Is there a maximum distance for HDMI cabling from, say, a DVD player or receiver to a TV?

In my circumstance, my wife and I want to mount a plasma TV on a wall. We plan to hook it up to a receiver and DVD player that will be on the opposite side of the room (17' wide room).

Would the most likely hookup be overhead through the ceiling and fish a cable down to the receiver and then to the TV? Or is there some way to remote connect them?

We plan to use Comcast cable for standard TV channels.

Thanks for your help and input!