Schedule of Events
9:00 am - 10:30 am: Pitching for Introverts at High Peaks Resort
Does pitching yourself or your script make you want to cry (or scream?). Not anymore. In this career-changing workshop with WGA Award Winning Screenwriter Jacob Krueger, you'll learn how to tell your story in ways that captivate any audience. You'll discover the 5 keys to an effective pitch, and the 10 biggest mistakes that writers often make when pitching. You'll also learn NLP tactics to build rapport, a life-changing hypnotic approach to instantly access your confidence (even when you're scared as hell!), new ways to turn “no's” into lifelong connections, and NLP and mirroring techniques that allow you to build instant rapport that goes way beyond your words. This seminar won't just change your career, it'll also change your life.
9:00 am - 11:00 am: Episodic Drama Block at Lake Placid Conference Center
A collection of dramatic episodic programming, brought to you by Catalyst Story Institute:
Ventriculus (Director: Jacob Tischler)
Based on a true story, a young fur trapper becomes the indentured science experiment of an ambitious doctor after a catastrophic accident. The lad has a fistula, an opening through the skin and into the stomach, which the doctor uses to conduct experiments on digestion. The fur trapper must fight for equality, or be doomed to life as a sideshow attraction.
Two Breaths (Director: Kateryna Kurganska)
After a man-made disaster decimates an evergreen island, a stranded 11-year-old girl must find the tenacity to leave behind her home with the help of an unlikely friend – the majestic Manta Ray.
Awesome (Director: Paul D'Arcy Munger)
Every night, 20-year-old Joy gets a glimpse of the future. But with a dad on parole, a pill-popping boyfriend, and a recent layoff, that doesn't mean she can stop it from being ******. That is, until she foresees an event that will ruin the lives of her loved ones forever. She'll have to figure out how to change her future — or live with the consequences.
Two of a Kind (Director: Mel Soria)
In the deep desert near the US/Mexican border, journalist Philip Freeman is captured spying on a KKK rally. He is interrogated by klan leader Eugene Buckley, but before any harm can befall Freeman the two are suddenly beamed up into space by aliens.
9:00 am - 11:00 am: Block 1 Your Shorts Are Showing at Lake Placid Center for the Arts
The first block of Adirondack Film's long standing shorts program. This block features a collection of nine shorts, carefully curated by Lake Placid Film Festival judges.
10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Block 1 Table Reads at High Peaks Resort
This is your chance to hear writers share their scripts, with actors reading the various roles in front of a live audience. Each block will have a range of projects for you to listen to, with time for Q&A so you can ask the writers directly about their work!
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Feature Film Budgeting, Schedules, Hiring Crew & Logistics at High Peaks Resort
Led by Artist in Residence Jonathan Burkhart, from crafting a robust budget and shooting schedule to assembling a top-tier crew, this panel dives deep into the nuts and bolts of pre-production. Discover essential strategies for transforming a script into a reality, and gain invaluable insights on the crucial steps to take your film from concept to first day of shooting. Topics will include:
When a movie is ready to formally get set up, how do you create a shoot schedule and production budget? What are the essential elements needed to make these critical documents come to life?
When a new feature film is inches away from starting prep, how and where do you go to hire your crew?
How do you start prep and get to the first day of filming?
11:30 am - 1:00 pm: Block 1 Episodic Comedy at Lake Placid Conference Center
A collection of comedic episodic programming, brought to you by Catalyst Story Institute:
Pepper and Mickey (Directors: Miranda Rose Fayne, Arielle Duran, and Cornelia Silsbee)
When two twenty-somethings-scorned realize they've been ghosted by the same fuckboy, they set off on a 24-hour man-hunt through New York with a deadly goal.
Loft and Found (Director: Pete O'Hare)
When two twenty-somethings-scorned realize they've been ghosted by the same fuckboy, they set off on a 24-hour man-hunt through New York with a deadly goal.
Makeshift Society (Director: Serena Schuler)
When suddenly fired by her tech bro boss, Alex discovers a converted warehouse of misfit founders, each running their own eccentric business. She decides to embark on an adventure to build her own startup, and make her own rules.
