Sidewalk review: "Coldwater" (****)

P.J. Boudousqué stars in "Coldwater"

Since its SXSW premiere, Vincent Grashaw's "Coldwater" has embarked on a successful festival run, leading up to where I caught it in Birmingham at the Sidewalk Film Festival. Following a wayward teen's abduction and forced placement into a privately-run juvenile behavior reform camp, "Coldwater" is a brutal, visceral take at the real and often hushed world of privatized rehabilitation. With facilities operating without local or federal regulation, these programs have free range to 'reform' their clients (or, rather, inmates). Grashaw's lens is not afraid to show what most filmmaker's cameras would turn away from.

11 films to see at the Sidewalk Film Festival

I've spent plenty of time over the last two years talking about Georgia's film festival circuit, which is much more expansive than many people realize. Full of rich content, insightful filmmakers and valuable networking opportunities—I can't stress enough how important it is for you to explore Georgia's film festivals! But now I'm branching out. In two-and-a-half weeks, I'll be attending the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama (also known as the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival).

Taking place across six different venues in downtown Birmingham, Sidewalk has earned an impressive reputation over the last several years as a vibrant and lively festival with impressive programming to boot. As much as I am looking forward to the fest, I'm equally excited about spending time in such a cool community. I will be reviewing films from the festival in the coming weeks, but be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more complete coverage.

After the jump, check out eleven films—just a fraction of the great lineup—worth checking out this year at Sidewalk.