A special free one-night screening of “Christmas With the Dead” is planned for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, the downtown Nacogdoches art gallery owned by Stephen F. Austin State University.

Directed by T.L. Lankford, “Christmas With the Dead” is a zombie apocalypse film based on a short story by the same name written by Nacogdoches author Joe R. Lansdale. Lansdale’s son, Keith, wrote the screenplay.

It stars SFA filmmaking instructor Brad Maule, who co-produced the film with William Arscott, professor of filmmaking at SFA, and Marion Arscott. Much of the film’s soundtrack was performed by Nacogdoches musician and film co-star Kasey Lansdale, daughter of the author.

The film centers around the bizarre happenings in the fictional East Texas town of Mud Creek after a freak lightning storm causes most of the town’s inhabitants to become zombies.

Those attending the screening are encouraged to dress as zombies, according to event organizer David Cozadd.  Some of the filmmakers and performers will be in attendance and participate in a Q&A session following the screening.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.