Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival 2010: First look at the lineup
By Wade Kwonsidewalk.wadeonbirmingham.com
Sidewalk 2010 is just 5 weeks away, but the lineup is almost complete.
The 12th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival has 208 films scheduled so far; yet to be announced are the opening night and closing night films, along with the Shout lineup (running concurrently with Sidewalk).
Let’s take a look at movies in the lineup with a local connection …
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‘Hey Boo: Harper Lee and “To Kill a Mockingbird” ’
A timely look at Monroeville author Harper Lee. (You may know her for her classic novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.) Lee’s life story is shared in the documentary through family, friends and admirers such as Oprah Winfrey and Tom Brokaw.
- Directed by Mary Murphy.
- Official site | IMDB | Facebook | Sidewalk page
- 11 a.m. Sept. 26 in the Harambe Room
- Scheduled to attend: Murphy.
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‘Lifted’
The latest Hunter Brothers (Alan and Hugh) production tells the story of Henry Matthews, a boy from the South who takes part in a reality TV singing competition to escape his crumbling world. he finds out his father has been re-deployed to Afghanistan. The film, shot in Alabama, includes several local and regional actors.
- Stars Nicki Aycox, Uriah Shelton, Dash Mihok, Trace Adkins and Ruben Studdard.
- Directed by Lexi Alexander.
- Official site | IMDB | Facebook | Sidewalk page
- 11 a.m. Sept. 25 at Alabama Power
- Scheduled to attend: Alexander, cast and crew.
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‘Man in the Glass: The Dale Brown Story’
Directed by Birmingham’s Patrick Sheehan, the documentary follows the career and beyond of Louisiana State men’s basketball coach Dale Brown. The story covers his winning over fans in a football school and his battles with the NCAA over student-athletes. Not only is Brown a legend in college basketball but also continues to work as a human rights activist.
- Directed by Patrick Sheehan.
- Official site | Facebook | Sidewalk page
- 1:10 p.m. Sept. 26 at Alabama Power
- Scheduled to attend: Sheehan.
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‘Not My Son’
The documentary examines gun violence through interviews with Birmingham mothers whose children were killed. Featured is Carolyn Johnson-Turner, who founded the Parents Against Violence Foundation in 2004 after her son, Rodreckus, 20, was shot and killed on his way to a friend’s birthday party.
- Directed by Dwight Cammeron.
- Official site | Sidewalk page
- 10:30 a.m. Sept. 25 at the Alabama Theatre Studio
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‘Ready, Set, Bag!’
Follow Huntsville’s Roger Chen in his quest for a championship. This Chinese immigrant, born in Trinidad and Tobago, studies computer science and needs the prize money after earning the state title.
The sport? Bagging groceries. The documentary focuses on Chen, a bagger at Publix, and seven other contestants headed to the annual Best Bagger Championship by the National Grocers Association.
- Directed by Justine Jacob and Alex D. da Silva.
- Official site | IMDB | Sidewalk page
- 4 p.m. Sunday at the Alabama Theatre
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Shorts blocks
- Life and Liberty Shorts, 1:15 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute [lineup]
- Local shorts No. 1 — Dramatic Narrative, 10:20 a.m. Sept. 25 at the Carver Theatre [lineup]
- Local shorts No. 2 — Comedic Narrative, 1:15 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Harambe Room [lineup]
- Local shorts No. 3 — Documentary, 1:15 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Harambe Room [lineup]
- Music videos (including winners from July’s Scrambled Jam), 8 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Harambe Room [lineup]
- National and local shorts — Narrative, 3:50 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Alabama Theatre Studio [lineup]
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The Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival takes place Sept. 24-26 in downtown Birmingham. Tickets: three-day pass, $50, $40 for members and students; one-day pass, $20, $15 for members and students.
Also:
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Are you planning to go? Which movies are on your list? And which ones should we review? Let us know in the comments.
Action! Complete Sidewalk Festival coverage.
Friday, September 2, 2011, 3:36 pm
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