Toronto After Dark Film Festival
Encyclopedia
Toronto After Dark Film Festival is a showcase of horror
, sci-fi, action
and cult cinema
held annually in Toronto, Canada at the Bloor Cinema. The festival premieres a diverse selection of feature-length and short-films from around the world including new works from Asia, Europe and North America.
in Toronto, Canada
. The festival showcased 13 feature films from around the world, and 15 short films from Canada. Some of the films screened at the festival included Special
, directed by Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmorewhere, the J-horror
film Retribution
from cult director Kiyoshi Kurosawa
, the North American premiere of the Thai action-horror film Vengeance, and Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
, which won the festival's first Audience Award.
Other films included The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell
, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade, Night of the Living Dorks, Re-cycle
, Mad Cowgirl
, Slaughter Night and Naisu no mori: The First Contact. The festival also featured a Make Your Own Damn Movie! masterclass taught by Lloyd Kaufman
. Festival attendance was 4,350.
, directed by David Arquette
, the new film from director Shinya Tsukamoto
Nightmare Detective
, the premiere of the latest Troma Entertainment
film Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, Uwe Boll
's latest epic In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
, the zombie-western short film, It Came From The West, the world premiere of John Bergin
's From Inside, Mulberry Street
which went on to win the festival's After Dark Spirit Award, and the Thai horror film Alone
from directors Banjong Pisanthanakun
and Parkpoom Wongpoom
, which won the festival's annual Audience Award. Festival attendance was 6,500.
Other films included Blood Car
, Wolfhound
, The Rebel
, Audience of One
, Aachi & Ssipak
, Ambassador's Day, Murder Party
, Operation Fish, Terror On The 3918, Simon Says
and many more.
in Toronto, Canada
. Highlights of the 3rd Annual Festival included sell-out screenings of Let the Right One In, Repo! The Genetic Opera
, Tokyo Gore Police
and the North American Premiere of I Sell The Dead
. Over 30 attending filmmakers on stage to introduce their films, including Larry Fessenden (The Last Winter) and Angus Scrimm (Phantasm), packed nightly social events, rave reviews for the films programmed, and of course the ever-popular Zombie Walk
. Other films included Trailer Park of Terror
, Mirageman, Idiots and Angels, Who is KK Downey?
, 4bia
, Brain Dead,Donkey Punch
, Mutant Chronicles
, and Home Movie
. The festival also featured a Make Your Own Damn Movie! masterclass taught by Lloyd Kaufman
. Festival attendance was over 8,500 enthusiastic fans.
Over 3,500 votes were cast for the Audience Award for Best Feature Film and the Gold (1st Place) winner is Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In, with Silver (2nd Place) going to cult sci-fi horror musical Repo! The Genetic Opera
, and Bronze (3rd Place) awarded by fans to the Thai supernatural anthology movie 4bia
(Phobia). Awards were also handed out for Best Independent Feature Film, where the big winner was the grave-robber comedy, I Sell The Dead
, and in the short film categories, winners included the hysterical Christmas tree exploitation film Treevenge.
, the creepy anthology Trick 'r Treat
and the cult blaxploitation action-comedy Black Dynamite
, which won Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively in the Audience Choice Awards. The festival also hosted its first ever world premiere, Strigoi
, an offbeat Romanian vampire comedy that was awarded by the fest Gold in the Best Independent Feature Film category. Silver and Bronze honours went to the darkly hilarious undead buddy movie, The Revenant
, and the shocking zombie-baby thriller, Grace
, respectively.
Other films included Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl
, The Warlords
(starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro), Black
(starring MC Jean Gab'1), Rough Cut, Franklyn
(starring Ryan Phillippe and Eva Green), The Forbidden Door, Must Love Death, Someone's Knocking at the Door, The Children
, Embodiment of Evil
(the third film in the Coffin Joe trilogy), and The Dark Hour
. Shorts After Dark (International Short Film Snowcase) comprised 11 new horror, sci-fi, action, and cult short films from around the world, including a number of international award winners. Canada After Dark (Canadian Short Film Snowcase) featured 17 "home-grown" short films (and are the opening acts for the feature films).
, with producer Eli Roth, stars Ashley Bell and Patrick Fabian attending, the "100% medically accurate", The Human Centipede, and the 2010 remake of the 1978 shocker, I Spit On Your Grave
. These three films won Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively, in the Audience Choice Awards.
