[WiHM] Interview with Salem Horror Fest Director, Kay Lynch
Tell us a little bit about yourself! What is your role in the horror community?
I am the founder and festival director for Salem Horror Fest. I’m also developing programs for the George A. Romero Foundation and serve as producer for upcoming film projects BAD GIRL BOOGEY, SAINT DROGO, MENTAL HEALTH & HORROR: A Documentary.
What was the first thing you encountered that made you fall in love with horror?
Watching CARRIE on TNT’s MonsterVision with Joe Bob Briggs during the 90s. Being a confused, lonely queer kid, I found Carrie to be extremely relatable. The stinger at the end with Sue Snell’s hand popping up from the grave shocked me so hard, I almost fell off the couch. I’ve been hooked on that adrenaline ever since.
What does the horror community mean to you?
I think the horror community is a really wide tent of passionate film fans. Independent filmmakers, intellectually curious people, and thrill-seekers. The genre is so expansive, it has something for everybody and for some, can offer a sense of belonging. I’m drawn to it for its cathartic properties and hope to build a platform to highlight underrepresented creators.
Who are your favourite women in horror?
Katt Shea and Kathryn Bigelow are two living legends of genre that I wish were more universally acknowledged as such. I think Leigh Janiak’s FEAR STREET trilogy is an amazing entry to the queer horror canon. I’m eager to see more films from Karyn Kusama, Issa López, Nia DaCosta, Rose Glass, Jenn Wexler, Chelsea Stardust, and Axelle Carolyn. I am so proud of the female directors we have presented at the festival such as Emily Bennett, Gia Elliot, Nora Unkel, Amelia Moses, Dionne Copland, Sol Moreno, Ali Chappell, Sydney Horton and Alice Maoi Mackay who is a 17-year-old trans filmmaker from Australia. Her debut feature SO VAM won our jury prize last year and her new film BAD GIRL BOOGEY is near completion.
You run a well-known horror movie festival, Salem Horror Fest, what have been some of your most memorable experiences?
Getting to work with John Waters and Elvira - twice! We held a private tea party with Cassandra in a local restaurant function room. When it was time to escort her out, we walked through a bar full of bikers in town for their annual Halloween charity ride. We looked at each other and started singing ‘Tequila’ in unison. It was so surreal.
I brought Linnea Quigley to an underground lounge that was hosting a metal night. People lost their minds. She was right up front rocking with the band whose eyes lit up when they realized who was in the audience. It was very sweet.
Otherwise, I always enjoy meeting our filmmakers. It’s such a special energy to have them in the house. Our audience loves it too. It’s great to celebrate their talent and passion together. That’s why we do this.
If you could invite one woman from horror to dinner who would you invite and why?
This is an impossible question. There are so many! I’ll say Katt Shea so I can convince her to direct another horror film. Oh, and Anjelica Huston.
Women in horror have been making progress, but it’s clear that a lot of work is still needed to ensure that representation is correct and widespread. What is the importance of Women in Horror Month?
It’s important to celebrate our work year-round, but what makes a themed month great is that it can inspire a deeper dive. Like Noirvember and Giallo January, people tend to load up their watchlists with horror films directed by women. All of the websites, magazines, podcasts and social influencers participate and it becomes a great platform to introduce people to women creators from all aspects of the genre. It’s not easy to break through the noise, especially with something positive, so I view this concentrated effort to focus on women to be a helpful step towards ensuring equality in the industry.
In honour of celebrating Women in Horror, who do you believe readers should keep an eye on in terms of women in horror?
Andrea Subissati and Alex West from The Faculty of Horror podcast have been a huge inspiration to me and the initial development of the festival. It has meant so much to me that they’ve come to Salem to record a live episode every year.
I’d also like to thank you and all the women who were kind enough to invite me to be participate in their Women in Horror Month celebration: Ghouls Magazine, Nightmare on 5th Street, Not Your Final Girl, Renegade Film Festival, To Dye For, Violence in Velvet. As a trans woman, it means a lot to me that I’ve been included.
What do you have coming in 2022 that you can talk to us about?
Check back with me in April. We’ll have some exciting updates then. :)
