‘Beyond the Peaks’ goes beyond the Adirondacks
AdkAction’s annual Beyond the Peaks Student Film Festival is a celebration of student creativity and talent that gives youth a chance to win prizes and
Student Film Festival
Beyond the Peaks Student Film Festival is a celebration of student creativity and talent that gives students a chance to win prizes and have their voices heard in their community.
A Red Carpet Event for NY Youth
“Beyond the Peaks” film festival is a community-based showcase of art made by young filmmakers. The festival was created by AdkAction in partnership with Tupper Lake Central School District. Initially open to Adirondack area students, the Inaugural Festival took place on May 10, 2019 at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, NY. Film submissions were accepted from 50 students representing 7 school districts in the greater Adirondack area. In 2020, the festival took place entirely online due to COVID restrictions. Although finalists were unable to walk the red carpet and debut their films on the Wild Center’s theater screen, their work was enjoyed and voted on by 224 viewers in the Adirondack region and beyond.
In December 2020, Beyond the Peaks held a statewide “Spread the Word, Not the Virus” student PSA contest, with 53 students from 31 schools in all regions of the state represented. The 2021 film festival will also be open to young filmmakers across the state, truly going “beyond the peaks.”
We want to create and expand opportunities for young people interested in filmmaking or “digital storytelling.” It’s all about giving our youth a platform for creative expression and empowering their voices.
Sign Up to Receive
- Film Submission Link & Instructions
- Alerts and Deadline Reminders
- Periodic Filmmaking Resources and Tips leading up to the festival
- Invitation to the Awards Ceremony
- Notification of Future Festivals
2021 Beyond The Peaks Film Festival
The third annual Beyond the Peaks film festival took place on June 4, 2021.
Watch the top three films in each category, as well as a recording of the full awards ceremony, in our Beyond the Peaks Cinema:
Now Accepting Submissions
Students will upload video submissions online through Launchpad, a digital film contest platform donated by Skills21 at EdAdvance, an Educational Nonprofit based in Connecticut. All New York State high school students are eligible to enter. The deadline for submissions is noon on Friday, April 23, 2021 and participation is free.
Submission Instructions for Student Films
- Sign up to receive email notifications about the festival
- Register for the festival on Launchpad at Beyondthepeaks.skills21.org
- Review the film categories and requirements in Launchpad
- Choose which category you wish to enter
- Create your film
- Upload your film to Google Drive
- Enter your film using the shareable Google Drive Link on Launchpad
Prizes
Thank you to our leading sponsor
Special thanks to Lake Placid Institute for supporting and building this event to reach even more students this year.
Thank you to our partners
Past Festival Highlights
2020
Read More
2019
Our Impact
1
Student films created
1
School districts participated
Other News and Events
Film Festival
‘Beyond the Peaks’ goes beyond the Adirondacks
June 6, 2021
AdkAction’s annual Beyond the Peaks Student Film Festival is a celebration of student creativity and talent that gives youth a chance to win prizes and
Blog
Meet AdkAction’s Summer Interns
June 2, 2021
AdkAction created the Tom Boothe Adirondack Internship Program to honor the legacy of past Board Chair Tom Boothe, who passed away unexpectedly in October 2020 at the age of 71. Tom was known for bringing friends from around the world to introduce them to the immense natural beauty of the Adirondack Park, and was particularly motivated to engage young people in the work of making a positive impact on our region’s communities.
Film Festival
Winner of the “Spread the Word, Not the Virus” Student Video Contest
February 5, 2021
AdkAction is pleased to announce the winning video of its statewide COVID-19 Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest: “A Vintage COVID-19 PSA,” created by Emily Kucharczyk
Donate directly to this project
Help us create and expand opportunities for young people interested in filmmaking or digital storytelling.
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