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: The Art of Adaptation at High Peaks Resort
Whether you're writing a novel, memoir, short story or creative nonfiction, this conversation with Adirondack Center For Writing Director Nathalie Thill and WGA Award Winning Screenwriter Jacob Krueger will give you a new perspective on the art of adaptation. You'll learn the similarities (and differences) between book writing and writing for TV or film, how to know if your book can be translated into a movie or TV show, how to decide if you want to write the screenplay or turn it over to a screenwriter, and how to best make the transition to the business of screenwriting.
12:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Block 2 Table Reads
This is your chance to hear writers share their scripts, with actors reading the various roles in front of a live audience. Each block will have a range of projects for you to listen to, with time for Q&A so you can ask the writers directly about their work!
Black Sheep Project (Written By: Monica Brady)
In the ruins of present-day Detroit, a maverick team of scientists and engineers, led by the enigmatic Branson Brodie, uses unconventional methods to tackle the world's toughest problems, blending the intrigue of “Fringe” with the compelling character drama of “House.”
Wildflower of the Valley: Carnal Bloom (Written By: Hannah Rose Vernot)
One night, a group of children stumble across a dead body while trespassing on a golf course. Fresh off her latest kill, assassin Layla stumbles into a bar and meets Arlynette Flores and her friends. The group views a news flash declaring the body at the golf course who is one of Layla's kills missing. She calls her housemates, her brother and his fiancée, saying she'll claim herself the killer of the man on the golf course and receive his bounty.
Minneapolis Sounds (Written By: Justin Lerbakken)
A former musician-turned-manager inherits a once-famous music venue in Minneapolis from his father, upending his life in Los Angeles.
Bat Sh*t Debbie (Written By: Billy Abraham)
The painfully hilarious moments experienced by Debbie Segel, a lovable modern day Lucille Ball, struggling with severe ADHD making the challenges of motherhood, marriage and daily life unusually messy for everyone around her.
12:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Block 2 Your Shorts Are Showing at Lake Placid Center for the Arts
The second block of Adirondack Film's long standing shorts program. This block features a collection of nine shorts, carefully curated by Lake Placid Film Festival judges.
Johnnie Smerad
A Tree Once Grew Here
A Tree Once Grew Here combines captivating visuals, animation, and imagery, to tell a tale that transcends language. We are reminded that we must rebalance harmony and nurture our planet; because we can no longer afford not to.
Geraldo Hinch
Concetta
Maria, a nurse at an assisted living facility, must find a way to get Lolanda, a patient who has been diagnosed with dementia, to eat.
Amy Zhou
Footsteps on the Ground
This documentary follows Baigali on her transformative odyssey, where every step tells a story of cultural pride and the enduring spirit of a Mongolian dancer determined to leave an indelible mark in the world.
Cameron Gallagher
It Visits Me
A distressed young woman takes refuge with her religiously-minded sister, who warns her she could be visited by an angel in the night.
Cameron Snyder Mitchell
Kryptonite
Old flames Imani and Alex reconnect after being estranged for over 2 years. Imani has news that will change Alex's life forever and together they must come to an acceptance of their new reality.
Federica Avagliano
La Petite Mort
After surviving a vicious attack, the body of a rigorous ballerina threatens to decay unless she placates a “certain hunger” to supplement her rotting flesh.
Jessica Taylor & Becca Schall
Mama Night
A pregnant woman learns she must give up all her other identities in order to become a real Mama.
Peter McCully
Six Concertos
As Germany is being bombed by the allies in World War Two, a music-loving archivist attempts to save a precious manuscript.
Christa Haley
Tragedy Babes
A young woman's obsession with social media livestreaming spirals out of control during a night out-on-the-town.
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: How to Write Your Best Story at High Peaks Resort
With WGA Nominated Writer Pamela Cederquist
Writing is an inside job. The character's journey reveals something about the human condition, about the how and why we change. When it works – for the writer and for their audience – it speaks from the heart. For many of us, it's a lifestyle, not a hobby, and navigating through both the work and the marketplace can be tricky. It's an exhilarating, eye-opening ride, and one that all of us participate in. Come explore with WGA-Nominated Writer, Pamela Cederquist (Mindhunter).