Other films included The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu
, Doghouse
, Evil In the Time of Heroes
, Robogeisha
, Alien vs Ninja, Phobia 2
, Cargo
, Centurion
, Black Death
, All About Evil
, High School
and Rubber
.
Shorts After Dark (International Short Film Snowcase) comprised 10 new horror, sci-fi, action, and cult short films from around the world, including a number of international award winners and premieres. 2010's Best International Short Film award winners included; Off Season (Gold), Pumzi
(Silver), and Deus Irae (Bronze). Canada After Dark (Canadian Short Film Snowcase) featured 16 "home-grown" short films (and are the opening acts for the feature films). 2010's Best Canadian Short Film award winners included; Junko's Shamisen (Gold), King Chicken (Silver), and Fireman and Game Night (tied for Bronze).
Toronto After Dark's 2011 Call for Film Entries are now closed. A record 200 feature film and 500 short film submissions were received this year.
Toronto After Dark announced the first eight Official Selections of it's 2011 film line-up, at Fan Expo Canada, August 25, 2011, then on the official website August 31, 2011. The films selected so far include, Monster Brawl
- "It's the Ultimate Fight of the Living Dead"; Exit Humanity, a zombie saga set against the back-drop of the American Civil War
; DeadHeads - a zombie/buddy/road-trip/comedy/adventure/horror; Redline - an intense, trippy, Japanese ANIME set in the world of car racing; The Theatre Bizarre - an terrifying horror anthology from such genre legends as Tom Savini
and Richard Stanley
; Father's Day - a new, sick and twisted story from Astron-6
and Troma, in the vein of Hobo with a Shotgun and other exploitation/grindhouse films; Love - a time-travel sci-fi drama in the vein of The Fountain
, Solaris
and 2001: A Space Odyssey and finally The Divide
, an apocalyptic descent into despair, madness and human depravity as residents of a New York City apartment building take refuge in the basement after a nuclear attack, only to face something more horrific, each other.
The remaining nine films completing the Toronto After Dark 2011 line-up, along with the festival schedule will be revealed in mid-to-late September.
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, sci-fi, action
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
and cult cinema
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
held annually in Toronto, Canada at the Bloor Cinema. The festival premieres a diverse selection of feature-length and short-films from around the world including new works from Asia, Europe and North America.
2006
The inaugural festival was held October 20–24, 2006, at the Bloor CinemaBloor Cinema
The Bloor Cinema is an independent theatre in The Annex district of downtown Toronto, Canada, located at 506 Bloor Street West, near its intersection with Bathurst Street and the TTC's Bathurst station....
in Toronto, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The festival showcased 13 feature films from around the world, and 15 short films from Canada. Some of the films screened at the festival included Special
Special (film)
Special is a 2006 drama film written and directed by Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore. It was released in theatres in the UK on November 17, 2006 and on DVD in the UK on March 5, 2007. It was released in theatres in the US on November 21, 2008.-Plot:...
, directed by Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmorewhere, the J-horror
J-Horror
Japanese horror, or J-Horror, is Japanese horror fiction in popular culture, noted for its unique thematic and conventional treatment of the horror genre in light of western treatments...
film Retribution
Retribution (film)
is a 2006 Japanese horror film directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.-Plot:Yoshioka, an experienced detective, investigates the murder of an unknown woman in a red dress. She was drowned on the Tokyo waterfront, but an autopsy reveals that her stomach is full of seawater...
from cult director Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for his many contributions to the Japanese horror genre.-Biography:Born in Kobe on July 19, 1955, Kiyoshi Kurosawa is not related to director Akira Kurosawa...
, the North American premiere of the Thai action-horror film Vengeance, and Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon is a 2006 film/mockumentary directed by Scott Glosserman. It stars Nathan Baesel, Angela Goethals and Robert Englund. The film is a homage to the slasher film genre. It follows a film crew that documents an aspiring serial killer who models himself...
, which won the festival's first Audience Award.
Other films included The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell
The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell
The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell is an independently made dark comedy directed by Jonny Gillette, written and co-directed by Kevin Wheatley and produced by Jamie Bullock and Ryan Turi. The film stars Kevin Wheatley and Jamie Bullock, amongst others....
, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade, Night of the Living Dorks, Re-cycle
Re-cycle
Re-cycle is a 2006 horror film directed by the Pang Brothers and starring Angelica Lee. The film was the closing film in the Un Certain Regard program at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. It was also a reunion for Pangs and the actress Lee, who starred in the Pang's 2002 hit, The Eye...
, Mad Cowgirl
Mad Cowgirl
Mad Cowgirl is an underground cult film by Gregory Hatanaka. Hatanaka dedicated the movie to Doris Wishman, who directed 1960s sexploitation films such as Diary of a Nudist, Behind the Nudist Curtain and Bad Girls Go to Hell, and actor John Cassavetes...
, Slaughter Night and Naisu no mori: The First Contact. The festival also featured a Make Your Own Damn Movie! masterclass taught by Lloyd Kaufman
Lloyd Kaufman
Lloyd Kaufman is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and occasional actor. With producer Michael Herz, he is the co-founder of Troma Entertainment film studio, and the director of many of their feature films, including The Toxic Avenger and Tromeo and Juliet. Kaufman also serves as...
. Festival attendance was 4,350.
2007
The 2nd annual festival was held from October 19 to 25, 2007, at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The festival expanded to fifty films; fourteen features and 36 short films from around the world, including 15 Canadian shorts. Some of the highlights include the festival included The TripperThe Tripper
The Tripper is a 2007 slasher film which was directed by David Arquette and stars Jaime King, Thomas Jane and Lukas Haas.-Synopsis:The film is a nostalgic homage to the exploitation films of Wes Craven and Tobe Hooper that follows a group of free-loving hippies who escape to a modern-day Woodstock...
, directed by David Arquette
David Arquette
David Arquette is an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, fashion designer, and occasional professional wrestler. A member of the Arquette acting family, he first became known during the mid 1990s after starring in several Hollywood films, such as the Scream series, Wild Bill and...
, the new film from director Shinya Tsukamoto
Shinya Tsukamoto
is a Japanese film director and actor with a considerable cult following both domestically and abroad.-Biography:Tsukamoto started making movies at the age of 14, when his father gave him a Super 8 camera. He made a number of films, ranging...
Nightmare Detective
Nightmare Detective
is a 2007 Japanese horror film directed by Shinya Tsukamoto and released by Movie-Eye Entertainment Inc, starring Ryuhei Matsuda and hitomi. Masanobu Ando and Ren Osugi play supporting roles, and Tsukamoto himself plays the unnamed villain. The film is shot entirely within Adachi, Tokyo.Nightmare...
, the premiere of the latest Troma Entertainment
Troma Entertainment
Troma Entertainment is an American independent film production and distribution company founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in 1974.The company produces low-budget independent movies that play on 1950s horror with elements of farce...
film Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, Uwe Boll
Uwe Boll
Uwe Boll is a German director, producer and screenwriter, whose work includes several films adapted from video games. He finances his own films through his Boll KG production company. He is often cited as the worst director of all time.-Early life:...
's latest epic In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale is a 2006 fantasy action film directed by Uwe Boll, inspired by the Dungeon Siege video game series. It was produced by Brightlight Pictures and distributed by Freestyle Releasing and Vivendi Entertainment in the United States and Canada. 20th Century...
, the zombie-western short film, It Came From The West, the world premiere of John Bergin
John Bergin
John Bergin is a writer, graphic novel artist, and musician best known for his book From Inside and his music to The Crow. For his graphic novel work, Bergin was nominated for the Harvey Award for Best New Talent in 1991.Bergin Attended from 1984-1988....
's From Inside, Mulberry Street
Mulberry Street (film)
Mulberry Street is a 2007 horror film that was released by After Dark Films as a part of their 8 Films to Die For 2007. It was released on DVD in the United States on March 18, 2008...
which went on to win the festival's After Dark Spirit Award, and the Thai horror film Alone
Alone (2007 film)
Alone is a 2007 Thai horror film directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom, a duo whose debut film, Shutter, was a box-office smash in Thailand and other Asian countries. Alone stars Thai-German pop singer Marsha Wattanapanich in her first film role in 15 years.-Plot:Pim was born as...
from directors Banjong Pisanthanakun
Banjong Pisanthanakun
Bangjong Pisanthanakun is Thai filmmaker and screenwriter. With Parkpoom Wongpoom, he co-directed and co-wrote the hit 2004 Thai horror film, Shutter, and the 2007 horror film, Alone.-Education and early career:...
and Parkpoom Wongpoom
Parkpoom Wongpoom
Parkpoom Wongpoom is a Thai filmmaker and screenwriter. With Banjong Pisanthanakun, he co-directed and co-wrote the hit 2004 Thai horror film, Shutter, and the 2007 horror film, Alone.-Education and early career:...
