***NEXT CALL FOR ENTRIES WILL BEGIN BY EARLY 2025***
Next Festival Will Run Oct 15-19, 2025

To get Notified When You Can Next Submit your Film, Please join Toronto After Dark's Filmmaker Contact List Here:

https://bit.ly/tadff25-film-contact-list

We look forward to your entry!

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

"Toronto After Dark is a fabulous launching pad for independent genre film" - John Landis, Director/ Writer/ Producer (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, THE BLUES BROTHERS)

Toronto After Dark Film Festival is one of the world’s leading showcases of new horror, sci-fi, action and cult films. Celebrating its 17th year, the critically acclaimed annual event spotlights thrilling new feature films and shorts from around the world. Each year's festival is attended by thousands of enthusiastic film fans and over 100 press and industry representatives, generating hundreds of published reviews for our film selections and a number of distribution deals for filmmakers.

As well as the screenings, festivalgoers can also look forward to lively Q&A's with filmmakers and social events where fans get to hang out with the filmmakers! The festival, the films and the fans also benefit year round from a significant online presence, with film updates sent to over 80,000 social media and e-newsletter subscribers. Toronto After Dark is also proud to have been voted by local filmgoers Runner-Up for Best Film Festival in the City.

For Toronto After Dark's 17th Edition, the festival returns in person with five thrilling nights this October 18-22, 2023 at the Scotiabank Theatre, the biggest cinema in Canada’s largest city. We look forward to your entry and participation in this year's exciting Toronto After Dark: Horror, Sci-Fi, Action & Cult Film Festival!

WHAT FILMMAKERS & PRESS SAY ABOUT US:

"Having the opportunity to screen 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 an epicenter for genre fans across the globe."
- MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE

"Well organized, friendly, and relaxed, you can’t go wrong with this festival." - FANGORIA

WHAT WE OFFER FILMMAKERS

If your submitted film is selected for screening at the 2023 Toronto After Dark Film Festival, here is what you can expect from us:

- EXCELLENT PRESENTATION: Toronto After Dark takes pride in screening all films with the very best projection and sound equipment available.

- EXTENSIVE PROMOTION of your film as part of our massive two month festival marketing campaign that includes web, email and outdoor components. Our films also benefit year round from a significant online presence with film updates to over 80,000 social media and e-newsletter subscribers.

- A WELL-ATTENDED SCREENING: Our festival has become world-famous for its packed, enthusiastic audiences, with typically over 400 fans in attendance at every screening. All our fans create fantastic word of mouth for the films they see.

- MASSIVE PRESS COVERAGE: Very few festivals in the world come close to Toronto After Dark when it comes to generating publicity for independent genre films, both feature films and shorts. Given our status as one of the world's top genre film festivals, over 100 press and industry members cover our event annually and most importantly we encourage them to cover our short films too.

Toronto After Dark and its film selections have been featured in Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Filmmaker Magazine and Bloody-Disgusting to name a few. We generate record editorial coverage, with hundreds of published feature film reviews and short film reviews at the festival annually.

- EXPOSURE BEYOND OUR FESTIVAL: We like to tell filmmakers, that at Toronto After Dark your film is not just programmed, it is adopted. You can rest assured, if selected that our experienced festival team will do all that it can to make sure that your film's journey to finding the perfect audience wider than just our festival is a successful one!

- HELP WITH DISTRIBUTION: The film industry has also taken notice of our festival with trade press coverage. Toronto After Dark has a number of high profile contacts that we can share with you if you are selected by our event, and seeking distribution domestically or internationally. A number of our official selections have gone on to find distribution deals following the buzz surrounding their screenings at Toronto After Dark.

ALL SUBMITTING FILMMAKERS CAN EXPECT:

- A FAIR AND FULL CONSIDERATION WITH PRE-SCREENING OF YOUR FILM: we don't pre-guarantee a program slot to any filmmaker, regardless of their relationship with the festival. Our programming department watches every single film that is submitted, before making our final selections.

PLEASE E-MAIL US QUESTIONS, ANYTIME:
submissions@torontoafterdark.com

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUBMISSION!

- Team After Dark

Awards & Prizes

WE PROVIDE A HONEST AND FAIR CHANCE AT WINNING ONE OF SEVERAL AWARDS: Instead of festival juries which often have internal biases, Toronto After Dark as a fan-driven event prefers to let our fans choose ALL the winners of our awards.

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS - FOR BEST OVERALL FILM (Features and Shorts): The Best Feature and Best Short Films as determined by a democratic poll of our most rabid festival fans - over 200 Festival Pass Buyers, with Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards given to films in each category.

SPECIALTY AWARDS: Our Passholders also give out awards in such unique and fun specialty categories as Best Kill, Scariest Film, and Most Original Film as well as genre specific categories including Best Sci-Fi, Best Action and Best Horror Film!