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Block 2 Episodic Comedy at Lake Placid Conference Center (in Lake Placid Olympic Center)
A collection of comedic episodic programming, brought to you by Catalyst Story Institute:
Episodic Content
The Selectman (Director: David Antonio Martin)
Welcome to Picasquiddy, ME: one of New England's finest summer towns. Every year, between June and August, America's elite flock to this coastal haven equipped with sunscreen, smiles, and deep pockets. During their extended stays, they bring the charisma and capital necessary to revive the town from its old and gray cycle. Their only baggage? Children. No, not regular children—we're talking the big kids, the 25+ crowd, the still-unemployed-despite-being-gifted-a-two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar-education types. They mean well. They're likable. They just can't mobilize.
The Mobley Test (Director: Jeff Griggs)
Unhappy with his life, a talented scientist takes a DNA test that tells him how to look into the future to achieve his true life's destiny.
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Made Upstate: Building A Crew Base at High Peaks Resort
Upstate New York has emerged as a promising destination for film production, thanks in part to its scenic landscapes, competitive tax incentives, and a growing talent pool. To further solidify the region's position as a film hub, it is essential to cultivate a robust local crew base. This panel discussion will explore strategies for developing and sustaining a thriving film industry ecosystem in Upstate NY. Panelists will discuss the current state of the film industry in Upstate NY, identifying key growth areas and potential challenges. They will also explore the economic benefits of fostering a local crew base and attracting major productions to the region.
Moderated by the Governor's Film Office, panelists Nora Brown (Executive Director of the Rochester/Finger Lakes Film Commission), Shaelyn Giampetroni (Sr. Project Manager in Film, Tech & New Media at Empire State Development), and Beth Davenport (Stockade Works Co-Founder) will touch on strategies for developing transferable skills among local residents, including through partnerships with educational institutions, community organizations, and industry professionals. They will also explore opportunities for on-the-job training and mentorship programs. By exploring the opportunities and challenges of developing a local crew base, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the factors driving the growth of the film industry in Upstate NY, including the High Peaks region, and the steps necessary to ensure its continued success.
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Block 3 Your Shorts Are Showing at Lake Placid Center for the Arts
The third block of Adirondack Film's long standing shorts program. This block features a collection of twelve shorts, carefully curated by Lake Placid Film Festival judges.
Alex Hass
Adrift
A man contemplates his life choices, reconciles with his feelings of loss, and comes to terms with mortality.
Julie Anne Koehnen
Aperture
After trying to make it in the corporate world, a young photographer with no real-world success is forced to come to terms with her creativity if she is to find her real place in life.
Emrys Ellis
Artifacts: Matt Horner
Sculptor and ice climber Matt Horner shapes ancient Adirondack anorthosite stone into striking organic forms. His work causes us to reflect on permanence and our scale in nature, just as his near-death experience while climbing did.
Joseph Rossi
Epilogue
A bitter empty nester has a heart to heart with her deceased sister.
Sam Kimbrell
Fred the Super Computer
A man befriends a computer who wants to take over his entire life. The film comedically explores why we are truly here and how much tech truly means to our existence.
Conrad Murphy & Rayne Polkowski
Larva
When a girl watches an infomercial for the latest product, she can't help but indulge.
Brian Russell
SilverSizzle
A cemetery caretaker embarks on a quest to help two recent widowers find new love among widows visiting their departed spouses.
Ethan John Paulo
Sock Quiz
After nearly giving up on filling out her study guide, Caroly's wish for geometry to be as easy as making sock puppets comes true!
Phiip Gladkov
Story of the Sun
Story of the Sun is the first stop-motion animation in the world made entirely from birch bark. It shares the tale of how the first humans discovered fire, changing the world forever.
Britney Fan
There Can Only Be One…
Upon entrance of her boyfriend's apartment for the first time, Kat is encountered with her biggest, most unexpected rival; his cat. There can only be one to win his love and affection….So, who will it be?
Eli Jeffery
Trumpet Practice
This short uses cardboard, paste and the joys of music to tell the story of a lone trumpet player who picks an inopportune time to practice.
