21 Films to See at the 2016 Sidewalk Film Festival

Sidewalk Film Festival turns 18-years-old and I am pleased as punch to be attending for my fourth year. This is easily one of the best festivals in the world, from the picture-perfect program to the intensely smooth operations that are stretched across 12 venues throughout Downtown Birmingham, Alabama.

I gush every year, and I'll continue to gush this year—do not miss this festival.

I've highlighted 21 films you should catch this weekend. I know, 21 is a high number, but don't blame me—blame the programming team led by Rachel Morgan and the filmmakers that hear great things every year and submit good works to this wonderful showcase.

Four films are marked as Can't Miss—"Cheerleader," "The Arbalest," "Contemporary Color" and "Fraud"—and once you see them, you'll know why. Check out the full list after the jump!

Sidewalk review: "Hide Your Smiling Faces" (****½)

Ryan Jones stars in "Hide Your Smiling Faces"

Having heard great things out of Berlinale and Tribeca, Daniel Patrick Carbone's "Hide Your Smiling Faces" was one of the most alluring prospects at this year's Sidewalk Film Festival. Shot in northern New Jersey, an incredible, rustic beauty that isn't usually associated with the state—at least the northern half—is evident in every frame. The landscape is wild and overgrown, looking as though it could have been shot on the slopes of Lookout Mountain. The setting is as much a main player as the two young stars, Nathan Varnson and Ryan Jones (playing brothers Eric and Tommy, respectively), who rarely give you a moment to turn your eyes away from their lead.

Review: "Sahkanaga" (****½)

Trevor Neuhoff stars in "Sahkanaga"

Nearly two years ago, I remember browsing through the 2011 Atlanta Film Festival lineup, stopping at a title with an unusual name and a 'made in Georgia' stamp. It didn't take me long to make the connection between the title "Sahkanaga" and the historic north Georgia town of Chickamauga. I vividly remember the news coverage of the Tri-State Crematory tragedy back in 2002 and in the years following, I often thought that a compelling film could be built around the incident. I suppose, then, that I was always going to be drawn towards this film. Writer-director John Henry Summerour makes a strikingly impressive debut.

"Sahkanaga" coming to Atlanta on December 7th!

John Henry Summerour's "Sahkanaga" is an electric retelling of the Tri-State Crematory incident that jolted Northwest Georgia in 2002. After playing at film festivals across the globe, taking home a bevy of prizes, including the Audience Award at the 2011 Atlanta Film Festival, "Sahkanaga" comes back to Atlanta for a long-awaited theatrical run.

Following its world premiere in Atlanta, the film showed at the Rome International Film Festival, won the Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema from the Georgia Film Critics Association and toured the Southeast as part of the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers, which included stops in Savannah, Thomasville and Winder. In October, "Sahkanaga" played a one-week run in Chattanooga.

The film starts at the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta next Friday, December 7th and runs for one week only. Make sure you go see it! Reel Georgia wasn't around yet during the 2011 Atlanta Film Festival, but you can bet I will soon be posting a proper review of "Sahkanaga." After all, it did rank as my #13 film of 2011.

"Sahkanaga" Georgia dates

Just a year ago, John Henry Summerour's riveting film "Sahkanaga" premiered at the Atlanta Film Festival. After winning prizes in Atlanta, Birmingham, Rome and San Francisco, "Sahkanaga" also received the Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema from the Georgia Film Critics Association and went on to be ranked as the 13th best film of 2011. Thankfully, more Georgians are about to have a chance to see it.

Next month, as part of the Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers, "Sahkanaga" will be playing throughout the Southeast. Summerour will bring the film back to his home state with stops in Savannah, Thomasville and Winder.

Check out the trailer and screening dates after the jump.

"The Tree of Life" dominates first ever Georgia Film Critics Awards

"The Tree of Life" won 6 awards out of 8 nominations.

You can now add Georgia to the list of states and cities around the country that boast their own film critics groups and award presentations. The Georgia Film Critics Association released their slate of nominees for their inaugural awards last week and just this evening announced the winners. Although both "The Tree of Life" and "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" led the way with eight nominations each, the former received the lion's share of prizes with a total of six. "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" was awarded Best Ensemble. "War Horse" won Best Score out of six nominations and both "Moneyball" and "Certified Copy" took home two awards each.

Brad Pitt won both Best Actor (for "Moneyball") and Best Supporting Actor (for "The Tree of Life"), while Juliette Binoche won Best Actress (for "Certified Copy") and newcomer Jessica Chastain was awarded prizes for Best Supporting Actress (for "The Tree of Life") and Breakthrough. Chastain bested fellow "The Tree of Life" star Hunter McCracken, British actor Tom Hiddleston ("Midnight in Paris," "Thor" & "War Horse"), as well as actors-turned-filmmakers Josh Radnor ("Happythankyoumoreplease") and Richard Ayoade ("Submarine") in the Breakthrough category.

Other awards went to "The Adventures of Tintin," "Midnight in Paris," "The Muppets," the Georgia-made "Sahkanaga" and racing documentary "Senna."

See the full list of winners and nominees after the jump.