We work very hard to make sure that filmmakers are delighted with their experience at Toronto After Dark Film Festival.
After their selection, it’s important to us that the films we are trusted with, are all treated to well-attended screenings, extensive press coverage and also find wider exposure on the festival circuit and even distribution as a result of our event.
By consistently putting filmmakers first, Toronto After Dark has received a world-renowned reputation as the best place to screen an independent genre film.
But don’t take our word for it: since our festival began in 2006, over 500 feature-length and short films have been showcased at Toronto After Dark and here’s just a small selection of the universally positive feedback we’ve had back from the filmmakers:
“Toronto After Dark is not only great fun, but was also a fabulous launching pad for our independent film. With wonderful staff and terrific audiences, TAD is a growing and exciting film festival!”
- John Landis, Director/Writer/Producer (AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, BLUES BROTHERS, SOME GUY WHO KILLS PEOPLE)
“Toronto After Dark has an amazing atmosphere and great energy! Our screening was completely sold out, the lineup was wrapped all the way around the block, and everyone was really into the movie. The fans here are the best!”
- Eli Roth, Director / Writer / Producer / Actor (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, CABIN FEVER, HOSTEL, THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS)
“A festival with great taste, I love Toronto After Dark! It is an event close to my heart. Winning an award there was a huge honour and the cherry on top of a wonderful cream cake of a day!”
- Simon Pegg, Writer/Actor (SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ, STAR TREK, A FANTASTIC FEAR OF EVERYTHING, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE SERIES)
“One of the best festivals in the world… In many ways Toronto After Dark not only taught us what a good audience is, but also kicked off our careers and empowered us to keep aiming to simultaneously innovate, scare people and tug on heartstrings. In following several of our films around the world, it has become one of the screenings that we look forward to most.”
- Aaron Moorhead & Justin Benson, Directors / Writers / Actors (RESOLUTION, SPRING, THE ENDLESS, SOMETHING IN THE DIRT)
“Toronto After Dark is truly a fest run by people who care and love what they do. The extra effort they put in to support the films that they showcase is superb. We’ve never had a bigger audience reaction to our film: tweets about our movie crashed our cells! Toronto After Dark didn’t just live up to our expectations. It blew them away!”
-Jen and Sylvia Soska, Actor/Directors, (AMERICAN MARY, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, RABID)
“Toronto After Dark is a giddy love fest for fans of dark cinema. It’s a perfect place to see and show films of the outré with an audience eager for all that is new and exciting and sanguinary.”
- Mick Garris, Writer / Director (NIGHTMARE CINEMA, MASTERS OF HORROR, THE STAND, CRITTERS 2, SLEEPWALKERS)
“Showing our film THE RANGER at Toronto After Dark was such a blast. The crowd was so much fun, and the theater was amazing with a huge screen and top-notch sound. The people that run the festival are passionate and true genre fans. I can’t wait to return either with a film or as an audience member!”
- Jenn Wexler, Director / Producer / Writer (THE RANGER)
“Toronto After Dark has been home to the screenings and premieres from some of my favorite filmmakers of the last decade. To be included somewhere in that line up and be just a little part of that history was quite literally a dream come true! And for them to take a chance on our scrappy back yard sci-fi movie and premiere it for the first time to a big audience was the icing on the cake. They will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
- Reese Eveneshen, Writer/director, DEFECTIVE
“You can tell Toronto After Dark was created by true genre fans. The energy of the audiences is powerful. All of our screenings have sold out. Can’t thank them enough for their years of support. It’s the type of festival every city needs!
- Cody Calahan, writer/director/producer, LET HER OUT
“Toronto After Dark is a Canadian institution of horror! The roar of the crowd, the energy of the fans and the incredible talent which is showcased every year. Having our films screened there has been a career highlight.”