, which won the festival's annual Audience Award. Festival attendance was 6,500.
Other films included Blood Car
Blood Car
Blood Car is a 2007 black comedy film set in the not-too-distant future where gasoline prices have become exorbitant . Things take a turn for the worse when a kindergarten teacher invents a car that runs on a different fuel source: blood.-Plot:Archie Andrews is a vegan kindergarten teacher who...
, Wolfhound
Volkodav from the Grey Hound Clan (film)
Wolfhound is a 2006 Russian heathen themed action fantasy film by Nikolai Lebedev, based on the novel by Maria Semyonova and featuring Aleksandr Bukharov and Oksana Akinshina.In 2007, a prequel was filmed under the name of Young Wolfhound.- Cast :...
, The Rebel
The Rebel (2007 Vietnamese film)
The Rebel is a 2007 Vietnamese martial arts film directed by Charlie Nguyen and starring Johnny Tri Nguyen and Dustin Nguyen. It premiered on April 12, 2007 at the Vietnamese International Film Festival in Irvine, California...
, Audience of One
Audience of One (film)
Audience of One is an award-winning 2007 documentary directed by Michael Jacobs that was premiered on 9 March 2007 at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas.-Overview:...
, Aachi & Ssipak
Aachi & Ssipak
Aachi & Ssipak is a 2006 animated South Korean film, directed by Jo Beom-jin and featuring the voices of Ryoo Seung-beom, Lim Chang-jung, and Hyeon Yeong...
, Ambassador's Day, Murder Party
Murder Party
Murder Party is an American comedy-horror film directed by Jeremy Saulnier. It was shot in Brooklyn, New York. It was given the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival. -Plot:...
, Operation Fish, Terror On The 3918, Simon Says
Simon Says (film)
Simon Says is a 2006 horror film, directed by William Dear and stars Crispin Glover and Margo Harshman. It was premiered at Fantastic Fest on 24 September 2006 and on DVD in the U.S...
and many more.
2008
The 3rd annual festival expanded to eight nights and was held from October 17 to 24, 2008, at the Bloor CinemaBloor Cinema
The Bloor Cinema is an independent theatre in The Annex district of downtown Toronto, Canada, located at 506 Bloor Street West, near its intersection with Bathurst Street and the TTC's Bathurst station....
in Toronto, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Highlights of the 3rd Annual Festival included sell-out screenings of Let the Right One In, Repo! The Genetic Opera
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Repo! The Genetic Opera is a 2008 horror-rock opera musical film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. The film is based on a play written and composed by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich....
, Tokyo Gore Police
Tokyo Gore Police
is a 2008 Japanese gore film co-written, edited, and directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura and stars Eihi Shiina as Ruka, a vengeful police officer.Tokyo Gore Police was released to several film festivals in North America...
and the North American Premiere of I Sell The Dead
I Sell The Dead
I Sell the Dead is a 2008 comedy horror film, the feature film debut from Irish director Glenn McQuaid. The film is a period horror comedy about grave robbing and stars Dominic Monaghan, Ron Perlman, Larry Fessenden and Angus Scrimm.-Plot:...
. Over 30 attending filmmakers on stage to introduce their films, including Larry Fessenden (The Last Winter) and Angus Scrimm (Phantasm), packed nightly social events, rave reviews for the films programmed, and of course the ever-popular Zombie Walk
Zombie Walk
A zombie walk is an organized public gathering of people who dress up in zombie costumes...
. Other films included Trailer Park of Terror
Trailer Park of Terror
Trailer Park of Terror is a 2008 American direct-to-video horror film directed by Steven Goldmann and written by Timothy Dolan.-Plot:Based on the Imperium Comics series of the same name, Trailer Park of Terror follows six troubled high schoolers and their leader, the optimistic youth ministries...
