Film Festival

The South Side Film Festival brings people of all ages together for a free outdoor movie Friday evenings through the month of July. Co-sponsored by the South Side Initiative, Visual Technologies, KeyBank, and the Southside Community Coalition, the annual event features films that are family oriented and have a message of inspiration, hope, perseverance, and self-help. Films are shown in the parking lot of KeyBank, located at the corner of South Salina and East Colvin streets.
    The festival was launched in 2007 to enhance cultural opportunities on Syracuse’s South Side, promote neighborhood goods and services, and foster family and community connectedness around a positive event. Among the films shown in past years: Akeelah and the Bee, The Great Debaters, Pride, The Pursuit of Happyness, Catch a Fire, Dream Girls, Family Reunion, and Stomp the Yard. Refreshments—including popcorn, soda, and ice cream—are available for purchase from local vendors.
    The event eventually will evolve into more of a traditional film festival, dedicated to showcasing original works by local, national, and international filmmakers. The film The Boys of Baraka, shown in 2009, was the first documentary to be included in the festival.