- Christopher Giroux, producer, THE DROWNSMAN, LET HER OUT, BED OF THE DEAD, I’LL TAKE YOUR DEAD
“I’ve been a patron and fan of TADFF for a decade and I’m very vocal about how much I love this fest. Now that I’ve screened at the festival as a filmmaker, my admiration has grown even more. The care and respect that the TADFF team puts into making sure their audience and filmmakers are taken care of is outstanding. As a filmgoer I’ve always had fun discovering new and exciting films, and as a filmmaker I feel safe that my film is being shown in the best possible manner in venues that are top notch. On top of everything, the programmers promote the films and make sure we get a solid audience for every screening. Here’s to many more years of awesome, outrageous fun at TADFF!”
- Navin Ramaswaran, director, POOR AGNES
“Toronto After Dark embraced everything that was a little crazy about our film, including its very existence, and set it up perfectly for their amazing audience. We couldn’t have asked for a better launching pad to showcase our indie sci-fi action martial arts kaiju stand alone/sequel genre mash of a film. Toronto After Dark is beyond awesome.”
- Liam O’Donnell, Director / Writer (BEYOND SKYLINE)
“Toronto After Dark’s excellence in programming is only exceeded by its incredible atmosphere. Friendly, welcoming, and downright fun, this is a world-class festival tailor-made for filmmakers and attendees alike. A truly wonderful home to premiere my first feature film.”
- Corey Stanton, Director / Writer (ROBBERY)
“The audience at Toronto After Dark rocks! We make these movies for people to watch and enjoy. It was a massive honour and boost to my film to win the Audience Choice Award.”
- James Moran, Writer (COCKNEYS VS ZOMBIES, SEVERANCE, TOWER BLOCK, DOCTOR WHO, TORCHWOOD, PRIMEVAL, SPOOKS)
“My film was in many festivals, including Sundance, but the most focused and unique was Toronto After Dark which by far and away had the most enthusiastic crowds. Toronto After Dark will always have a special place in my heart, and I hope to be back soon!”
- Scott Sanders, Director/Writer (BLACK DYNAMITE)
“In record time, Toronto After Dark has become the city’s best boutique festival of Horror, Sci-Fi, Action and Cult movies”
- Jovanka Vuckovic, Director/Writer/Producer (THE CAPTURED BIRD)
“The atmosphere at Toronto After Dark is so much fun! It’s packed with excited fans and other filmmakers which makes for a very inspiring festival. We just cant wait to go back with our next film!”
- Michael Biehn, Actor/Producer/Director & Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, Actor/Producer (THE TERMINATOR, ALIENS, PLANET TERROR, THE DIVIDE, THE VICTIM)
“Having the opportunity to debut my first feature at Toronto After Dark was an absolute dream. It’s a festival programmed by true genre fans, for true genre fans, so it’s no wonder why they have the most energetic crowds on the festival circuit.”
- Tyler MacIntyre, Director/Writer (TRAGEDY GIRLS, PATCHWORK)
“Toronto After Dark is truly dedicated to independent art, and is brilliantly curated. I am incredibly proud to have screened at the festival!”
- Lloyd Kaufman, Director/Producer/Actor (TOXIC AVENGER, TROMEO & JULIET, POULTRYGEIST, FATHER’S DAY)
“Toronto After Dark is a great celebration of films, filmmakers and fans. With sold out crowds going crazy for genre films, it’s one of the best events to attend!”
- Ti West, Director/Writer/Actor (THE INNKEEPERS, HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, V/H/S, ABC’S OF DEATH)
“I can’t thank Toronto After Dark enough for what they did for our film. DEADHEADS played at over 20 film festivals and It’s no secret that it was my favourite of our run. Real fans, real filmmakers with real film lovers running the fest. I’m going to try to get there every year.”
- Brett Pierce, Writer/Director/Producer (DEADHEADS)
“How can I not love Toronto After Dark? Their audience appreciates the crazy kind of stuff I like to watch and the crazy kind of stuff I like to make!”
- Lucky McKee, Director/Writer (THE WOMAN, MAY, RED)
“Toronto After Dark is like a rock show! Going to a fest like this, with such a knowledgeable and vibrant crowd is what filmmaking is all about for us. It inspires us!”
- Jason Eisener, Director/Writer & Rob Cotterill, Producer (HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN, GRINDHOUSE, ABC’S OF DEATH, TREEVENGE, VHS 2)
“Every film that plays at Toronto After Dark is treated like a special event. The fans, the town, the press and the hosts make it a must-attend fest. We loved our time there!”
