ALIEN NATION: A CONFERENCE ON BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION, HORROR AND FANTASY TELEVISION
20-21 July 2011
Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne
http://tinyurl.com/6as9w8v

This two-day conference on traditions of British telefantasy aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary scholarship on British SF, horror, gothic and fantasy television. It also seeks to advance an understanding of the historical importance of the fantasy tradition within British television, and of the significance of that tradition to British and international visual cultures more generally.

Mike Smith, Michael Parkinson and Sarah Greene in GHOSTWATCH (BBC, 1992)

There will be over sixty presentations covering all aspects of British telefantasy, including analysis of key authors and programmes (from Doctor Who to contemporary shows such as Being Human and Misfits), and such issues as international remakes and the use of soundtracks and music.

Keynote speakers to include:

• Stacey Abbott
• Helen Wheatley
• Stephen Volk
• Peter Wright

The conference will be taking place in the Lipman Building of the university’s City Campus.

To tie-in with the conference, The Star and Shadow Cinema will presents a season of cult British TV dramas from 17 to 24 July 2011).

A celebration of the freaky, spooky and obscure side of UK television drama. Programmed by James Leggott (Lecturer in Film and TV, Northumbria University) from the darker corners of the BBC archives, with special guest introductions, this is a rare chance to catch some of the most haunting telefantasy ever transmitted. Expect angelic encounters, sacrificial offerings, gothic nightmares, dinner parties from hell, a very frightened Jane Asher, BBC Radiophonic weirdness… and Michael Parkinson being possessed by an evil spirit.To download the screenings programme, please click here.

The screenings will be:

• Sunday 17th July, 7.30pm: THE STONE TAPE (1972, 90 mins)
• Wednesday 20th July, 7.30pm: GHOSTWATCH (1992, 95 mins)
• Thursday 21st July, 7.30pm: PENDA’S FEN (1974, 90 mins)
• Sunday 24th July, 7.30pm: SCHALCKEN THE PAINTER (1979, 70 mins) + THE EXORCISM (1972, 50 mins)

To register for the conference, please click here.

The registration fee for the conference will be £125 for early-bird bookers and postgraduate and £150 full cost. This covers refreshments but not accommodation.

Delegates can book accommodation at: www.newcastlegateshead.com/ALIENNATION.

Please send any queries about the conference to Dr James Leggott at: james.leggott@northumbria.ac.uk.

PENDA'S FEN (BBC, 1974)