Small-Town Screens, Big-Time Stories: Inside the Lake Placid Film Festival
All photos courtesy Hornbeck Boats.
Each fall, Lake Placid turns into the “Telluride of the Northeast”—a walkable, mountain-ringed town where filmmakers and film lovers share theaters, coffee lines, and conversations.
In this episode, we sit down with Noah Ramer, Director of Communications for Adirondack Film and the Lake Placid Film Festival, to explore what makes this long-running North Country tradition so special.
What you’ll hear in this episode.
Festival vibe, Adirondack style. Why Lake Placid’s scenic scale, community feel, and face-to-face access make it a filmmaker's favorite—without the red-carpet hoopla.
How Adirondack Film and the Festival fit together. From attracting productions (costume, set, camera, and craft jobs right here at home) to curating world-class screenings for local audiences.
A history born in a blizzard. The sold-out 1997 screening of “The Sweet Hereafter” sparked the Lake Placid Film Forum and a quarter-century of film culture in the Adirondacks.
Big names, low profiles. Memories of guests like Martin Scorsese (interviewed by Jon Favreau), Guillermo del Toro, and Willem Dafoe—plus why artists love the low-key, collaborative scene.
Why this year feels different. A new emphasis on the trades behind the camera—costume, lighting, locations, special effects/creature work—so emerging creatives can find real pathways into the industry.
Student pathways. The Festival’s Student Summit (lodging, meals, passes, and small-group sessions with visiting filmmakers) and the Futures in Film collaboration with local schools and training partners.
Dates and must-see moments in 2025.
Festival: Oct 30 – Nov 2 in Lake Placid; Opening Night Party on Oct 30.
Careers in Motion (Trades Seminar + speed-mentoring): Oct 31, 2:30 PM.
Free Film Trivia + Halloween Costume Contest: Oct 31 (film-themed prizes; no pass required).
Lake Placid Halloween Parade: Oct 31, 12–1 PM.
The historic Palace Theater in the heart of Lake Placid.
Film lets us see the world through someone else’s eyes—essential in a place as globally connected (and proudly local) as the Adirondacks. The Festival builds community, keeps creative talent here, and opens doors for the next generation of crew and storytellers.
Listen to us know on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Mentioned in this episode.
Lake Placid Film Festival / Adirondack Film — passes, schedule, Student Summit, giving: adirondackfilm.org; socials: @adirondackfilm.
Greater Adirondack Film Commission (episode mentioned earlier with Eric Granger).
High Peaks Resort (festival HQ) & Palace Theatre (main screenings).
Lake Placid Pub & Brewery; The Breakfast Club (meet a filmmaker between sessions).
Stockade Works (training partner) & Careers in Motion seminar.
Futures in Film partners: Lake Placid High School, BOCES, SUNY Plattsburgh, Stockade Works.See Something That Means Something (winter art-house series).
Give / Sponsor: adirondackfilm.org/give; info@adirondackfilm.org.
Nearby to-dos while you’re in town: Olympic Ski Jumps, High Falls Gorge, Main Street shops (make it a whole weekend).
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