-Larry Fessenden, Actor/Producer, (I SELL THE DEAD, THE INNKEEPERS, STAKE LAND, THE LAST WINTER)
“Toronto After Dark is simply the best place to showcase independent genre films. It was a thrill to have my film at the festival!”
- Robert Maillet, Actor (300, SHERLOCK HOLMES, MONSTER BRAWL, A LITTLE BIT ZOMBIE, PACIFIC RIM)
“I am really proud to have been included in Toronto After Dark. I signed my distribution agreement last week. I got the offer from a distributor who saw the film at the festival!”
- John Reed, Short Filmmaker (FUDDLEBE)
“I’ve never been welcomed by a more professional, caring and fun-loving group of folks. From their selection of flicks to their in-depth Q & A’s that spill out to the local pub, Toronto After Dark is movie-geekery at its best and a true home for film nerds. Be yourself at TAD, because you can!”
- Noah Segan, Actor (LOOPER, BRICK, DEAD GIRL, SOMEONE’S KNOCKING AT THE DOOR)
“As a filmmaker, nothing excites me more than being around people who get the genre. The fans at Toronto After Dark not only get it, they bleed it!”
- Darren Lynn Bousman, Director (MOTHER’S DAY, SAW II, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL)
“I couldn’t have asked for a better response from people who share my obsession with all things fantastical. The people responsible for Toronto After Dark have given me nothing but positive support and assistance with my film.”
-Steven Kostanski, Director/Writer/Special Effects Artist (THE DIVIDE, MANBORG, FATHER’S DAY, LAZER GHOSTS 2)
“I love going to see movies at Toronto After Dark because it reminds of when I first started to go to movies as a kid. Everyone gathers together before and after the screening and gives out love to the film and the filmgoers!“
- Art Hindle, Actor (BLACK CHRISTMAS, PORKY’S, MONSTER BRAWL)
“Toronto After Dark is the kind of film festival this city needs: heartfelt, intimate and fiercely independent.”
- Rodrigo Gudiño, Director/Writer (THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROSALIND LEIGH, THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MISTER HOLLOW)
“Toronto After Dark was a fantastic experience and the audience was awesome! It’s an amazing place to share cinematic memories and form friendships. After the screening you get to share drinks with festivalgoers and talk movies until the small hours!”
- Xavier Gens, Director/Writer (THE DIVIDE, HITMAN, FRONTIERS, ABC’S OF DEATH)
“Toronto After Dark was a wonderful event that gave our film a healthy, interested crowd of genre enthusiasts in one of the world’s cinema capitals. The enthusiasm of the programming team was lovely and the festive, intimate ambiance is highly recommended.”
- Karim Hussain, Director/Writer/Cinematographer (HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN, THEATRE BIZARRE, ABC’S OF DEATH)
“Toronto After Dark is my kind of festival, because of the great programming of unique and powerful films. But even better are the very large and loving audiences.”
- Bill Plympton, Oscar Nominated Short Filmmaker/Animator (IDIOTS & ANGELS)
“Toronto After Dark has the most amazing energy with an enthusiastic crowd of hardcore genre fans. We played on Zombie Appreciation Night, and the special effects in the audience were almost as good as ours! They really took care of me. I’m definitely coming back with my next genre film!”
- Alex Epstein, Writer/Director/Script Editor (GOOD COP BAD COP, YOU ARE SO UNDEAD, EDDIE THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL)
“Toronto After Dark is one of the most diverse and exciting genre film festivals in the world! It was great to see such a brilliant and eclectic mix of people filling the cinema seats. The next big thing could be premiering right here, and it might just be your film!”
- Julian Gilbey, Director/Writer/Editor (A LONELY PLACE TO DIE, DOGHOUSE, RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER)
What the Film Press Says About Our Festival
To read what the press has been saying about our festival, visit our press quotes page.
Submit Your Film!
To find out when and how you can submit your film to Toronto After Dark Film Festival, visit our Submissions Page.
