Festival Data:

• Established: 2000

Festival Website:

Festival Description:

From its inception, the focus of the Forum has been film—its history, evolution and future. The think tank-like event was designed to stimulate, encourage and inspire the independent voices among filmmakers today, to foster the development of original and adapted screenplays and to exhibit new, rare and classic films. Its programs throughout the years have provided unique opportunities for filmmakers, screenwriters and actors to come together to exchange and obtain information related to the creation, production and distribution of film and other electronic media. To that end, the Forum presents seminars, workshops, screenings, screenplay readings, panel discussions, and master classes.

Participants on various panels have included directors Mira Nair, Raoul Peck and the award-winning documentary film director, Al Maysles. The list of participating novelists is especially impressive for it includes several Pulitzer Prize winners, many of whom have had their works adapted for films. The Film Forum was possibly the only film event to feature an on-site book store in its early years, and critically acclaimed novelists such as William Kennedy, Frank McCourt, John Irving, Elmore Leonard, Michael Ondaatje, Richard Russo and Russell Banks have not only made personal appearances at the LPFF, but signed books for the guests.

An outdoor actors’ round table discussion has also been a main feature of the event for several years. Such stellar actors as Campbell Scott, Patricia Clarkson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyra Sedgwick, James Tolkan and Debra Winger have all appeared on the town’s band shell to discuss their craft at one time or another.

Master classes with industry experts such as actor-director Cliff Robertson and veteran producer Ben Barenholtz have been an additional attraction.

The most recent addition to the Film Forum, introduced at the 2007 Film Forum, has been a 24 hour Filmmaking Competition in which film students from five colleges with film making programs were given 24 hours to conceptualize, script, shoot, edit and deliver a DVD of a film no longer than 10 minutes. Among other things, the competition was designed to emphasize the collaborative nature of filmmaking, and the importance of teamwork in the successful creation of a film.

Film Submissions:

• Call for Entry: http:/ / lakeplacidfilmforum.com/ images/ stories/ nc_shorts_submfrmweb_2011.pdf