LAKE PLACID - Filmmakers and film lovers from across the country have ascended on the Olympic village once again at this year's Lake Placid Film Forum.
Event co-founder Kathleen Carroll, former film critic for the New York Daily News, said she was "in shock" seeing the results of her labor come to fruition.
"It's always amazing," Carroll said. "It's like putting together a film, I think. You put all the elements together, the cast, our guests in this case, then you pick a couple of films hoping that the chemistry will be right, and that it will all somehow click. I'm just now looking at people at the box office, and the more I see, the happier I get obviously."
Carroll said she had "no idea" what to expect from attendance numbers this year.
"Certainly the Woody Allen film ('Whatever Works') should bring an audience, It's the first time (it's been) seen, certainly in this area. It's about to open in New York at the end of June. So we're seeing it here early on. I'm hoping that might draw a crowd."
David Leonard, the editor of "City Island," was on hand to introduce his film, which was screened at the Palace Theater Thursday night. It was his first time in the Adirondacks.
"(Small festivals, such as the Lake Placid Film Forum, are) great," Leonard said. "There are a lot of films that are trying to get distribution, or films that have small distribution. It gives an outlet for movies that have a hard time being seen, as opposed to the big studio movies that open on 3,000 screens and have lots and lots of advertising."
Syracuse University Director of Film Programs Owen Shapiro, a guest at the event, said it was his third time coming back to the film forum.
"I think this is a great place to meet people and just network, because it's small, the people are very friendly (and) they're open," Shapiro said. "It's just a really nice place to be. You feel as though you're not under any pressure to do anything in particular, you just
enjoy what the forum has to offer."
Conor Hogan, 21, one of a group of Ohio University students screening a film adaptation of Russell Banks' "Trailer Park," was in high spirits.
"This is my first time in anything, in any film forum," Hogan said. "I feel blessed."
Danny Cox, 21, also of the Ohio University group, said he was excited to see the local author's reaction to their adaptation of his work.
"He's already had two other movies completed, both of which were recognized by the Academy. (Now he's had) 70 Ohio University students, in the middle of southern Ohio, getting together and making a movie in four and a half months. I'm really excited to see what he has to say."
Cox also said he was impressed with Lake Placid's hospitality.
"Everyone's been extremely welcoming and it's just been a wonderful experience so far," Cox said. "I helped a lady organize some of these things and she left her car running, the keys in the car, for fifteen minutes without even really thinking about it. That's amazing. Everyone that we've asked to hang up a flyer or a poster in their business, have (said), 'Oh congratulations, that's really cool you got a film in the forum. Good job.'"
