earn gigs like making a new Evil Dead film—you don’t want to miss this one.

That’s all I’ve got for you this year, Sidewalkers. But I hope these recs point you in the director of a film or several that you wind up really enjoying. And I hope to see y’all this weekend. Happy Sidewalk!