Bethlehem, PA: Among the diverse array of films to be screened in the 22nd Annual SouthSide Film Festival in Bethlehem is a documentary on the life story of a local legend: Moravian University Professor Emeritus of Management Santo D. Marabella.
A recipient of honors including Moravian’s Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Timothy M. Breidegam Memorial Faculty Service Award, Marabella is a past Chair of the Economics & Business Department and directed the Moravian MBA for seven years.
Directed by Tracy Schott, Il Mio Posto a Tavola (My Place at the Table) (2025) explores Marabella’s adoption from an Italian orphanage by an Italian American couple from Reading during the “Baby Scoop Era,” when the Catholic Church facilitated the adoption of thousands of Italian children, mostly of unwed mothers.
Addressing themes of trauma, alienation, and the emotional complexities of adoption, the film will screen at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity (321 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem) at 5:20 p.m. on Thursday, June 11 and at Touchstone Theater (321 E 4th Street, Bethlehem) at 5:20 p.m. on Friday, June 13. Tickets are $10 or included with an All-Access Pass for the festival ($65; $50 for students, seniors, and veterans).
The 22nd annual SouthSide Film Festival, slated for June 10-13, 2026, will feature a diverse selection of films from all over the world. Launched in 2004, SSFF showcases original films that tell a compelling cinematic story regardless of subject matter, length, genre, or production date.
Categories include documentary shorts, documentary features, narrative shorts (comedy and drama), and a late-nite block of horror comedy shorts. Many filmmakers attend the festival and participate in Q&A sessions following the screening of their films. In addition to contributing prizes for the BINGO fundraiser, many SouthSide businesses participate in the “Flash Your Pass” program offering discounts to festival attendees.
Screening venues for SSFF 2026 will be Touchstone Theater, PBS39, and the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, all located in SouthSide Bethlehem. The festival will begin Wednesday, June 10, with an opening party at the Comfort Suites, 120 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem, and will wrap up with a closing night party at the Gander Room, 102 W 4th St., Bethlehem, on Saturday, June 13.
For more information on Il Mio Posto a Tavola (My Place at the Table), see https://southsidefilmfestival.com/2026-films/.
Visit http://www.ssff.org for details on the jury selection process, festival updates, and information on volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.
About the SouthSide Film Festival: The SouthSide Film Festival is an annual four-day event featuring international films, guest filmmakers, juried selections, and networking opportunities for filmmakers and fans of independent film. The SouthSide Film Festival is a program of The SouthSide Film Institute, a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization promoting the art of the independent filmmaker. www.ssff.org.
Information provided to TVL by:
Emily Dings
