Since its founding in 1999, The Sidewalk Film Festival has grown into one of the South’s premier independent film festivals, known for showcasing bold, innovative cinema and providing a platform for emerging filmmakers. This year’s festival will feature screenings of over 250 films across a variety of genres, along with filmmaker Q&As, panels, workshops, networking events, and lively parties. Celebrated for its intimate venues, Southern hospitality, and commitment to diversity, Sidewalk continues to connect audiences and creators while highlighting social issues, underrepresented voices, and local talent, making it a must-visit event for film lovers and industry professionals alike.
Check out our curated list of 10 must-see films at this year’s Sidewalk Film Festival, showcasing a mix of bold storytelling, emerging talent, and unforgettable cinematic experiences.
Stolen Kingdom
Stolen Kingdom isn’t really about Disney World so much as it’s about the collapse of illusion. What starts as a story about kids sneaking into the park, pulling pranks, and testing boundaries slowly mutates into something stranger—a culture of obsession that ends in theft, with an animatronic named Buzzy vanishing into the underground like contraband.
The film leans into the absurdity of it all: a corporation built on control and fantasy facing its own version of true crime, complete with shady insiders, obsessive fans, and the quiet thrill of getting away with something. It’s polished, fast-moving, sometimes funny, sometimes unnerving, and always aware of the irony—that a half-million-dollar theft could feel both ridiculous and inevitable.
The Librarians
The Librarians is a powerful new documentary that brings audiences into the heart of America’s battle over books and ideas. Directed by Kim Snyder and executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, the film follows the real stories of librarians like Audrey Wilson Youngblood and Martha Hickson—individuals who have become unexpected frontline defenders of intellectual freedom.
At a time when book bans and censorship are on the rise, the film captures the courage and conviction of those who fight to preserve access to knowledge for all. Through intimate interviews and moving storytelling, the film reveals not only the personal stakes of this cultural struggle but also the broader role libraries play in protecting democracy itself.
Andy Kaufman is Me
Andy Kaufman is Me offers a fascinating look into the life and mind of one of comedy’s most enigmatic figures. Using never-before-heard audio diaries, the film lets Kaufman himself guide viewers through his eccentric ideas, unfinished writings, and offbeat performance experiments.
Director Clay Tweel brings these elements to life with a surreal twist: marionette puppetry that turns Kaufman’s visions into a dreamlike, almost otherworldly experience. The result is a documentary that is both trippy and deeply personal, capturing the chaos, humor, and genius of a man who refused to play by anyone’s rules.
Candid interviews with Michael and Carol Kaufman, David Letterman, Carol Kane, and Tim Heidecker offer perspective on the legend, peeling back the layers of myth to reveal the man behind the spectacle. Equal parts origin story and resurrection, Andy Kaufman is Me is a unique journey into identity, performance, and the blurred line between reality and illusion.
Interstate
Interstate, directed by Oscar Corral and Haleem Muhsin, takes a critical look at how America’s sprawling highway network reshaped urban life—celebrated as an engineering feat, yet devastating for many communities. Highlighting cities such as Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Baltimore, Montgomery, and New Orleans, the documentary uncovers the human cost of progress through personal stories, expert insights, and historical context. It examines the economic, social, and health consequences of displacement while spotlighting resilience and the ongoing struggle to rebuild and reclaim neighborhoods affected by decades of infrastructural development.
Butthole Surfers The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt
Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt is a chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt dive into one of rock’s most outrageous bands. Featuring surreal animation, candid interviews, and appearances by rock legends, it captures the raw energy, creativity, and absurdity that made the Butthole Surfers unforgettable. Messy, wild, and full of punk spirit, the film is both a celebration of their legacy and a glimpse into the moments of real emotion behind the mayhem.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a landmark in horror cinema, redefining the genre with its raw, visceral style and relentless tension. Directed by Tobe Hooper and released in 1974, the film follows a group of friends who encounter a family of cannibals while visiting rural Texas. At the center is the terrifying Leatherface, wielding a chainsaw and wearing a mask made of human skin—a figure that has become iconic in horror lore.
Shot with a gritty, almost documentary-like realism, the film creates an atmosphere of dread that lingers long after the credits roll. Its combination of shocking imagery, psychological terror, and dark humor challenged audiences and critics alike, cementing its place as a cult classic. Beyond the scares, it’s a study of isolation, fear, and the breakdown of societal norms. Decades later, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remains one of the most influential and unsettling horror films ever made.
25 Cats from Qatar
25 Cats From Qatar, directed by Brooklyn-based filmmaker Will Roegge, is a playful and whimsical exploration of feline life in an unexpected setting. Through a mix of photography, storytelling, and humor, Roegge captures the unique personalities of cats living in Qatar, each with its own story that reflects the culture, environment, and everyday moments of the region.
The project goes beyond simple cuteness. It’s a celebration of observation, curiosity, and the small interactions that make life vibrant. Roegge’s lens highlights not just the cats themselves, but the world they inhabit, turning ordinary moments into charming, visually striking narratives.
Whether you’re a cat lover, a photography enthusiast, or simply curious about life in Qatar, 25 Cats From Qatar offers a heartwarming and entertaining experience.
Memories of Los Angeles
Directed by Shawn Bannon, Memories of Los Angeles uncovers the city’s forgotten corners and overlooked landmarks. From deserted theaters and silent movie palaces to hidden oil rigs, the film blends personal stories with on-the-ground exploration, revealing the layers of history that linger beneath the city’s modern surface. It’s a reflective journey that shows how the remnants of L.A.’s past continue to shape its atmosphere, culture, and sense of identity, inviting viewers to see the city through both memory and discovery.
The White House Effect
The White House Effect is a shrewd, sometimes infuriating look at a moment when America could have acted decisively on climate change—and didn’t. Directors Bonni Cohen, Pedro Kos, and Jon Shenk assemble nothing but archival footage, and it’s mesmerizing how they let history speak for itself. The film zeroes in on 1988 to 1992, the George H.W. Bush years, when the country was waking up to global warming and Bush promised to use “the White House effect” to tackle it. Watching it now, you feel the weight of squandered opportunity, the subtle betrayals, the political theater beneath the surface. It’s a documentary that doesn’t just recount events; it exposes how easily good intentions can be hollowed out, how ambition, inertia, and cynicism can turn urgent warnings into footnotes. It’s compelling, frustrating, necessary.
Sun Ra Documentary Test Screening
Born in Birmingham, Sun Ra transformed the grit and rhythm of his hometown into a wildly otherworldly musical vision. This documentary uncovers how the city’s industrial streets and segregated neighborhoods influenced his groundbreaking approach to jazz. Through rare archival footage, interviews, and local stories, it traces the journey of an artist who turned his roots into a cosmic, boundary-defying soundscape. A portrait of innovation and imagination, the film shows how Sun Ra’s unique voice emerged from the interplay of place, experience, and audacious creativity.
Learn more: 27th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank
