By LEIGH ANNE MONITOR
BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD

A buzzword is floating around town in film circles for the 2005 Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.
That word is "Americano."

That's the name of the opening film for the seventh annual film festival downtown. The film features actor Joshua Jackson from The WB's "Dawson's Creek" and Dennis Hopper.

The film will be shown at 8 p.m. Friday at the Alabama Theatre, followed by a question-and-answer session with the director and cast.

This is a special year for the festival, as it is the first time in seven years that this much talent has come to view and have discussion about its own film, said Erik Jambor, festival director and co-founder.

Scheduled to attend are the film's director Kevin Noland, along with stars Joshua Jackson, Leonor Varela, Timm Sharp and Ruthanna Hopper.

In "Americano," a young man rethinks his career path while in Europe.

The impact of the showing could be lasting, Jambor said.

"Any time we are able to open with a great movie like 'Americano,' it just heightens our profile," Jambor said.

"This is pretty exciting not just for us, but for the audience," Jambor said. "We also want something that the attending filmmakers from out of town are going to latch onto and talk about."

"(The film) has some clout in the indie world. Like South by Southwest (music/film festival in Austin, Texas), bigger films came to that festival. Sidewalk is starting to get a bit of that," said Robert Rugan, 30, writer and director of the Alabama-made feature film, "Alice's Misadventures in Wonderland."

"Americano" joins more than 150 others that will be shown through Sunday at several downtown locations, also including the Carver Theatre, The Brick Room, Alabama Power, McWane Center and new this year, the Harbert Center and the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Stars have arrived in town to show their films at past festivals, such as Amber Benson who starred in and made her directorial debut in "Chance," shown at the 2002 festival. Benson, a Birmingham native, made a name for herself as Tara on the TV show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The film won an audience choice award.

Festival excitement focused on "Alice's Misadventures in Wonderland" in 2004, which depicted a modern Alice trapped in a world just a bit off. The film was shot in familiar locations around Birmingham, such as the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It won the Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Film.

Rugan is thrilled about "Americano," despite the lack of such local connections.

"I've heard several people talking about wanting to go see it," Rugan said. "A couple of the people I talked to were screeners for the festival and have already seen it; a couple of people were excited about seeing it.

"The thing that I heard was that it was just a really well-executed indie film: It had a good story, good acting ... the characters in it are really compelling."

Rugan will attend the film opening night. He is a fan of independent films and views them regularly at the Galleria 10 theater in Hoover, he said.

Mike Benson, 31, production designer and producer for "Alice's Misadventures in Wonderland" screened the film for the festival. This movie was his favorite of the many he saw for this year's festival, he said.

"I just really felt like there was a life in it. I just really dug it from the beginning," Benson said. As the film chronicles a young writer trying to find direction, Benson said he himself has been in a similar situation and identified with the character — as should everyone.

"Everybody's been faced with those kind of choices in their life," Benson said. Benson had to find his direction in life, whether to follow his artistic side or choose a more corporate job, he said.

"I go, 'Yeah, this is rockin'; I totally dig this,' " Benson said.

One scene that left a lasting impact was when bulls chased people in the streets. The logistics of the scene overwhelmed Benson, he said.

"There are guys with cameras there. It's pretty immaculate. I can't fathom how they deal with keeping the actors safe. I was just like, 'Whoa, that's pretty intense.'

"I can't wait to speak with the filmmaker when he comes," Benson said.

Chance Shirley, 34, writer and co-director of 2004's Alabama-made "Hide and Creep," a zombie feature, said he plans to attend the film with his wife, Stacey Shirley.

Shirley said he's going simply because he thought the trailer looked good and sparked his curiosity. He said he's unaware of the public's perception about any films this year.

"It definitely looks like a well-put-together film," Shirley said.

Eric Bryan, 31, of Trussville, will see his own longer short, "The Last Days" shown at the festival, depicting a World War II adventure. He said he would rather see films made in Alabama than those in New York in the festival.

"If they didn't have Alabama films, it would be to me, 'What's the point?' " Bryan said. "You're going to care (more) about your community than someone else's," Bryan said.

Bryan said he has not heard discussion about any of the feature films this year, including "Americano." He has heard discussion about some of the shorts, such as "Nobody's Perfect," directed by Hank Azaria, he said. In the short, a man is given a pair of mysterious glasses that help him see women for who they really are. That short will be shown with others at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Alabama Theatre.

But a film such as "Americano" can help lure audiences to other films at the festival, Jambor said.

"(Festival fans) can kind of latch onto a film like 'Americano' for opening night," Jambor said.

This makes such filmgoers likely to return to view lesser known or unknown productions, Jambor said.


Details


What: 2005 Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival

When: Friday through Sunday

Where: downtown Birmingham

Tickets: Opening night, $10 in advance or $13 at the door; weekend passes, $25 in advance or $20 for Sidewalk members and students; available through Friday. Single film tickets $7 each or three for $15 during festival weekend. For more information, call 975-2787 or visit www.sidewalkfest.com.
Source: Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival