BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The 21st annual Sidewalk Film Festival will kick off Monday.

In its two decades of growth, the festival has become a way for filmmakers to share their work, gain international attention and network with others working in the entertainment industry.

Cinematographer Joe Walker remembers attending the first Sidewalk Film Festival in 1999.

“It’s just so fulfilling to to see how that has grown so organically and so well,” Walker said. “And also to see at the same time our city of Birmingham do the exact same thing, you know it’s been a very wild ride and it’s been very positive.”

Fast forward to 2019 — Walker is a part of the crew for four films showing at Sidewalk.

“The only way to really know how successful you were as an artist is to show your work,” he said. “And that’s what makes Sidewalk great — it’s a chance to see other audiences look at your work. You can basically get that visceral feedback right here.”

Screening more than 250 independent films and drawing in thousands of festival-goers, the festival turns Birmingham’s Historic Theater District into a bustling center of creativity. Rachel Morgan, creative director of the Sidewalk Film Festival, said it’s an opportunity for Birmingham to be shown in a positive light.

“People come here with a preconceived notion and they have a great time,” Morgan said. “And they then leave Birmingham with a different idea of Birmingham, a very positive one and that, we have found, can spread and change the reputation of our state and our city.”

Central Alabamians will soon have the opportunity to see independent films like the ones screened at the festival year-round. The new Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema will be open in time for this year’s festival. After that, it will be open throughout the year.

Chloe Cook, executive director of Sidewalk, said the vision is to create an inspiring space for creativity.

“To be able to rally serve as a meeting place for people who make films, make television, any sort of video content at all — there really hasn’t been a hub for those people,” Cook said. “I hope that this space becomes that, but not to the degree that we exclude the audience.”

You can get tickets for the 21st annual Sidewalk Film Festival here.