Macaroni Kid on The SOMA FF Kids' Block

By Elizabeth Moglia Jackson

This week I have a great "Parent With A Purpose" and his fantastic SOMA Film Festival Kids Program event to tell you about. Last year Matt Smollon - South Orange resident,  busy dad, and veteran writer of film, television and “many other creative endeavors”! - set out to bring an independent film festival to the SOMA area. The inaugural year of the South Orange Maplewood Film Festival (with Matt as Founder/Director) was so successful that he decided to not only expand the programming for adults, but to add a Kids Program as well (certainly making lots of Summit Short Hills SOMA parents very happy :-)).

Matt and the team at SOMA Film Festival aim to not only bring quality independent film to the area, but to showcase some of the many filmmakers and creative artists who might live right next door to you!  Thus the SOMA Film Festival Kids Program on Sunday, March 12 at 10 am will include many films made by or with the help of local residents, some of whom will be on hand to answer questions after their films (my Emmy-winning Peg + Cat composer husband will also be on hand to create a live, improvised song with Chicago City Limits veteran Carl Kissin!)  And who knows? - perhaps the event may even inspire your little one to become a filmmaker, director, writer or film composer!

I asked Matt why he decided to add a Kids Program this year and he said it’s all because of his own family:  "I have an 8 year old daughter, and wanted to give her something to enjoy about the festival, and by extension all of the families of South Orange and Maplewood! I worked hard to find some friendly and intriguing kids films, curated a few with my friend Linda Beck (who works with many kids production companies and is a local, South Orange resident!), and we took submissions through our submission site filmfreeway.com - and here we are!"

To add to the community feel of the festival, Matt even recruited the local Able Baker to provide some free treats at the event.  Matt says that he wants kids to come and “have fun and feel like they are part of a unique experience.”

Click here to link to the Macaroni Kid piece.