Schedule of Events

November 7, 2024

12:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Fundamental Differences Between Making TV and Film at High Peaks Resort

A deep dive into the entire process of making TV. What are the creative, business and production differences from making a film? Learn the many steps involved and why it takes years to get from idea to screen, including secrets known mostly to industry insiders. Decide if making TV is the right creative medium for your ideas.

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm: TV Writing: The Pilot, The Bible and The Series Engine at High Peaks Resort

Want to sell a TV show? You're going to need more than just a great pilot. A TV Bible is the most important document in your arsenal when it comes to selling your series. More than just a treatment or synopsis, a successful TV Bible not only hooks your reader with a compelling concept and unforgettable characters, but also demonstrates the underlying Series Engine that will allow your series to run season after season. In this seminar, WGA Award Winner Jacob Krueger will teach you not just how to write a TV Bible, but also how to think about one. You'll learn what to include, and what to exclude, how to avoid the common pitfalls, and how to write a Bible that grabs a producer by their designer lapels, and tells them you need to make this!

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Miracle - 20th Anniversary at Palace Theatre

US Hockey Gold Medalist, Buzz Schneider, in Attendance

When college coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) is hired to helm the 1980 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, he brings a unique and brash style to the ice. After assembling a team of hot-headed college all-stars, who are humiliated in an early match, Brooks unites his squad against a common foe, the heavily-favored Soviet team. As the U.S. squad tries to overcome insurmountable odds and win the gold medal, the team becomes a microcosm for American patriotism during the Cold War.

November 8, 2024

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.

November 9, 2024

9:00 am - 10:30 am: RIT Student Showcase at Lake Placid Center for the Arts

Q&A with Student Filmmakers and RIT Professor and Emmy Nominee, Amy Adrion

The RIT School of Film and Animation (SOFA) is considered one of the best film schools in the country, and this showcase highlights some of the best work from RIT SOFA students from the last academic year. Join us as we celebrate these bold new voices in the film and animation industries! The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Emmy-Nominated Writer/Director and RIT Professor, Amy Adrion, and the student filmmakers in attendance.

Plane Pals (Director: Kristin Theler)
Making friends with paper airplanes

Ialu (Director: Sebastian Nazario-Colon)
A recluse with uncontrollable powers getting a shot at love.

The Tale of Mari (Director: Anya Vaughn)
Mari, an elderly Japanese woman, recounts her experiences growing up in Okinawa, moving to America, and attempting to become a newspaper cartoonist.

Tomte's Tulip (Director: Elleheyn Hallock)
A gnome takes care of an elderly woman in her final days

The Chaos Clover (Director: Devin Grover)
When a man finally gets an elusive four leaf clover, its magic isn't quite what it seemed.

My Dog's Leg (Director: Ashton Polak)
A father creates a monster-driven fantasy story to explain to his daughter how their dog lost her leg-and how he and the dog tried to get it back.

Looking Glass (Director: Katelyn Park)
Two young entrepreneurs explore their perceptions of each other and of themselves.

Nest (Director: Corrigan Owen)
A lone survivor and a mysterious individual form a fragile alliance to protect a rare ecosystem.

Where I Wonder (Director: Oliver Nyquist)
Generational belief and me.

I had To (Director: Vinh Nguyen)
An exploration of my Vietnamese background in order to bridge generational gaps created by a defining war.

She Flies Asunder (Director: Ella Shea)
A flying trapeze artist preforms a quadruple flip.

Washed Up (Director: Ashlyn Kreiss)
A tired model decides to take back control of her life from her sleazy modeling agent in this provocative animated comedy.

Resurrection Story (Director: Jahaad Shairi)
A widow resurrects her husband's mindless body in a misguided effort to force their relationship back into stability.

Suz & Lolly in: Saturday Night Close Encounters (Director: Reagan Christie)
Two girls run over a little grey alien on their way to a night out and give him the best night of his life.

9:00 am - 11:00 am: Block 3 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:

Hallmark Pitches (Director: Kyle Thornton)
Hallmark Pitches is a series of Hallmark-style shorts.

