Sidewalk Film Center Celebrates Local Connection to Oscar Nominee Greta Gerwig
Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:54:07 GMT
A Historic Night in Hollywood
The glitz and glamour of the 96th Academy Awards took place on Sunday night, sparkling with stars and movies that had captured the world’s attention. While the event held significance globally, it held a special place in the hearts of the Birmingham community at the Sidewalk Film Center. This year, acclaimed director and Oscar nominee Greta Gerwig, had a unique tie to this local film center, creating waves of pride and excitement.
A Journey From Sidewalk to Starlight
In 2011, Gerwig had starred in “The Dish and the Spoon,” which was featured in the Sidewalk Film Festival. After more than a decade, Gerwig’s directorial efforts in “Barbie” had earned her a total of nine Oscar nominations, turning the eyes of her former Sidewalk colleagues and Birmingham movie lovers towards Hollywood.
Amid the celebrations, some Oscar-related controversies stirred. Back in July, Gerwig’s absence from the five best director nominees for this year’s Oscars was cited as one of the biggest jolts of recent years. The Best Director accolade was eventually won by Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer”, a film that bagged a total of seven Oscars, including Best Picture.
Local Celebration of Global Success
Birmingham’s Sidewalk Film Center honored their alumna’s achievement with an annual Oscars watch party. The event, open to the public, created an atmosphere of camaraderie and anticipation. Those attending described the experience as a grounding one, embracing the notion of a fellow community member going from a start at a local film festival to making her mark on the biggest stage in cinema.
Continuing Legacy and Local Ties to the Oscars
Birmingham, and more broadly Alabama, has been no stranger to Academy Award recognition. In the previous year, Shelby County native Daniel Scheinert had also tasted Oscar glory. Scheinert was a co-director of “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, a film that won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director – further cementing the area’s rising impact on the global film scene.
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