, Mirageman, Idiots and Angels, Who is KK Downey?
Who is KK Downey?
Who is KK Downey? is a 2008 comedy film produced in Montreal, Canada.The plot revolves around two hipster friends who pretend to be a writer with a troubled past in their quest for fame....
, 4bia
4bia
4bia or Phobia is a 2008 Thai horror film in four parts, directed by Youngyooth Thongkonthun, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom, and Paween Purijitpanya.-Title:The title is a pun on the word "phobia"...
, Brain Dead,Donkey Punch
Donkey punch
Donkey punch is slang term for an apocryphal and potentially lethal sexual practice supposedly performed during anal or vaginal sex. The purported practice involves the penetrating partner punching the receiving partner in the back of the head or neck...
, Mutant Chronicles
Mutant Chronicles (film)
Mutant Chronicles is a 2009 independent science fiction horror film, loosely based on the role-playing game of the same name. The film was directed by Simon Hunter, and stars Thomas Jane and Ron Perlman. The film was released throughout Europe in an unfinished form. The film premiered on VOD on...
, and Home Movie
Home Movie (2008 film)
Home Movie is a 2008 horror film and is the directorial debut of actor Christopher Denham.The film received favorable reviews at Montreal’s 2008 Fantasia Film Festival. Following the final screening, bids were made on the film and IFC Enterainment acquired the U.S. rights for IFC's Festival Direct...
. The festival also featured a Make Your Own Damn Movie! masterclass taught by Lloyd Kaufman
Lloyd Kaufman
Lloyd Kaufman is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and occasional actor. With producer Michael Herz, he is the co-founder of Troma Entertainment film studio, and the director of many of their feature films, including The Toxic Avenger and Tromeo and Juliet. Kaufman also serves as...
. Festival attendance was over 8,500 enthusiastic fans.
Over 3,500 votes were cast for the Audience Award for Best Feature Film and the Gold (1st Place) winner is Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In, with Silver (2nd Place) going to cult sci-fi horror musical Repo! The Genetic Opera
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Repo! The Genetic Opera is a 2008 horror-rock opera musical film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. The film is based on a play written and composed by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich....
, and Bronze (3rd Place) awarded by fans to the Thai supernatural anthology movie 4bia
4bia
4bia or Phobia is a 2008 Thai horror film in four parts, directed by Youngyooth Thongkonthun, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom, and Paween Purijitpanya.-Title:The title is a pun on the word "phobia"...
(Phobia). Awards were also handed out for Best Independent Feature Film, where the big winner was the grave-robber comedy, I Sell The Dead
I Sell The Dead
I Sell the Dead is a 2008 comedy horror film, the feature film debut from Irish director Glenn McQuaid. The film is a period horror comedy about grave robbing and stars Dominic Monaghan, Ron Perlman, Larry Fessenden and Angus Scrimm.-Plot:...
, and in the short film categories, winners included the hysterical Christmas tree exploitation film Treevenge.
2009
The 4th annual festival made the move to summer, and was held August 14–21, 2009, once again at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with over 9,000 fans attending the festival. Highlights included screenings of the Norwegian Nazi zombie horror-comedy Dead SnowDead Snow
Dead Snow is a 2009 Norwegian horror film directed by Tommy Wirkola, starring Charlotte Frogner, Stig Frode Henriksen, Bjørn Sundquist, Ane Dahl Torp and Jenny Skavlan.- Plot :A woman, Sara, is being chased through the snows of Norway...
, the creepy anthology Trick 'r Treat
Trick 'r Treat
Trick 'r Treat is a 2007 American horror film written and directed by Michael Dougherty, and based on his short film Season's Greetings. Originally slated for an October 5, 2007 release, it was announced in September 2007 that the film had been pushed back. Warner Bros...
and the cult blaxploitation action-comedy Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite is a 2009 American film starring Michael Jai White, Salli Richardson, Arsenio Hall, Kevin Chapman and Tommy Davidson. It is a spoof of 1970s blaxploitation films...