In total approximately 30 Awards are available for filmmakers to win at the festival each year, giving every participating filmmaker, a fantastic chance to snag a prestigious Toronto After Dark Award!

Rules & Terms

GENRE ELIGIBILITY

Toronto After Dark Film Festival seeks independent feature-length and short films from around the world in any of the following main genre groups:
- Horror, Supernatural
- Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Animation
- Crime, Action, Thriller, Suspense
- Dark Comedy
- Cult, Bizarre, Genre-defying, Experimental
- Music Video (with a genre connection)
- Documentary (with a genre connection)

SHORT FILM ELIGIBILITY:

- Completed after January 1st, 2021
- Completed films, works-in-progress and rough cuts accepted
- Run time of less than 30 minutes
- Films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English
- Not previously submitted to the festival
- A previous limited screening or limited release in Canada, the U.S. or Internationally does not disqualify your film from consideration by the festival.
- Limited Screening Exclusivity: must not be publicly viewable in Ontario, Canada on any Streaming platform including Youtube during our festival dates, Oct 18-22, 2023.

FEATURE FILM ELIGIBILITY:

- Completed after January 1st, 2021
- Completed films, works-in-progress and rough cuts all accepted
- Run time of 60 minutes or longer
- Films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English
- Not previously submitted to the festival
- A previous limited screening or limited release in Canada, the U.S. or Internationally does not disqualify your film from consideration by the festival.
- Limited Screening Exclusivity: Must not be available in Ontario, Canada for view on Television / Home Video/ Streaming/ Video On Demand, nor be screening theatrically in Ontario during our festival dates, Oct 18-22, 2023.
- While not a prerequisite, Toronto Premiere Status is of added interest

2023 SUBMISSION DEADLINES & MECHANISM:

Please submit early to save on our submission fees.
- JULY 21: Early Deadline
- JULY 28: Regular Deadline
- AUGUST 11: Late Deadline
- AUGUST 25 Final Deadline

Any applicable submission fees must also be paid online at time of your entry.

Our Standard Festival Participation Agreement (Terms and Conditions), which all submitted films are also expected to follow is as follows:

GENERAL AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION IN TORONTO AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL:

I have read and accept the terms and regulations of Toronto After Dark Film Festival. I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these rules and regulations. If selected, I authorize Toronto After Dark Film Festival to exhibit my film, and I confirm that an exhibition copy will be available in a required format for screening during the 2023 festival (October 18-22, 2023). I accept that in the event that in-person screenings are considered unsafe or unviable for the festival to operate, as an alternative my film may also be considered by the festival for screening as part of a secure online streaming platform that will be restricted to festival ticket and passholders. I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to the Toronto After Dark Film Festival and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. I hold Toronto After Dark Film Festival harmless from damage to, or loss of any or all materials en route to, from or otherwise at the festival. I assume all legal responsibilities therein. By Agreeing to these terms, I transfer to Toronto After Dark Film Festival the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the 2023 festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the 2023 festival. I hereby agree to indemnify Toronto After Dark Film Festival, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.

PLEASE E-MAIL US QUESTIONS, ANYTIME:
submissions@torontoafterdark.com
28 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Abby Falvo

    Really cool festival and I was so glad to be invited and take part. Will submit again!

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much Abby, we're thrilled you had a great festival and look forward to having you back again! - Team After Dark

  • Jano Pita

    An incredible experience as a filmmaker. A terrific, passionate, and fantastic audience. Eternally grateful to Adam, Bridget and the entire TAFD team. As a sick lover of gore it doesn't get any better than Toronto After Dark.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Jano, thank you for the enthusiastic review! We're thrilled you had a wonderful time being a part of our International Short Film Showcase. So glad you were also delighted with the huge audience turnout and great response to your film! We hope to see you after dark again! - Team After Dark

  • Scott Riopelle

    Can’t say enough about TADFF. Amazing people, great location and great films. It was an honour to have our short film SOUL PROPRIETOR selected and screened in the opening gala for 500+ people. Best festival experience we’ve ever had! Thank you Adam and team!!!!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hey Scott, thank you for the lovely review! I'm so thrilled we had a sell-out capacity crowd to watch your short film on the Big Screen, and they loved it as much as we all did on the programming team! Fingers crossed, we'll have you back After Dark for more shared thrilling memories to come! - Adam & Team After Dark

  • Tiny Pictures Inc.

    TAD is the best! The programs were incredible, and made for a weekend I won't soon forget!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much Marko! We loved screening your short at Toronto After Dark, and so glad you got to enjoy the festival too. We look forward to seeing you back After Dark in the future!

  • Lauren Andrews

    Toronto After Dark always brings out the best crowd of any festival in this city! The people who run the fest are so lovely and supportive, I had a blast screening my film here this year :)

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Lauren, thanks so much! Your short was a delight to screen at our fest, and we were so thrilled to see it win an Audience Award to boot! I imagine we'll See You After Dark again!