Dark Nights Film Fest

Dark Nights Film Fest - included in Dread Central's "90 Best Genre Film Festivals on Earth" (2025) and Adrian Tofei's definitive industry list of "Top 110 Genre Film Festivals" (2026) - is a spellbinding and pulse-pounding horror & dark genre film festival in Sydney, Australia, created by Bryn Tilly, former festival director & programmer of A Night of Horror International Film Festival.

Dark Nights is a bold and thrilling showcase championing independent, emerging and established filmmakers from Australia and around the world, whilst also seeking to present, on occasion, carefully selected vintage cult films.

The 2026 celebration of horror and dark genre films will take place at The Reservoir Cinema, adjacent to Sydney Brewery Surry Hills, where patrons can 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 for films submitted through the festival’s open call for entries. This commitment to the cold submission process is important to the festival 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 the 2026 event – V.3 – the festival is calling for short films and unproduced screenplays across horror and other dark genres such as thriller, fantasy, noir, science fiction, action, western, war. Be it high-brow, low-brow, elevated, underground, arthouse, exploitation, animated, or maybe a mutant mixture!

We want to see the freakiest and creepiest short films from all over the world. Cerebral or visceral or both. We want them wild and we want them wicked. We want them unhinged and scary as hell.

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: short films, including webisodes and narrative music videos, also unproduced feature film screenplays and unproduced short film screenplays.

Praise for Bryn Tilly's prior experience as 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)