b'SchoolalumandfilmmakerMaxinvolved Goldstein. In addition to developingat least 30 severalprojectswhileatColumbia,Seton Hall Goldstein was the winner for SOMAstudents. Film Festivals Best Animation of Col- Imso orsoftheSpiritintheCinemaEdimpressed YoungFilmmakerstrack.Goldsteinwiththe currently studies as a first-year studentstudentsSupporting the individual & creative growthat University of Texas at Austin whereandIof each child within a Jewish settinghe is pursuing a Bachelor of Science incouldntREGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR PRESCHOOL AND CAMP. Call for a tour.Radio-Television-Film.bemoreToddler TimePreschoolExtended DaySummer CampBased on his experience with Gold- proudofPlease contact Carol Paster, Director, at the Preschool Officestein as a student and festival partici- t h e m , 973-763-4600cpaster@tstinj.org pant, Bell recommended him to speaksays Smol- www.tsti.org432 Scotland Road, South Orangeon a panel about empowering studentslon.We throughfilmmakingandstorytellinghave a fan-during last falls Austin Film Festival.tastic partnership with the university I really want to learn about historyand their film forum keeps getting bet-and literature and become a worldlyter and better.scholar of higher education so I canThe film submissions may be com-applythattothefilmworld,saysing from all over the planet, but the Goldstein. It was just a great thingfestival team believes the local commu-to see this local filmmaker from Southnity is the real key to the festivals suc-OrangewhoparticipatedinSOMAcess. While the ticket prices are a big Film Festival to speak on a panel withpart of our pie, sponsorship is still the somanyimpressivepanelists,addsmajority of our funding, says Smol-Bell. And Max was just so well spokenlon. Our local businesses step up and and dynamic. support us. These business owners are Sincetheoutsetofthefestival,our friends and neighbors and we con-Smollonhasnurturedapartner- stantly appreciate what they do. And ship with film students at Seton Hallevery vendor we use is local. We do not University. Bill Pace, faculty associatego out of the two towns. We have to of digital media production at Setonsupport them, too.Hall, believes the festival provides vitalMeanwhile,thereputationofthe experience for his students. Films areSOMAFilmFestivalcontinuesto a very public art form. You dont makegrow. If we treat our filmmakers well, it just for yourself, he says. You makethenwordgetsoutwerethegood it to share with an audience. Thats re- guys, says Hanna. We have a great allysomethingthatsimpossibletoteam and we get a lot of repeat submit-teach.Itsreallyimportantforthemters for the festival. I hope that means [the students] to go see their work withwere doing something right.an audience and see how they react.The5thSOMAFilmFestival Pace and his students presented 16willtakeplaceWednesday,March projects at the festival last year which18 through Sunday, March 22. Visit somafilmfestival.comforticketinfor-mation and program details, and for other events presented throughout the year. Donny Levit is a journalist, writer, and Maplewoodresident.Favoritemovies include Taxi Driver, Napoleon Dyna-mite, and more recently, Parasite. Follow him on Twitter @donnyreports and Ins-tagram @undertheinfluenceradio.The SOMA Film Festival is made pos-sible by generous sponsor support. L to R: Thomas and Julie Pauly of Able Baker and Ellen and Jonah Zimiles of Words Bookstore.feature story /31'