And Cut! (Director: Arjun Chatterjee)
And Cut! is a mockumentary style sitcom that explores the everyday shenanigans of a brand new film production house trying to make it in the Indian film industry under the awkward leadership of an eccentric but charismatic young director.

I Need Your Love (Director: Walker Kalan and Camille Trust)
I Need Your Love is a bittersweet comedy about pop singer Camille Trust's struggle to make a name for herself in New York's cutthroat music scene—from sleazy producers and vengeful Swifties to heartbreak and self-sabotage. It's raw. It's messy. And most of it actually happened.

10:30 am - 12:00 pm: The Myth of the 3 Act Structure at High Peaks Resort

Escape the tired old formulas, and learn a new way of thinking about structure with WGA Paul Selvin Award Winner Jacob Krueger. You'll learn why so many of the most successful scripts no longer rely on 3 act structure at all, debunk the myths and misperceptions that get so many writers “lost in the second act,” and learn how to develop your structure organically from the blank page to the final draft.

10:30 am - 12:30 pm: Block 3 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!

GFF: Ghost Friends Forever (Written By: Tyler Stuart)

LOGOS (Written By: Monica Brady)
In the near future, a seasoned astronaut and her son, decades apart, grapple with the legacy of space exploration, as a lost mission re-emerges from the void, revealing secrets that will alter destinies.

Nightfall (Written By: David Guthrie)
Humans are now scattered across the galaxy, broken into factions, all vying for power. But when an ancient evil gets unleashed, only one missing ship holds the key to save humanity.

NIGHTFALL is a sci-fi show about destiny and adventure, with a love story, and intergalactic space politics. Out here, humanity's lust for power is inescapable, no matter how many light years we travel. And the new frontier is rife with peril: dangerous beasts, solar flares, ice storms, space pirates, warring factions, and a murder hungry space demon. The survival of humanity lies in one missing ship: The Nightfall.

Rainy Lake (Written By: Mary Casanova)
In 1920s northern MN, a senator's 16-year old foster daughter discovers her mother was murdered, setting in motion a search for truth, justice, and a fight to save wilderness lakes.

11:00 am - 12:30 pm: UPWIFT Shorts Block at Lake Placid Center for the Arts

Upstate Women In Film & Television (UPWIFT) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that supports women in film, television and digital media. The organization endeavors to increase opportunities for women in the field by increasing public and industry awareness of women's achievements and stature via providing news and targeted programs for members and the public. This collection of shorts was carefully curated by the UPWIFT organization. A Q&A with the filmmakers in attendance, moderated by UPWIFT President Sunny Edelman, will follow the screening.

Jessica Alexandra Green
Making Room
A new mother looks for work while trying to reconcile her new identity with her old one.

Daniel Byers
Aguilucho:Dance of the Harpy Eagle
In the remote Darién Gap rainforest, indigenous communities face the advance of loggers and cattle ranchers, an existential threat to their way of life and the ecosystem upon which they rely. When a rare Harpy Eagle nest is discovered near their community, the Emberá tribe of Playa Muerto find an unlikely ally. By protecting their lands and the Eagle's habitat, they can benefit from the ecotourism she attracts, and reconnect with their own traditional heritage.

Cara Yeates
Gone Before Your Eyes
Trapped in a surreal loop, an artist with Alzheimer's struggles to paint

Samantha Jones
Transform Nation
What happens when the world shuts down and four teenage girls can't go to school anymore? They find themselves.

Lisa Thomas
Change of Scenery
One year after the loss of her partner Julia gets up the nerve to bring herself to a gay bar only to encounter Nate, a former FBI agent.

Lisa Thomas
Gothic Spaghetti Western
The notorious Whip Totin' Sister has been wanted internationally for sometime and is rumored to be in Sicily with the mob hot on her trail. Shot on 35mm in Catania, Sicily, the Gothic Spaghetti Western includes a suspicious cast of characters including an outlaw sister, a horse named Twister and features members of the New York based dark carnival band: The Dust Bowl Faeries.

Lisa Thomas
The Misadventures of Bucky & Beene
The Misadventures of Bucky & Beene follows the lives of two campy pirate radio DJ's, Pepper Buckthorne who was once Miss Gay USA and her sassy younger sidekick, Jelly Beene who threaten the locals in upstate New York with their WRU-GAY in the morning radio show and befriend Sharon their free spirited albeit ditzy neighbor in the process.

