Toronto Int'l Spring of Horror and Fantasy (TISH) was created to give people of Toronto access to quality genre films throughout the year.

We believe Film Festivals are to be enjoyed together in a theatre (followed by a bar), thus we don't do any virtual screenings. To stay true to all our filmmakers, after a Covid hiatus, we screened our 2020 selections in 2022 (once Canada's regulations safely allowed us to) and now we're looking for a brand new lineup to blow 2023 out of the water!

In addition to the screenings, we also have other activities such as nightly socials for networking and our annual Scream Queen / King Competition. We'd like to invite you to join the fun.

Films are still always the core of the festival and our aim is to showcase the best genre films from around the World from new filmmakers and seasoned veterans. Our focus is on new voices and we prefer creativity over big budgets. In addition to having short films in front of features, we also aim to start all screenings with a genre appropriate music video to set the mood.

Our screenings are held at the Carlton Cinema in downtown Toronto - May 19-21, 2023.

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Toronto Int'l Spring of Horror & Fantasy Film Festival
"Because good genre films should be available all year long!"

Awards & Prizes

Best Feature
Best Short
Best Music Video

Best Direction
Best Script
Best Performance
Best Canadian
Best Effects
Best Kill
Most Outrageous

Additional specialty prizes may be given at the awards ceremony.
All award winners get a Crazed TISH Cleaver the Beaver Bobblehead(!) Statue.

(If you are unable to claim the prize in person, we will ship it for free.)

Rules & Terms

We accept short films (<45 min), feature films (45 min<) and music videos that would play well alongside genre films.

We are open to all horror, sci-fi and fantasy films. Other films that would fit a genre festival (such as bloody black comedies, mysteries or dark experimental films) are also cordially welcome.

All films must either be in English or have English subtitles. Music videos may be in any language.

You must own all rights and have appropriate music clearances to the film(s) you're submitting. And by submitting a film, you grant Toronto International Spring of Horror and Fantasy Film Festival permission to exhibit the film at the festival.

If the film is accepted, the filmmaker will consent to us using a trailer (preferred) or alternatively a short clip of his/her film as well as a poster or images from the film for promotional purposes of the festival.

Works-in-progress will be considered, as long as they are going to be completed prior to the Festival. Toronto Premieres strongly preferred especially for Feature Films. Music Videos have no premiere requirements and can also be available online before and during the festival.

We will accept both online screeners via FilmFreeway as well as DVD copies. All submission fees need to be paid via FilmFreeway before the DVD entries are considered. The fees are all non-refundable as we have programmers who watch all submissions from the start of the film to the end of the end credits, guaranteed!

DVD entries should be sent to:

Spring Of Horror & Fantasy Film Festival
Att: Lari Teras
3 - 196 Elm St.
Sudbury, ON, P3C 1V3
Canada

We will make our announcements at the latest on April 10, 2023.

If accepted, we will need a good quality (ProRes 422 or h.264) digital download [Preferred] or a DCP sent to us by April 30, 2023. (If sending a DCP, we would prefer to also receive a ProRes or h.264 backup copy if available in case there are any problems with the DCP. However, we'll be in touch via e-mails to go through everything.)

All accepted films will get a complimentary festival pass and have access to half-price tickets for cast / crew members throughout the festival.
16 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Catherine Black

    TISH was my favourite screening out of my filmsfestival run! The reasons for this are because they check every box of what I expect from a film festival. From the high quality and attention to providing a perfect screening of your film, to overall communication, promotional opportunities with professional photos, interviews and reviews from horror publications, making each filmmaker feel like an important and integral part of their festival. I loved my film block, and the audiences enjoyment of each film, added to the whole experience. The horror and genre community that rallied around the festival was so much fun and that's what it's all about. TISH knows what they are doing and it's clear that they are honoured to have the filmmakers and movie goers attend. I highly recommend the Toronto International Spring of Horror and Fantasy.

    May 2019
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  • John and Lena Krissilas Burmenko

    We had an amazing time at the 2019 Toronto Int'l Spring of Horror & Fantasy Film Festival! The directors Jon & Lari are pros – they were in constant email contact leading up to the festival and ensured that they screened the highest possible quality screening file of our film. The screen itself is beautiful and the crowd is great: true genre and horror film lovers. Our director was invited to introduce the film at our screening block; afterwards a professional photographer took amazing red carpet photos of our cast, crew, and friends. Everyone there is hugely supportive of genre filmmaking. This is a festival worth attending!

    April 2019
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  • Julian Hoffman

    Don't miss out on genre festivals! This is one of the good ones. Lot's of amazing work being displayed here. Thank you TISH!

    April 2019
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  • Ryan Couldrey

    Great fest for genre filmmakers who're looking to screen in-between the typical Oct-Nov dates most other genre fests play during. Lari and Jon are also great with communicating with filmmakers.

    April 2019
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  • Mike McCutchen

    Wow! What a stellar festival on so many accounts! Sadly I wasn't able to attend, given I'd already committed to another festival the same weekend. Lari and Jon kept me up to speed via email leading up to, and following the screening, which was super helpful - almost participating vicariously through those emails and all of the Social Media posts. We had the honor of being blocked with a Scream Queen/King contest, which is just too perfect. It's on me now to make another film and cross my fingers they enjoy it - because I'd kill to actually experience the fest with so many genre film lovers, events, and bars! If you're a filmmaker and debating on submitting, do yourself the solid and go for it. (When a fest feels this genuine and sincere - it's a no brainer.) I can only imagine this fest will get bigger and crazier as the years go on. Fingers crossed!

    April 2019
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