Alabama Film Office

Days before “Obsession” opened in theaters, its 26-year-old director, Curry Barker, made a bet with his manager and agent. They said if the movie opened above $20 million, they would all get tattoos.“Obsession” fell just short. It debuted with $17 million. They were still thrilled. Barker made the horror film with just $750,000. It was enormously successful. It was also just for starters.

Some of the most promising young filmmakers in the movie business are arriving in Hollywood already experts at entertaining audiences and going viral. The twin sensations of “Obsession” and “Backrooms” — both by 20-something YouTubers-turned-filmmakers — has put a new spotlight on an increasingly well-trod path to the director's chair. One name is a film maker from Mobile.

The film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” by Birmingham director Daniel Scheinert is being recognized as one of the top one hundred comedy films by Variety Magazine. The film by Scheinert and Daniel Kwan stunned critics by winning seven Oscars in 2023, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor. The directing duo, known as the “Daniels” were both first time nominees. Their film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards that year.

The latest film adaptation of a Stephen King story isn’t quite what you might expect. The Life of Chuck isn’t about monsters or haunted hotels—it’s about memory, love, and the beauty of ordinary moments. The film stars Mark Hamill and Tom Hiddleson, but for executive producer Scott Lumpkin, who grew up in Fairhope, this project hit close to home—literally. The movie was shot in Mobile and Baldwin counties. It tells a surreal story about the worlds inside each of us.

Alabama Public Radio newsroom student intern Barry Carmichael recently reported on a bill before the state legislature that would widen the incentives to bring entertainment projects to Alabama. That list of films also feature “The Life of Chuck,” based on a novel by Stephen King, which was shot along the Alabama Gulf coast. That includes a tie-in to “Star Wars” and the observance of Sunday's “May the 4th Be With You” Day, which is followed by Monday's "Revenge of the 5th." Both are a play on words related to the Sci Fi film classic series.

The 26th annual Sidewalk Film Festival is kicking off on Aug. 19 for a week of movie screenings, networking, panels and celebration in the heart of downtown Birmingham’s theatre district.

Final preparations are underway for a Birmingham festival that highlights filmmakers from around the country. The Birmingham Sidewalk Film Festival is celebrating its 26th year next month in the historic theater district.

Fans of documentary film making will gather in the nation’s capital tonight for the start of the annual DC DOX Festival. One short feature is titled “Christmas Every Day.” It focuses on two pre-teen Alabama sisters, Peyton and Lila Wesson, who promote fashion and beauty products as online influencers. APR News Director Pat Duggins spoke with Sky Sitney, co-founder and organizer of DC DOX about the Alabama based film which will featured in Washington, D.C.

The City of Mobile’s Spring Movies in the Park gets underway tomorrow with some heroes in a half shell. The Figures Community Center will feature the film Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles to start off the series.

A yearly showing of international media is beginning at an Alabama college. The University of North Alabama’s seventh annual French Film Festival starts on Monday, March 4, with a French themed reception.