, which won Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively in the Audience Choice Awards. The festival also hosted its first ever world premiere, Strigoi
Strigoi (film)
Strigoi is a 2009 British/Romanian comedy horror based on the Romanian mythology. The film is directed by Faye Jackson and stars Constantin Bărbulescu, Camelia Maxim, and Rudi Rosenfeld...
, an offbeat Romanian vampire comedy that was awarded by the fest Gold in the Best Independent Feature Film category. Silver and Bronze honours went to the darkly hilarious undead buddy movie, The Revenant
The Revenant
The Revenant is a horror/dark comedy film from Putrefactory Limited scheduled to be released fall 2011. The film was directed by D. Kerry Prior and stars David Anders as the title character...
, and the shocking zombie-baby thriller, Grace
Grace (film)
Grace is a 2009 film written and directed by Paul Solet. It is based on the 2006 short film with the same title that featured Liza Weil and Brian Austin Green. The short film was used to obtain funding for the feature version....
, respectively.
Other films included Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl
Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl
Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl is a 2009 Japanese gore film. It was directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura and Naoyuki Tomomatsu and premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival in June 2009...
, The Warlords
The Warlords
The Warlords, previously known as The Blood Brothers, is a 2007 epic war film directed by Peter Chan and starring Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Xu Jinglei. The film was released on December 13, 2007 simultaneously in most of Asia, except Japan...
(starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro), Black
Black (Film 2008)
-Synopsis:Black, a Senegalese bank-robber born and raised in France, is getting over a disastrous heist in which he lost nearly all of his men. He’s seriously thinking of going straight when his cousin Lamine calls him from Dakar: a briefcase full of contraband diamonds has just been deposited in...
(starring MC Jean Gab'1), Rough Cut, Franklyn
Franklyn
Franklyn is a 2008 British film written and directed by Gerald McMorrow as his debut feature. Produced by Jeremy Thomas, it stars Ryan Phillippe, Eva Green and Sam Riley. Shooting took place in London in the fourth quarter of 2007. Franklyn held its world premiere at the 52nd London Film Festival...
(starring Ryan Phillippe and Eva Green), The Forbidden Door, Must Love Death, Someone's Knocking at the Door, The Children
The Children (2008 film)
The Children is a 2008 British horror film directed by Tom Shankland and starring Eva Birthistle.-Cast:* Eva Birthistle as Elaine* Stephen Campbell Moore as Jonah* Hannah Tointon as Casey* Eva Sayer as Miranda* William Howes as Paulie*...
, Embodiment of Evil
Embodiment of Evil
Embodiment of Evil is a 2008 Brazilian horror film by Brazilian film director José Mojica Marins. Marins is also known by his alter ego Zé do Caixão . It is the third installment of his Coffin Joe trilogy...
(the third film in the Coffin Joe trilogy), and The Dark Hour
The Dark Hour
The Dark Hour is a Spanish science fiction film, produced in 2007, written and directed by Elio Quiroga, and produced by Eqlipse Producciones Cinematográficas with Margaret Nicoll, Jérôme Debève and Juan A. Ruiz as associate producers.-Plot summary:The film follows a group of eight people who...
. Shorts After Dark (International Short Film Snowcase) comprised 11 new horror, sci-fi, action, and cult short films from around the world, including a number of international award winners. Canada After Dark (Canadian Short Film Snowcase) featured 17 "home-grown" short films (and are the opening acts for the feature films).
2010
The 5th annual festival was held August 13–20, 2010, once again at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with over 9,300 fans attending. Highlights included the festival's first-ever red carpet premiere for The Last ExorcismThe Last Exorcism
The Last Exorcism is a 2010 American found footage horror film directed and edited by Daniel Stamm. It stars Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, and Louis Herthum....
, with producer Eli Roth, stars Ashley Bell and Patrick Fabian attending, the "100% medically accurate", The Human Centipede, and the 2010 remake of the 1978 shocker, I Spit On Your Grave
I Spit on Your Grave (2010 film)
I Spit on Your Grave is a 2010 American rape and revenge horror film, and a remake of the controversial 1978 cult film of the same name. It was directed by Steven R...
. These three films won Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively, in the Audience Choice Awards.
Other films included The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu
The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu
The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu is a 2009 horror comedy film directed by Henry Saine about the last living relative of noted short-story writer H.P. Lovecraft. The film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival and was acquired by MPI Media which intends on releasing it theatrically through...
