Why Vampire Film Festival?
VAMPIRE FEST is the first to take the lure of the vampire film genre and other movies of a supernatural and bring it into a focused event in the city most connected with the modern vampire legend, New Orleans. While there are horror film festivals throughout the country and around the world, none take place in this wondrous city of night that was nearly destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. As the birthplace of jazz, voodoo and Anne Rice, New Orleans with its nightlife, Gothic architecture and beautiful necropolises is the ideal location for VAMPIRE FEST.
While VAMPIRE FEST originated in Los Angeles, it was always the plan of the producers of VAMPIRE FEST to bring the event home to New Orleans; unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina intervened. Circumstance forced us to delay our move to New Orleans but finally, in 2009, we have returned to the Big Easy to present our festival and help rebuild this beautiful but broken city. In addition to the usual venues, i.e. screenings, panels, premiers etc., VAMPIRE FEST will involve the New Orleans Red Cross in our adventure and sponsor one of the biggest blood drives in the city’s history.
These films shown at VAMPIRE FEST present the full range of vampire and Gothic lore, from the vengeful ruthless creatures of Near Dark to the contemplative seductive characters found in The Hunger. Whether period piece or contemporary, these films represent everything a film fan could want in vampire or Gothic cinema.
We will accept all films that could be classified in the context of
vampire, supernatural and the bizarre. A filmmaker can even submit a documentary about Goth people or about Gothic architecture. VAMPIRE FEST will accept any narrative or experimental film that emphasizes the grotesque, mysterious or desolate. The legend of the werewolf is interconnected with that of vampire and VAMPIRE FEST is open to films of the vampire, Goth, zombie, werewolf or ghost genre.
Awards will be given in these categories: Audience Favorite; Bloodiest Vampire Picture, Scariest Film, Best Vampire Portrayal (acting award); Outstanding Film Short; Outstanding Film Feature Best Gothic Representation; Outstanding Foreign Language Vampire Film.
In keeping with this creed, VAMPIRE FEST honors the most innovative in the fields of vampire cinema but will also honor television and interactive arts. We at VAMPIRE FEST hope to create common ground between artists who work in the supernatural genre throughout the globe and those who want to entertain, to enrich and to enlighten, regardless of their chosen medium.
The recent success of the independent Swedish vampire film, Let the Right One In, proves that small, provocative vampire cinema, can and does find a mainstream audience if well promoted. Giving these films their just due alongside studio fare and classic vampire movies serves the interests of the filmmaker, the industry and the general public that supports them.
Digital gaming has become the largest home entertainment entity
globally and consistently draws a larger audience then motion pictures and television. Vampires have invaded the world of gaming too and we hope to present the best of digital vampire gaming.
The world of network TV has been one-upped because of the entry of provocative offerings like the HBO’s True Blood. As more programming of vampire and gothic shows becomes available, it’s our hope to present it at Vampire Fest.
One of the primary goals of Vampire Fest is to celebrate new works by established and developing independent filmmakers and digital artists and give them access to an audience that would otherwise never receive exposure to their creativity.
In addition to film, Vampire Fest also celebrates the most innovative vampire and Gothic offerings on television, network and cable, in addition to the vanguard of the interactive arts and gaming. Speed, pacing and innovation are the operative words, allowing us to celebrate technical as well as artistic achievements.
---> read Does the Mortal World Need A Vampire Film Festival?