Heather & Hunter Frederick
Wherever We Go
Cara, a socially anxious college student, sees her inner voice personified as an identical look alike.
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Block 1 Episodic Documentary at Lake Placid Conference Center (in Lake Placid Olympic Center)
A collection of documentary episodic programming, brought to you by Catalyst Story Institute:
Life Rituals (Director: Denise M McQueen)
Life Rituals is a documentary-style reality TV show where participants confront their deepest fears and sorrows in a transformative setting. Guided by renowned healer Denise McQueen, they use healing tools like crystals, herbs, and water to set the stage for their personal healing journey. The show captures their transformations and revisits them six weeks later to see the lasting impact of the rituals.
Food Foray Episode 1: Republic of Georgia (Director: Ivana Horvat)
Imagine Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, but at local, international markets with a host named Jess. Each episode of this MetroEast original docuseries takes us on a food journey as we learn about our immigrant neighbors through shopping, cooking and eating with friends and family while discussing geopolitics, immigration, love and humor.
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: I'm Still Here at Palace Theatre
From Acclaimed Director Walter Salles (Central Station)
BRAZIL, 1971 – Brazil faces the tightening grip of a military dictatorship. Eunice Paiva, a mother of five children is forced to reinvent herself after her family suffers a violent and arbitrary act by the government.
Based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's biographical book, this film tells the true story that helped reconstruct an important part of Brazil's hidden history.
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm: Bird at Palace Theatre
From Oscar winning director Andrea Arnold & Oscar nominated actor, Barry Keoghan
The long-awaited return to fiction filmmaking from Academy Award-winner Andrea Arnold (American Honey, Fish Tank), BIRD is a tender, striking and extraordinarily surprising coming-of-age fable about marginalised life in the fringes of contemporary society. 12-year-old Bailey (astounding newcomer Nykiya Adams) lives with her devoted but chaotic single dad Bug (Barry Keoghan, Saltburn) and wayward brother Hunter in a squat in Gravesend, north Kent.
Approaching puberty and seeking attention and adventure, Bailey's fractured home life is transformed when she encounters Bird (Franz Rogowski, Passages), a mysterious stranger on a journey of his own. A wondrous portrait of the transition from childhood to adolescence that remains grounded in her typically empathetic social realism, Arnold's latest strides to the wildly poetic rhythm of her own drum.
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm: Red Carpet Cocktail at High Peaks Resort
Join us for Q&A and Cocktails with Lake Placid Film Festival Artists in Residence Jacob Krueger and Jonathan Burkhart and acclaimed MGM+ Producer Jill Burkhart. Come find out the inside of the business from a filmmakers point of view: Bring your questions to learn about the insights from those who negotiate from concept all the way to the first day of filming. Prepare to dig deep into the mechanics of the filmmaking process!
This is an evening to…
…Mingle with friends, colleagues, and our many guest filmmakers, or simply relax and enjoy some good food and complimentary wine and drinks.
…Indulge in mouth-watering hors d'oeuvres and cocktails at our upcoming cocktail reception.
…Support the work of Adirondack Film in Student Scholarship, Economic development and film arts at the Festival and year-round.
Order of events 5:30 – 8:30 P.M.
5:30 – 6:30 Welcome cocktails, open bar in the High Peaks Lobby Bar
6:30 – 7:30 Cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres, carving stations, and specialty stationary displays served in the High Peaks Ballroom
7:30 – 8:15 Conversation/Q&A with Jonathan Burkhart, Jacob Krueger, and Jill Burkhart
8:15 – 8:30 Red Carpet photos and bar reopens for more cocktails.
BETA Double Feature: In The Dirt & Descendance
An exciting outdoor sports experience, sponsored by BETA!
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Luther: Never Too Much at Palace Theatre
Celebrate Grammy-Award Winning Artist, Luther Vandross in this impactful documentary
Luther: Never Too Much is a celebration of the life and work of Luther Vandross, one of the greatest musical vocalists and performers of all time. The film explores his musical talent but also his character, style, humor, relationship with family, friends, fans and the incredible artists he collaborated with including Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, David Bowie, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, and more.
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