11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Ghost Cat Anzu at Palace Theatre

A delightful anime for all ages!

Karin, 11 years old, finds herself abandoned by her father in a small Japanese town, where her grandfather, a monk, resides. Her grandfather asks Anzu, his jovial and helpful, although rather capricious, ghost cat, to look after her. As their spirited personalities collide, sparks fly—yet perhaps only in the beginning.

11:30 am - 1:00 pm: Block 2 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:

NY Common Pantry Series (Director: Victor Ilyukhin)
Food and nutrition security is a key social determinant of health, and a 2022 survey showed that nearly half of all food-insecure New Yorkers rate their health as poor or fair. The Common Pantry addresses this hands-on. The dedicated staff and volunteers provide fresh, quality food and are committed to honoring the dignity and self-sufficiency of the Pantry's recipients. This series features The Common Pantry and the community it serves, in a city where food insecurity causes major disparities among its residents.

The Disease Detective Looks at Aphasia (Director: Laura Valtorta)
Aphasia is a language disorder that can occur after a stroke. The Aphasia Lab at the University of South Carolina studies the effects of aphasia on the brain and offers social outlets for people with aphasia.

11:30 am - 1:30 pm: She Rises Up at Palace Theatre

A special Made Upstate screening! She Rises Up reveals the explosive implications of women's economic participation as we follow radically different women from Sri Lanka, Peru and Senegal who are fighting to build businesses that create job opportunities for women, while also contributing to the reduction of poverty in their communities.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Women in the Director's Chair at High Peaks Resort

Featuring Oscar and Emmy Winners/Nominees!

At a time when women make up roughly 50% of the U.S. population, only about 4% of the top-grossing American films are made by women directors. In 2023, only 14% of movies were directed by women. This panel of women directors from various backgrounds will share their tips and best practices for navigating the film industry. Fielding from their knowledge and experience working in finance, distribution, storytelling and review. This panel will share advice and insights and respond to audience Q&A.

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Seeds at Palace Theatre

Post screening discussion with Akwesasne Cultural Center Director, Justin Cree, and Professor/Poet, Rebecca Pelky!

Seeds follows Ziggy, a thirty-something Kanien'kehaka (Mohawk) woman, who is offered her first gig as an online influencer, promoting for Nature's Oath, a seed and fertilizer company. When her cousin summons her back to the rez, she is forced into a battle to save her people's legacy. Post screening discussion with Akwesasne Cultural Center Director, Justin Cree, and Professor/Poet, Rebecca Pelky!

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Los Frikis at Palace Theatre

The latest film from directors Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz (The Peanut Butter Falcon)

INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS. Los Frikis is a coming-of-age story set in early 90's Cuba where a group of punk rockers in search of freedom, move to a rural sanatorium to escape the oppression of the Special Period. From the directors of The Peanut Butter Falcon and Academy Award winning producers Lord Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse).

Featuring an original score from Academy Award winner Steven Price (Gravity) and cinematography from Santiago Gonzalez (Beyonce: Black is King).

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Block 4 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!

Griefstruck (Written By: Melissa Malone and Diann Gogerty)
A group of post-apocalyptic survivors band together to survive the upheaval this new life has created, even if the end of the world is only a fabricated mental representation for the real life grief they are experiencing.

Expired (Written By: Wendy Braff)
Five female friends over 50 have had enough of the world taking them for granted, demanding perfection, and ignoring their needs. When a confrontation with one of their cheating husbands lands them all in a holding cell, they collectively decide that they are no longer going to give a **** and won't be cleaning up the chips that are about to fall.

North Port 1999 (Written By: Bodhi Werner)
In the small town of North Port, Minnesota, a shy young man teams up with an outgoing, rebellious girl to uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious and grisly deaths that killed their friend. They face off with human-animal hybrids, the mad scientists who created them, and the shadowy group trying to cover up their existence.

Two Harbors (Written By: Brian Lange Stemmler)
When an ambitious E.R. Doctor is recruited to help launch a cutting edge helicopter medivac program in rural Minnesota, her best laid plans for the future start to fall apart, as she discovers a life there she never knew she wanted.