, Doghouse
Doghouse (film)
Doghouse is a 2009 British horror comedy and splatter film.A group of men travels to a remote village in England for a 'boys' weekend'. Upon their arrival, they found out that all the women in the town had been transformed into some kind of man-eating cannibals.-Plot:Vince is depressed over his...
, Evil In the Time of Heroes
Evil - In the Time of Heroes
Evil: In the Time of Heroes is a 2009 Greek zombie horror film starring Billy Zane.-Plot:The story plays three days later as the first movie, the ancient power transmuted the people in bloody-minded zombies, for over 9000 years the fight was ever between undead and humans, who won by the humans.-...
, Robogeisha
RoboGeisha
is a 2009 Japanese sci-fi action B movie written and directed by Noboru Iguchi, visual effects directed by Tsuyoshi Kazuno, and special effects directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura. All three had previously worked together on The Machine Girl, and Nishimura worked on Tokyo Gore Police. The film...
, Alien vs Ninja, Phobia 2
Phobia 2
Phobia 2 is a 2009 Thai horror film in five parts, directed by Songyos Sugmakanan, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom, Visute Poolvoralaks, and Paween Purijitpanya.-Synopsis:...
, Cargo
Cargo (2009 film)
Cargo is a 2009 science fiction film, the first from Swiss production and the first major feature film by Ivan Engler.-Plot:It is the year 2267. After the earth has become uninhabitable due to an ecological collapse, the remaining people live on overcrowded space stations in Earth's orbit. The...
, Centurion
Centurion (film)
Centurion is a 2010 British action thriller film directed by Neil Marshall, loosely based on the supposed disappearance of the Roman Ninth Legion in Caledonia in the second century CE. The film stars Michael Fassbender, Olga Kurylenko and Dominic West....
, Black Death
Black Death (film)
Black Death is a 2010 historical horror action film directed by Christopher Smith from an original screenplay by Dario Poloni. It stars Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne and Carice van Houten.-Plot:The film takes place in 1348 in plague-ridden medieval England...
, All About Evil
All About Evil
All About Evil is a 2010 American black comedy horror film written and directed by Joshua Grannell.-Plot:The adventure tells of a shy librarian who inherits the old and not very tolerable cinema of her father, to protect the family from the shame of bankruptcy...
, High School
High School (2010 film)
High School is a 2010 comedy film starring Adrien Brody. It is the feature length directorial debut of John Stalberg, Jr. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010 and will be distributed in theatres internationally by Parallel Media....
and Rubber
Rubber (2010 film)
Rubber is a 2010 French comedy film about a tire that comes to life and kills people with its psychic powers. It was directed and written by Quentin Dupieux. The film was shown at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:...
.
Shorts After Dark (International Short Film Snowcase) comprised 10 new horror, sci-fi, action, and cult short films from around the world, including a number of international award winners and premieres. 2010's Best International Short Film award winners included; Off Season (Gold), Pumzi
Pumzi
-External links:* at Pumzithefilm.com* at SCI-CULTURA...
(Silver), and Deus Irae (Bronze). Canada After Dark (Canadian Short Film Snowcase) featured 16 "home-grown" short films (and are the opening acts for the feature films). 2010's Best Canadian Short Film award winners included; Junko's Shamisen (Gold), King Chicken (Silver), and Fireman and Game Night (tied for Bronze).
2011
The Toronto After Dark Film Festival returns to October for its 6th annual edition. In response to overwhelming fan demand, it returns to the Halloween Season for the first time in three years, taking place October 20–27, 2011.Toronto After Dark's 2011 Call for Film Entries are now closed. A record 200 feature film and 500 short film submissions were received this year.
Toronto After Dark announced the first eight Official Selections of it's 2011 film line-up, at Fan Expo Canada, August 25, 2011, then on the official website August 31, 2011. The films selected so far include, Monster Brawl
Monster Brawl
-Plot:The film depicts a wrestling-style fight to the death set inside an abandoned and cursed graveyard, shown in a pay-per-view style atmosphere. The fighters are eight classic movie monsters - Cyclops, Swamp Gut, Frankenstein, Lady Vampire, Werewolf, Mummy, Witch Bitch and Zombie Man...
