[1] The "SouthSide" refers to the area of the city on the south side of the Lehigh River which was home to Bethlehem Steel and is currently undergoing redevelopment.
[2][3] The festival's logo pays homage to that industrial heritage[4] by including a representation of a blast furnace, still highly visible in Bethlehem.
Film screenings take place on the campus of Lehigh University[5] and in alternative venues such as Godfrey Daniels Listening Club and Deja Brew Coffeehouse.
From its inception through 2008, the festival has screened films from 54 countries and 31 states of the U.S.[6] The festival focuses on independent filmmaking and features Invitational Films and Juried Selections, a highlighted genre, and a highlighted cultural region.
Returning teachers include Mel Halbach and Clayton Farr of FilmTreks, Shanti Thakur of Hofstra University, and Pawel Partyka of Se-ma-for animation studio.