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

Our aim is to show 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.

For 2024, we'll be switching to a new theatre: The Revue and doing a 1-day showcase of the festival on Saturday, April 6th. We'll be screening some of our past winners and also a few new entries. (However, the amount of new entries this year will be quite limited.)

That said, any entries to this year's showcase will also be considered for 2025 when we'll be back with our full event.

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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

The best film(s) for the day will be celebrated & rewarded.

All will also be considered for awards in various categories in 2025 where we'll be again handing out our Crazed TISH Cleaver the Beaver Bobblehead(!) Statues.

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!

(Contact the festival for an address if you wish to send DVD / Bluray copies.)

We aim to make our announcements at the latest on March 15, 2024.

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.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sarah Tice

    We were not able to attend, but we loved seeing what the festival was playing! We also received great communication from the festival. Super honored to have won Best Feature!

    April 2024
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  • Jack Grinhaus

    An amazing event! So proud to have been a part of it and the team working there were really responsive and supportive.

    June 2023
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  • Steven DeRock

    Thanks for selecting my film! It was great to see it on the big screen. I appreciate the organizers for putting the event together.

    May 2023
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  • Neil Warren

    Really enjoyed the festival. Great personable staff and some really good films. Will definitely return to this venue again!

    May 2023
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  • Adam Kirkey

    Really glad we were able to take part in this festival!

    May 2023
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