“... every age embraces the vampire that it needs.”
— Bram Stoker scholar Nina Auerbach
The UAlbany Program in Writing and Critical Inquiry's sixth annual Film Festival and Lecture Series runs from Thursday, Oct. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 24. This year's festival explores one of the world’s most popular and enduring images: the Vampire.
On Friday, Oct. 22, keynote guest Jewelle Gomez will read from her novel, The Gilda Stories, discuss her writing process and writing as activism, and introduce her favorite vampire film, "Let the Right One In" / ("Låt den rätte komma in") (Rated R, Sweden, 2008, 114 minutes, color, directed by Tomas Alfredson).
After the screening, Gomez will lead a discussion about the film.
The Gilda Stories, which is being developed for TV, follows the life of a black lesbian vampire, once a runaway slave, from 1850-2050. By reimagining American history through the metaphor of vampires and projecting a unique vision of its future, Gomez’s Gilda asks questions about family, power, community, and identity, about what it means to “take blood, not life, and leave something in exchange.”
"Let the Right One In" is a 2008 Swedish romantic horror film directed by Tomas Alfredson, based on the 2004 novel of the same title by John Ajvide Lindqvist, who also wrote the screenplay. The film tells the story of a bullied 12-year-old boy who develops a friendship with a strange child in a suburb of Stockholm in the early 1980s.
Check out many more Film Festival and Lecture Series events at
All events, free and open to the public, will be held at the University at Albany Campus Center Ballroom, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany 12222.
All proceeds from the 2021 Vampire Film Festival will benefit the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York.
CONTENT WARNING
Although many of them are physically beautiful, please be aware that the behavior of vampires can sometimes be quite hideous. Many of the films you will see this weekend are rated R, and with good reason: they might include physical and sexual violence, gore, adult language, and explicit sexual content. Information regarding the individual films and reviews are readily available across the internet.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of assault or violence, help is available 24/7 Call the CDPC Crisis Unit and Mobile Crisis Team: (518) 549–6500
COVID PROTOCOL FOR ALL IN-PERSON EVENTS:
All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask or other face covering while inside any UAlbany owned, operated or leased building.
Unvaccinated individuals are also required to wear face coverings in all outdoor settings. This revised mask requirement will remain in place until the University removes the requirement upon the recommendations of the CDC or other public health officials. Individuals should not attend our in-person events if they — or anyone in their household — are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19.