And Also With You (Written By: Olivia Marie Haller)
When a nice Catholic church lady comes out as bisexual in her 50s, her lesbian daughter reluctantly helps her enter the dating scene as the oldest baby queer in Cleveland.

1:30 pm - 4:00 pm: ENCORE: Miracle - 20th Anniversary at Palace Theatre

US Hockey Gold Medalist, Buzz Schneider, in Attendance

When college coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) is hired to helm the 1980 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, he brings a unique and brash style to the ice. After assembling a team of hot-headed college all-stars, who are humiliated in an early match, Brooks unites his squad against a common foe, the heavily-favored Soviet team. As the U.S. squad tries to overcome insurmountable odds and win the gold medal, the team becomes a microcosm for American patriotism during the Cold War.

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm: Holy Cow at Palace Theatre

An energizing French coming of age tale with lots of cheese!

Totone's carefree teenage life of drinking and dancing takes a turn when he must provide for his 7-year-old sister. Seeking income, he channels his energy into producing an award-winning comté cheese to claim a competition prize.

2:00 pm - 4:30 pm: NYU Sports Showcase at Lake Placid Conference Center (in Lake Placid Olympic Center)

A plethora of sports focused shorts from top NYU students

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) New England & New York Chapters, in collaboration with Catalyst Story Institute, present the honorees of the 2024 NYU Sports Showcase. From basketball to boxing, wrestling to jiu jitsu, and even some roller derby, sports programming resonates in many languages. This showcase takes you through the world of sports content and programming, to assess multiple cultures and countries so we can see how sports connects us all.

The showcase is followed by a panel featuring Timothy Egan (Media Instructor at Vermont State University & Content Creator at Sugar Hill Associates), Sofia Lois Monroe (Founder/Exec. Producer at Daymaker Productions & Board Member at Catalyst Story Institute), Robert Bonardi (Video Editor & RF Engineer at ABC News) and Paul Hardart (Clinical Professor for the NYU Stern School of Business & Director for the Entertainment, Media and Technology Program).

Camille Tricaud & Franziska Unger
Ralentir la Chute (Slow Down the Fall)
In the light of the Alps, a great ski-jumping hill flashes metallically. Two ski jumpers synchronously rehearse movements in the valley, answer generic questions in front of a green screen and pose on the hill while being watched by a film crew. It is the first reunion for the two athletes since their separation.

Prabhat Seelamsetti
A Violet Blooms
Morgan Morrison is entering her final year of collegiate basketball which happens to be her first year at NYU as a graduate student. The Lady Violets are in the midst of an incredible year. Watch as Morgan & her team cement themselves in history with one of the most storied athletic years at NYU of all time, with an ending that is almost too good to be true.

Matthew Tan
La Lucha
lucha, noun. | loo-chah |
1. Fight: referring to the violent exchange of physical blows (e.g., a boxing match).
2. Struggle: a unique Cuban slang referring to the day-to-day efforts required to surmount adverse economic odds.
The film offers a rare glimpse into the Cuban experience, paralleling a day in the lives of two boxers in Havana, one at the start of his competitive career and the other at his end. The former is 7-year-old Daniel who dreams of becoming a national boxing star, and is optimistic that he will win his training fight. The latter, Evelio, is a 45-year-old former combat-sport champion who now – like many Cubans – works multiple jobs in order to make an adequate living. Their intertwined narratives reflect Cuban ambition, and the way in which it is hampered by the realities of living in a country weighed by an economic siege for the past 60 years. Unlike Evelio, Daniel has yet to realize that the real Cuban fight is the one that lies not within the boxing ring, but beyond.

Mary Hawkins
Skate Fast Turn Left
Two friends, Fifi Fleshwound and Little Mary Switchblade, have a quick conversation about their roller derby years…
Created for Things Took A Turn 2023: At the End of the World, an animation anthology that challenges artists of marginalized genders to create new animated short stories by twisting familiar narratives.

Pranay Sanwal
The Pahlevan On 5th Ave
This film uncovers the story of an Iranian rug dealer on Fifth Avenue whose prolific career in the sport of wrestling is concealed beneath a veil of humility.

