History of Alabama Moving Image Association

The Alabama Moving Image Association is a federally recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to encouraging filmmaking in Alabama and building audiences for independent film. AMIA produces the nationally recognized Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, the SHOUT Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, hosts the Sidewrite Screenplay Writing Competition, and Teen Filmmaking Challenge, as well as quarterly 48 hour filmmaking competitions and monthly educational events.

The 13th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a celebration of new independent cinema in downtown Birmingham, is set to take place August 26-28, 2011. Since its debut in 1999, filmmakers from across the country and around the world have come to Birmingham to screen their work at Sidewalk and have been thrilled to discover fresh, enthusiastic crowds eager to devour new independent cinema.

With nine venues located within Birmingham's historic Theatre District (featuring the newly restored Alabama Theatre, a 2,200 seat movie palace built by Paramount in 1927), spontaneity rules the schedule of Sidewalk attendees. Low-priced weekend passes provide easy access to Sidewalk venues, encouraging attendees to seek out new films and sample programming they may not otherwise see. The result is a crowd rich in diversity and united in a hunger for new film.

From the Filmmakers' Reception and the Filmmakers' Retreat to a myriad of breakfasts, field trips, parties and galas, Sidewalk connects filmmakers. The atmosphere at Sidewalk is electric with creativity and collaboration as filmmakers and film-lovers mix and mingle between screenings, participate in panel discussions, or simply enjoy the outdoors in the Sidewalk Food&Spirit Garden.

The 6th Annual Birmingham SHOUT Gay & Lesbian Film Festival has made a move to share festival dates and the festival footprint with Sidewalk. SHOUT began in 2006 and showcases features, documentaries and short films by new and established artists and offers attendees the opportunity to view topics of interest to the GLBT communities, as well as to interact with filmmakers and documentary subjects in attendance.

Birmingham SHOUT is Alabama's first and only gay & lesbian film festival and is proud to support the growing GLBT community in the Magic City, along with providing compelling content for anyone interested in independent films.