Alexander City dentist George Hardy finds himself enjoying unexpected fame these days as a cult movie star, thanks to a YouTube-fueled revival of “Troll 2.”  The saga is chronicled in “Best Worst Movie,” the film set to open Sidewalk 2009 on Friday, September 25, in our wonderful Alabama Theatre.

Now Hardy, along with the rest of the stars lined up for this year’s Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, has become one of the many ways we love our film community.

Film community? In Alabama? Fewer people are asking that question today, more than decade after Alan Hunter and friends conceived the idea for a Birmingham film festival.

Sidewalk 2009 will kick off with the Opening Night Film, “Best Worst Movie” which will lead into a weekend filled with more than 170 independent films, industry panels and several awesome parties. Once again, our city center will play host to more than 14,000 visitors from nearby neighborhoods and across the globe.

Sidewalk has a firm grip on film fans, with praise from Time magazine, Filmthreat.com and other major media and a recent acknowledgement from MovieMaker magazine as one of the “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the Country” (out of more than 400). For our home town, Sidewalk shows off the spirit of creativity and hospitality that makes our community special.

More than a weekend festival
But Sidewalk is more than a one-time event. Sidewalk has grown, supported by enthusiastic members, and now produces a variety of programs throughout the year, including Sidewalk Scrambles, Sidewalk Salons, the Sidewrite Screenplay Competition, and the Teen Film Making Challenge.  The organization keeps the entrepreneurial spirit alive and provides encouragement for a growing film industry locally and across our state.

Sidewalk also can point to more than $1.1 million in economic impact annually, according to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau. Add to that the growth of the film industry statewide, thanks to newly developed incentives for filmmaking in our state, a program that is expected to bring tens of millions of dollars to Alabama’s economy in the future.

Sidewalk's Executive Director Chloe Collins is looking forward to experiencing her first festival from the inside. “I am so proud to be associated with Sidewalk, truly one of our areas most talked about, relevant cultural events,” said Collins.

Alan Hunter will be on hand to greet visitors and enjoy the latest offerings of his filmmaking colleagues. He might even offer a few hints about the latest venture from Hunter Films, a film called “Lifted” that will take advantage of the new tax incentives now available for movies made in Alabama.

So what are you waiting for? Check the schedule on the Sidewalk website and pick a time when you can come on down and explore some great Birmingham places and great films at the same time.

Explore historic old theatres like the Carver and the Alabama Theatre or stop in at the Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute or McWane Science Center, where film becomes a great addition to the usual cultural offerings. Other venues include the Alabama Power Theatre, Branch Life Church and Young & Vann Building.

Was “Troll 2” really the worst movie of all time? Will “Best Worst Movie” be your new favorite?  Come and hear from director/producer Michael Paul Stephenson and star George Hardy in person and enjoy a cinematic way to love your community.

NOTE: Best Worst Movie opens the festival at the Alabama Theatre on September 25 at 8 p.m. Doors open for Sidewalk Members at 7:15pm and for the general public at 7:30 p.m.

Check the Sidewalk website for more information about how you can volunteer, buy tickets, Sidewalk membership,and this year’s films.