October 1, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A short film produced by two University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) students was named “Best Student Documentary” at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival last weekend.

Huntsville native Sarah Hereford, 21, a junior in the UAB Honors Program, and senior Krysta Parsons, 21, of Vestavia Hills, won for their six-minute documentary, “A Street Divided.” The film examines the relationship between anti-abortion protestors and the patient escorts at the New Woman All Women Health Care Clinic in Birmingham and the surprising rapport between the two sides despite the violent history that surrounds the clinic. Hereford and Parsons say they plan to enter the film in other film festivals around the country.

The students produced the film as part of an ethnographic filmmaking course offered through the UAB Center for Urban Affairs. Through the course, students produce short documentary films about life in various communities in Birmingham. Ethnographic research deals with the description of a specific culture or human social phenomenon.

Hereford, a theater major, is the daughter of Meg Hereford of Huntsville and Charles Hereford of Woodville. Parsons, a studio arts major, is the daughter of Angel and Steve Early of Vestavia Hills and Dale Parsons of Trussville.