Movie Producer From HoCo Middle School Earns Awards, Piece Appears In Film Festival

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A middle schooler from Howard County has captured the hearts of many after she created a movie starring her puppy Coco that highlights the humor and positivity that such a small yet adorable creature could bring into the world.

Samantha Pickett produced the short film she called "The Power of Play." It was selected to be shown at the Ocean City Film Festival in the youth short films category, her mom Theresa Pickett told Patch, where the film won a People's Choice Award.

'The Power of Play' Wins People's Choice Award at Ocean City Film Festival
Howard County middle school student Samantha Pickett’s comedy short film ‘The Power of Play’ takes home the People’s Choice Award at the Ocean City Film Festival.

Pickett previously wrote, directed and acted in another short film, "A Halloween Sleepover," a short stop motion movie featuring American Girl dolls teaching about safety on Halloween. It was an official selection of the Kids First! Film Festival and won outstanding interpretation, first place, in the Howard County-level Reflections Arts Competition along with outstanding interpretation, first place, for her musical composition "Quarantween." Both will move on to be judged at the state level.

The 6th Annual Ocean City Film Festival appeared at select theaters and venues March 3-6 and screened 100 independent films from around the world; 17 of those films were produced in Maryland. The event was organized by film festival director and Towson University alumni B.L. Strang-Moya.