SouthSide Film Festival
| Location | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003; 23 years ago (2003) |
| Founded by | Jeff Vaclavik, Graham Stanford, Sally Handlon, Rob Dougherty |
| Festival date | June |
| Website | Official website |
The SouthSide Film Festival is an annual non-competitive, not-for-profit film festival that takes place each June in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.[1] The festival features locally produced as well as international films, guest filmmakers, juried selections, and seminars for filmmakers and fans.[1] The first festival took place in 2004.[2]
The "SouthSide" refers to the area of the city on the south side of the Lehigh River which was home to Bethlehem Steel and underwent redevelopment in the early 2000s.[3] [4]
History
[edit ]From its inception through 2021, the festival had screened close to 1,600 independent films from 102 countries and 47 states of the U.S.[5] The festival focuses on independent filmmaking and features Invitational Films and Juried Selections,[1] a highlighted genre, and a highlighted cultural region. The annual festival also includes filmmaking workshops to teach techniques and concepts. Teachers have included Mel Halbach and Clayton Farr of FilmTreks,[6] Shanti Thakur of Hofstra University, and Pawel Partyka of Se-ma-for animation studio.
Film screenings take place on the campus of Lehigh University,[7] in alternative venues such as Godfrey Daniels Listening Club and Deja Brew Coffeehouse,[8] [9] in Touchstone Theatre, the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, PBS39, Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema, and the National Museum of Industrial History.[1] [7] [9]
At the 2025 festival, more than 80 independent films were shown in three different locations around Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.[10]
The 2026 festival, from June 10-13, will mark the festival's 22nd year.[9] [1] [7]
It is the longest running film festival in Bethlehem.[11] [1]
Logo
[edit ]The festival's logo pays homage to that industrial heritage by including a representation of a blast furnace, still highly visible in Bethlehem.[12]
Recognition
[edit ]The SouthSide Film Festival and its host organization, The SouthSide Film Institute, have received grants and awards including a Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission Organization of the Year award [13] which noted "By providing access to independent films for the public, creating a venue for film enthusiasts and filmmakers to come together, and mounting a children's film series, (the SouthSide Film Festival is) developing an appreciation for film as an art form and contributing to a thriving arts scene in Bethlehem that benefits the Lehigh Valley." The festival awards The Linny and Beall Fowler Audience Award that honors the audience’s favorite film.[5]
References
[edit ]- ^ a b c d e f "SouthSide Film Festival". Discover Lehigh Valley. Retrieved 2026年01月30日.
- ^ "SouthSide Film Festival". The Morning Call. 2004年06月26日. Retrieved 2026年01月30日.
- ^ Interactive, Ripple Effects. "Rebuilding Bethlehem with Bethlehem Steel : Historical Society of Pennsylvania". www.hsp.org. Archived from the original on 2011年03月29日. Retrieved 2026年01月30日.
- ^ "Bethlehem, Pa., Gambles on Steel Mill Casino Plan". NPR.org.
- ^ a b Reimer, Megan (2022年03月31日). "SouthSide Film Institute and Festival". The Brown and White. Retrieved 2026年02月04日.
- ^ "SouthSide Film Festival has grown but is still proudly grass-roots". The Morning Call. 2013年06月05日. Retrieved 2026年02月04日.
- ^ a b c Hood, Micaela (2025年06月08日). "Southside Film Fest highlights local works, LGBTQ films, Latinos, skateboarding". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 2026年01月30日.
- ^ "SouthSide Film Festival". Fig Lehigh Valley. 2025年06月02日. Retrieved 2026年01月30日.
- ^ a b c "Still Indie After All These Years: SouthSide Film Festival Turns 21". Lehigh Valley with Love. June 5, 2025. Retrieved 2026年02月04日.
- ^ "Annual Southside Bethlehem film festival showcasing 80 indie films for 21st year". WFMZ-TV. June 10, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ "Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Pride month: A-listers appear in films at Southside Film Festival". LehighValleyNews.com. 2023年06月11日. Retrieved 2025年03月14日.
- ^ Deegan, Jim (2024年06月29日). "Iconic Bethlehem blast furnaces at SteelStacks go dark. But why?". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 2026年01月30日.
- ^ "Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission - Tribute to the Arts". Archived from the original on 2008年08月01日. Retrieved 2008年08月27日.
External links
[edit ]40°36′42′′N 75°22′39′′W / 40.6117°N 75.3776°W / 40.6117; -75.3776