Margarida Duque de Castela
Fighting Blind
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu martial artist and family man Angel Adorno shares the victories and challenges of being blind in a sighted world, on and off the mat. Designed for blind audiences, this film explores Angel's resilience in overcoming a difficult past as he learns to trust himself and others.

Tommaso Magnano
Bonneville Brothers
Italian old brothers fulfill their Bonneville dreams.

Kansas Ballesteros
False Start
A college swimmer must manage her trauma while continuing to train.

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm: 518 Film Network Shorts at Lake Placid Center for the Arts

Q&A Post Screening Moderated by Filmmaker Arielle Steele

The 518 Film Network is a professional filmmaker community and collective organization in the Capital Region dedicated to working together, making local projects, and keeping jobs local. The organization connects productions with professional local crews in Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga, Lake George, Hudson, Catskill, Amsterdam, throughout the Capital Region area and beyond. This series of shorts was curated by the 518 Film Network to showcase the work being done by their members, who work in the film industry upstate. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers in attendance, moderated by 518 Film Network Board Vice President, Arielle Steele.

Jack Colin
Silent But Deadly
A first date at the drive-ins seems to be going perfectly until… sniff sniff. Silent, But Deadly is a short comedy that follows a cute blind date that becomes uncomfortable after one of them passes gas instead of the popcorn. But who did the deed? Neither will admit it… was it even one of them?

Victoria Diana
Second Coming
A strict Christian family sits down for Christmas dinner when Jesus magically appears and tells them the World is going to end, and sleeping with their daughter, Kimberleigh, is the only way to stop it.

Heather & Hunter Frederick
Wherever We Go
This film is a light-hearted comedy centered around a college student named Cara. Like many people, she has social anxiety. However, the difference is she can see her anxiety and so can the audience. We see Ego who is her inner voice personified as an identical look alike. Cara is forced to grapple with her amplified social anxiety and embarks on a journey to regain control and silence Ego once and for all. But that's easier said than done!

Cameron Gallagher
Copy
A woman uneasy about her pregnancy learns the copier isn't just for paper.

Ryan Jenkins
Anomaly
A renowned magician features an inexplicable illusion in his final run of performances. Meanwhile, a government agent who witnesses the baffling act becomes hell-bent on uncovering its method.

Elisheva Novella
The Owl
Bored with his marriage, a man confesses his love to taxidermy owl.

Jim Powers
The Car Out Back
Two women attempt to create an alibi for themselves in a diner after an accidental murder.

The World of Post Production
Editing, Visual EFX, Titles, Music, Sound EFX
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Film Is Dead. Long Live Film!

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: A Binding Truth
Post Screening Q&A!

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm; Every Little Thing
A beautifully layered film of love and loss that shows the value of all life

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm: On Becoming A Guinea Fowl
Winner of the Best Director prize in Cannes' Un Certain Regard section

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Catalyst Pitchworld Finals
Watch as filmmakers compete for pitch supremacy!

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Curl Power
Q&A With Cinematographer Claire Sanford

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Eephus
Q&A with Actor Cliff Blake!

8:00 pm - 11:45 pm: Short Film and Episodic Awards and After Party

November 10, 2024

9:30 am - 11:00 am: Maximizing Your Film Festival

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Shark Tale 20th Anniversary
Free Family Screening!

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Resident Orca
New York State Premiere!

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm: ENCORE: Los Frikis
The latest film from directors Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz (The Peanut Butter Falcon)

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm: ENCORE: On Becoming A Guinea Fowl
Winner of the Best Director prize in Cannes' Un Certain Regard section

3:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Nathan Farb And The Cold War
North American Premiere, Q&A

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: That They May Face The Rising Sun
A beautiful adaptation of acclaimed author John McGahern's final novel

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: ENCORE: Eephus
A rousing and moving baseball film for sports experts and newbies alike

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm: ENCORE: Every Little Thing
A beautifully layered film of love and loss that shows the value of all life

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: ENCORE: Luther: Never Too Much
Celebrate Grammy-Award Winning Artist, Luther Vandross in this impactful documentary

Date: November 7-10, 2024

Locations: Various Venues in Lake Placid, Lake Placid, NY 12946

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