“I know that as an independent filmmaker, when you go out to shoot that first scene, you’re not thinking, ‘I can’t wait to watch this in the theatre with all my friends.’ That’s your dream. For a lot of independence filmmakers, it’s just a long shot. So we really just try to cater to the filmmaker and make that happen.”

- Matt Smollon, Founder and Director

“We always talked about starting a festival. When he moved out to South Orange, we realized this is the perfect community for one. We were shocked that there wasn’t already one, to be honest.”

- Thomas Hanna, Co-Founder & Co-Director

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Being “creative types,” we didn’t think our paths would lead to the business side of film. Inspired by Andy Warhol’s quote: “Being good at business is the most fascinating art,” we found our niche in helping creative people navigate success. Have faith in yourself, never fear the word “no”, stay focused. Always dress for the job you want, not the one you have. Meanwhile, make yourself your own work of art: be stylish!

Linda Beck & Susan Greeley, SOMA Film Festival

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“It's always good to reach out to as many local filmmakers as possible, so they have the opportunity to see their films play on the big screen in front of friends and family. It was a great pleasure working with Columbia High film teacher Paul Marigliano on this exciting screening.”

- Matt Smollon, Founder & Director

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They say everything takes a village. And so it seemed, we needed a village. Maybe two.

…what surprised us was the consistent spirited and in kind support we encountered from folks in town. Matt Smollon founder of SOMA Film Festival offered to lend us his screen and projector, Mike Schloff from Maplewoodshop connected us with a guy he knew to cut the TEDx letters. A Paper Hat plied us with supplies for the many Art Hub initiatives that hosted by the General Store Cooperative and Oh!Canary. And let's not forget 509 Studio who opened their doors to us for flash mob dance practice. For that, we are grateful.

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Film Screening of Booker’s Place: A Mississippi Story followed by a discussion
Sponsored by: SOMA Justice with Special Thanks to SOMA FILM FESTIVAL

Friday, February 7, 2020 • 8pm • Free Event
Maplewood Town Hall, 574 Valley Street

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"SOMA is an incredible opportunity for our students to participate in what is often the initial step in many young filmmakers' career path: film festival exposure. Festivals are where new directors are discovered and heralded, and Seton Hall's partnership with SOMA allows our students to experience that process firsthand and prepare them for the larger film world ahead.”

- Bill Pace, Faculty Associate of Digital Media Production in the College of Communication and the Arts

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“Congratulations to the students and to their film and animation teacher Mr. Paul Marigliano!”
- SOMSD Supervisor of Fine Arts K-12, James A. Manno

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Check us out on SOMATV’s YouTube channel!

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Stated SOMA Film Festival Co-Founder and Co-Director, Thomas Hanna, “This is the next level of screenings we are excited to bring to the Festival and we’ll work hard to do more in the future.”

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As festival director and founder Matt Smollon states, "we have always been interested in showcasing local talent with a "shorts program" but this year we received so many wonderful submissions from our friends and neighbors, we decided to expand our programming to highlight our talented communities.

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Now in its 4th season, SOMA Film Festival has expanded the festivities to 5 days and nights from March 20-24.

This year's festival will include a Hollywood legend, a Welcome Party and screening, four Locals Only! programs, their popular Kids and Teens programs, US Premieres, an Oscar nominee, amazing independent films from near and far, filmmaker Q & A's rich with insight, and much more.

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Several Columbia High School students received awards and were finalists…

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The SOMA Film Festival returns this year on March 16 - 18 with exciting options for kids and their parents! I love that the SOMA Film Festival is so uniquely ‘local.’ The Film Festival highlights area filmmakers (perhaps one of your own neighbors?), includes a much-loved Kids Program and yet also brings internationally recognized independent and documentary films and filmmakers into our own backyard.

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Maplewood, NJ – The SOMA Film Festival returns for its third season with an impressive slate of films that will both entertain and enlighten. The festival takes place March 16-18 and for the first year at The Woodland in downtown Maplewood with selected screenings at both Maplewood Theater, and Bow Tie Cinemas in South Orange.

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“We have made the effort to give back to the community that has given much to us and marrying content with cause has proven to be both exciting and enriching.”

- Linda Beck, Executive Program Director

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SOMA Film Festival in partnership with The Woodland in downtown Maplewood, NJ will screen two highly acclaimed feature documentaries Blood On The Mountain and Art and Craft on Thursday, September 7 and Thursday, December 7 as part of new independent film endeavor titled, “2 Nights Only.”

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