Dark Nights Film Fest

Dark Nights Film Fest is a spellbinding and pulse-pounding new horror & dark genre film festival in Sydney, Australia, created by former festival director & programmer of A Night of Horror International Film Festival, Bryn Tilly.

After fifteen years involvement with ANOH including several years programming short films and four years as its director & curator, Bryn Tilly now launches his own film festival at Sydney’s legendary and iconic Ritz Cinemas in the vibrant Eastern suburb known as The Spot.

Dark Nights Film Fest is a bold and thrilling new showcase championing independent, emerging and established filmmakers from Australia and around the world, whilst also seeking to celebrate, on occasion, select cult films from the past. There's a dedicated Australian short film showcase, Q&As with filmmakers, surprise pop-up events, all within the perfect environment - the spacious, stylish, and well-appointed Ritz - for patrons and guests to hang out with budding and experienced creatives, pop culture enthusiasts, genre aficionados, and cult movie freaks and geeks.

The festival program reserves 90% of its short film slots and over 50% of its feature film slots for films submitted through the festival’s open submission process. This commitment to the cold submission process is important to us and to the local and international community, providing a platform for talented, emerging, independent filmmakers, further enabling the discovery and much-needed exposure of bold and exciting new blood.

For our highly-anticipated inaugural 2024 event – Volume One – the festival is calling for films and unproduced screenplays in the following dark genres: horror, thriller, fantasy, noir, science fiction, action, western, war. Be it high-brow, low-brow, elevated, underground, arthouse, exploitation, animated, or maybe a hybrid!

The festival includes a screenplay competition for unproduced feature and short film scripts to nurture and support the dark genre storytellers of tomorrow.

Submissions can be: features, documentaries, short films, webisodes, unproduced feature film screenplays, unproduced short film screenplays.

Praise for Bryn Tilly's prior experience as ANOH's film festival director and curator:

“Bryn is amazing. His meticulous programming, dedication and enthusiasm is infectious and helps create a distinctive and buzzing atmosphere.”
Steven Mihaljevich (director – VIOLETT)

“Bryn Tilly is an accomplished film festival director who possesses an exceptional talent for curating unparalleled gatherings that bring together visionary filmmakers and audiences eager for new voices and innovative perspectives within the realm of independent horror films.”
Ursula Dabrowsky (director – THE DEVIL’S WORK)

“Bryn Tilly and his team were great to work with. They communicated well with me, and I felt like were working as a team to deliver the best screening we could for the audience.”
Nicholas Tomnay (director – WHAT YOU WISH FOR)

“We were very honoured to have been selected to play amongst so many strong films. Bryn also had impeccable communication … We will definitely be submitting our future films.”
Sarah Tice (director – DID I?)

“Bryn is such a warm and welcoming festival director and is so passionate about the genre. He, Rob and the team select phenomenal films, create a friendly environment.”
Sylvia Caminer (director – FOLLOW US)

“The communication was wonderful start to finish. Loved being part.”
Elise Finnerty (director – THE ONES YOU DIDN’T BURN)

“Bryn, Rob, and the team are passionate film lovers and created the perfect environment to screen our film … The whole experience was exceptional, would highly recommend it.”
Luke J.S. (co-director – YOUR LOVE IS MINE)

“Curated by thoughtful, film-savvy people who make you feel like family instead of a cog in some big machine."
Paul Schuyler (director – RED RIVER ROAD)

“Great curation. Great communication. Many thumbs up!”
Johannes Grenzfurthner (director – MASKING THRESHOLD)

“Bryn and the team were absolutely amazing and truly support indie filmmakers. Can’t wait to submit my next project.”
Chris Sun (director – THE POSSESSED)

“Expertly run and would recommend filmmakers to submit their work.”
Philip Trow (director – UPSTAIRS)

“Amazing … Bryn did an incredible job!! It was an honor to be part of it!”
Nicole Ihasz (director – BECKY)

“What a pleasure! From programmers who are true cinéastes of the tenebrous, to a bold selection of fresh and wicked filmmaking on display.”
Glenn Fraser (director – MOTHER TONGUE)

“Honestly our favourite experience ever … The care they show for the films/filmmakers is above and beyond.”
Addison Heath (co-director – MY CHERRY PIE)

“Wow! Highly recommended.”
Adam Ethan Crow (director – LAIR)

“It was a great honour and privilege to be part of this family.”
Catarina De Cézanne (screenwriter – KNITTING OUT)

“Bryn was so excellent throughout the whole process and kept us updated on everything that was happening. I’m so happy to be involved!”
Grace Presse (director – MY EX IS A MONSTER)

“The selection of films is great, the knowledge of genre cinema outstanding, communication always uncomplicated and to the point. The people really support genre filmmakers in getting their work seen!!”
Andreas Resch (director – MARLENE)

“A fantastic experience … Could not recommend more highly.”
Josh Reed (director – WE’RE NOT HERE TO FUCK SPIDERS)

“These guys were the best! There was a real love of genre and film.”
Cooper Savva (director - BEAKS)

“Clear, consistent communication, and innovative formatting and scheduling. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to attend in person, because everything about our interaction was great. Well done to Bryn and everyone.”
Jamie Gower (director - WALLA)

“Though I wasn’t able to attend in person, Bryn reached out personally multiple times to include me in the process. It was a great experience and I can’t wait to submit more films (and hopefully attend!) in the future.”
Erik Odom (director - BOX ON THE HILL)

“Great attitude from Bryn. You can feel that they care about your film … Amazing experience.”
Stepan Chernetskiy (director - IN MY HOUSE)

“Had a chat with Bryn about all the latest horror films and it’s just a passion of his and the whole team.”
James Mantle (director - DON’T COME CLOSER)

“The personal relationship with the filmmakers, very close and friendly. Unbeatable.”
Ivan Villamel (director - THE NEWCOMER)

“Bryn and the whole team were wonderful. Great communication throughout the whole experience. They champion all of their films and got press coverage for shorts which is always tough to come by. I hope to go in person one day because this programming team is charismatic about their filmmakers, films, and everything horror!”
Dan Repp (co-director - CUTTER)

“Fantastic lineup of films. Highly recommended.”
Harry Owens (director - THE UNSETTLING)

“Bryn, and the rest of the team were all extremely welcoming, the communication was great at all times and they were able to keep the quality at top notch throughout the duration of the event.”
O.B. De Alessi (director - MUDMONSTER)

“We wish we had been able to be there in person, but was really impressed how Bryn and his team were able to put on a tremendous event in spite of lockdown.”
Alex Galvin (director - THE TURN OF THE SCREW)

“Run by hardcore horror enthusiasts … Impressive selection of features and shorts.”
Kenny Foo (director - SLASH)

“Ran by great minds with great tastes covering all corners of the horror spectrum … Keep it coming, team!”
Noel Vinson (director - JANE)

“A fantastic opportunity to share your flick with genre fans.”
Margaret M. MacDonald (director - THE WRITER)

“Great communication and a great experience!”
Conall Pendergast (director - SELF-ACTUALIZATION OF THE WEREWOLF WOMAN)

”Really well run … with a great lineup of movies, really good communication, and a really effective online presence. Highly recommend.”
April Phillips (screenwriter/producer - THE ODDS)

“I cannot thank the organisers enough for their support, communication and for throwing a professional event.”
Matthew Barker (screenwriter - THEY WILL COME FOR YOU)