On Saturday, June 14 student filmmakers from across northern New York and Quebec gathered for the Beyond the Peaks Film Fest Awards Showcase, hosted at the historic Strand Center Theatre in Plattsburgh, NY.
This year, Mountain Lake PBS received 41 captivating short film submissions from high school-aged students in a wide range of genres, including Documentary, Narrative, Thriller, Open, and our newest addition, the 60-Second Challenge. Nearly 100 teens participated in this year’s program as directors, editors, actors, and crew members to bring their visions to life on-screen.
The Awards Showcase was an evening of celebration, in recognition of the creativity, hard work, and raw talent each and every student brought to the 2025 festival. Kicking off with a VIP hour for filmmakers, friends and family to mix and mingle, a public screening of select films and presentation of awards followed. The full list of nominees and winners is available online.
Check out a handful of photos from the glitz and glamour filled evening below, and view the rest in our digital album. Then, get ready to watch the winning films in the Mountain Lake Journal special, Student Festival Films: Spotlight Beyond the Peaks, premiering Friday, July 11 at 8 PM. See how the next generation of creators is already making its mark as students share their unique perspectives through the art of digital storytelling.
Congratulations to all the exceptional filmmakers who participated in the festival. Stay tuned for info about the 2026 contest coming soon!
View all the night’s photos in our digital album!