Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema
Located in downtown Birmingham’s historic Theatre District, Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema is a year-round destination for movie lovers and a home for independent film in Alabama. Housed in The Pizitz, the nonprofit cinema features two state-of-the-art theaters and a thoughtfully curated lineup that ranges from independent and arthouse releases to documentaries, classics, repertory favorites and special film series.
Beyond regular screenings, Sidewalk brings audiences and filmmakers together through Q&As, discussions, educational programs and special events, making the cinema as much a gathering place for Birmingham’s film community as it is a place to catch a great movie.
Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema also keeps its calendar lively with seasonal screenings, themed series and cult favorites that give moviegoers a chance to revisit beloved—and sometimes wonderfully offbeat—films on the big screen. Halloween has inspired programming filled with horror and cult classics, while the holidays bring festive favorites and unconventional seasonal picks ranging from Gremlins to The Nightmare Before Christmas. Year-round series add to the fun, including the monthly Bad Movie Night, repertory screenings, filmmaker-focused programs and even quarterly mystery movies projected from VHS. It’s this playful mix of classics, cult discoveries and special seasonal programming that makes Sidewalk a place to return to throughout the year—not just to see what’s new, but to experience old favorites with an audience all over again.
Each summer, that year-round celebration of film expands across downtown for the Sidewalk Film Festival, the organization’s signature annual event and one of Birmingham’s most anticipated cultural traditions. The weeklong festival takes over venues throughout the historic Theatre District with more than 200 films, along with filmmaker Q&As, panels, workshops, networking events and parties. Now in its 28th year, the 2026 festival runs August 24–30, bringing filmmakers and moviegoers together for a lively week that showcases independent cinema while putting Birmingham’s own film community in the spotlight.
Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema
Located in The Pizitz
1821 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203