- "It's the Ultimate Fight of the Living Dead"; Exit Humanity, a zombie saga set against the back-drop of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
; DeadHeads - a zombie/buddy/road-trip/comedy/adventure/horror; Redline - an intense, trippy, Japanese ANIME set in the world of car racing; The Theatre Bizarre - an terrifying horror anthology from such genre legends as Tom Savini
Tom Savini
Thomas Vincent "Tom" Savini is an American actor, stuntman, director, award-winning special effects and makeup artist. He is known for his work on the Living Dead films directed by George A. Romero, as well as Creepshow, The Burning, Friday the 13th, The Prowler, and Maniac. He directed the 1990...
and Richard Stanley
Richard Stanley
Richard Stanley is an award-winning film director and screenwriter born in South Africa. Stanley currently works and lives in Montségur, France.-Early life:...
; Father's Day - a new, sick and twisted story from Astron-6
Astron-6
Astron-6 is a Canadian film production company founded in 2007 by Adam Brooks and Jeremy Gillespie. It quickly grew to include Matt Kennedy, Conor Sweeney and Steven Kostanski...
and Troma, in the vein of Hobo with a Shotgun and other exploitation/grindhouse films; Love - a time-travel sci-fi drama in the vein of The Fountain
The Fountain
The Fountain is a 2006 American romantic drama film, which blends elements of fantasy, history, religion, and science fiction. It was directed by Darren Aronofsky, and starred Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz...
, Solaris
Solaris
- Fiction :* Solaris , a 1961 science fiction novel by Stanisław Lem** Solaris , directed by B. Nirenburg** Solaris , directed by Andrei Tarkovsky** Solaris , directed by Steven Soderbergh...
and 2001: A Space Odyssey and finally The Divide
The Divide (film)
The Divide is a post-apocalyptic science-fiction thriller film directed by Xavier Gens and written by Karl Mueller and Eron Sheean. It stars Michael Biehn, Lauren German, Milo Ventimiglia.-Plot:...
, an apocalyptic descent into despair, madness and human depravity as residents of a New York City apartment building take refuge in the basement after a nuclear attack, only to face something more horrific, each other.
The remaining nine films completing the Toronto After Dark 2011 line-up, along with the festival schedule will be revealed in mid-to-late September.
Other Genre Film Festivals
- Brussels International Festival of Fantasy FilmBrussels International Festival of Fantasy FilmThe Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival , previously named Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film was created in 1983 as a venue for horror, thriller and science fiction films. It takes place in Brussels, every year in March...
- Dead by DawnDead by DawnDead by Dawn is a film festival in Edinburgh, Scotland specifically devoted to horror films. Established in 1993 by Adele Hartley, this is a discovery festival showcasing mostly independent films, both short films and feature length films...
- European Fantastic Film Festivals FederationEuropean Fantastic Film Festivals FederationEuropean Fantastic Film Festivals Federation , established in 1996, is a film organisation based Brussels, Belgium, dedicated to promoting and supporting European cinema, particularly films in the fantasy, horror and science fiction genres....
- Fantasia FestivalFantasia FestivalFantasia International Film Festival is a genre film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996...
- Festival de Cine de SitgesFestival de Cine de SitgesThe Sitges Film Festival is a Spanish film festival that is one of the most recognizable ones held in Europe, considered the world's foremost international festival specializing in fantasy and horror movies...
- Fantastic FestFantastic FestFantastic Fest is an annual film festival in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 2005 by Tim League of Alamo Drafthouse, Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News, Paul Alvarado-Dykstra, and Tim McCanlies, writer of The Iron Giant and Secondhand Lions. The festival focuses on genre films such as horror,...
- International Horror and Sci-Fi Film FestivalInternational Horror and Sci-Fi Film FestivalInternational Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival is a film festival dedicated to the genres of horror and science fiction that is held annually in Tempe, Arizona, United States...
- New York City Horror Film FestivalNew York City Horror Film FestivalThe New York City Horror Film Festival was established by Michael J. Hein in 2001. It takes place each year in New York City for a week in October or November and specializes in the horror film genre....
- TromaDanceTromaDanceThe TromaDance Film Festival is a free annual independent film festival organized by Troma Entertainment. Founded in 1999, TromaDance was originally held in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, operating concurrently alongside the Sundance Film Festival in order to showcase an independent...