2024 FESTIVAL POSTPONEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT & SPECIAL STATEMENT FROM OUTGOING FESTIVAL DIRECTOR & FOUNDER ADAM LOPEZ
Dear Festival Fans, Filmmakers, Staff, Volunteers and Supporters,
18TH FESTIVAL POSTPONED BY ONE YEAR, TO OCTOBER 15-19, 2025
I regret to inform you, that due to unfortunate circumstances beyond our control, the 18th Annual Toronto After Dark Film Festival, originally scheduled for this October 2024, has been postponed by a year. However, we are excited to confirm that our fantastic event will make a triumphant return to the Scotiabank Theatre in downtown Toronto, showcasing five nights of thrilling new horror, thriller, and sci-fi films from October 15-19, 2025!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT & UNDERSTANDING OF MY HEALTH CHALLENGES
Since its inception in 2006 at the iconic Bloor Cinema, the Toronto After Dark film festival has been a source of immense joy for me. The opportunity to engage with the passionate fan community, which has become like a second family, has been truly rewarding. I am grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout my battle with Stage IV Head & Neck cancer over the past three years. Your encouragement has been a source of strength for me and my loved ones as I defied the odds and surpassed my initial one-year prognosis.
Despite the challenges posed by my health, I was fortunate enough to be able to work with my team to organize the last two editions of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. It was a pleasure to return to the stage and introduce our talented filmmakers to our enthusiastic audiences in both 2022 and 2023. I had hoped to continue this tradition with a third event this year, but unfortunately, my health has taken a turn for the worse in 2024. As a result, I have had to make the difficult decision to postpone this year's festival.
PASSING THE TORCH ON, SO THE TORONTO AFTER DARK FLAME CAN BURN BRIGHTLY INTO THE FUTURE!
As well as this year's postponement, it is with a heavy heart, after 17 wonderful years, I have made the difficult decision to permanently step down as Festival Director at the end of this year to concentrate fully on my continuing health battle. But rest assured, as Founder, I'll be carefully entrusting the future of our wonderful event to a trusted familiar pair of hands - my fellow founding Toronto After Dark staff member Peter Kuplowsky, who as many fans know has gone on to work wonders at TIFF, Fantastic Fest and many other great film events!
As Festival Legacy Director, Peter will ensure that our event stays true to the expectations of our loyal fan and filmmaker base, while my wonderful extended festival staff, many of whom have been with our event for over 10 years, will continue to work alongside Peter to ensure Toronto After Dark's continuity and success. Rest assured, Toronto After Dark will stay true to its popular brand of being a fun, affordable, unpretentious, accessible, compact film showcase event, that theatrically screens crowd-pleasing genre films from around the world, in front of packed, delighted audiences in a prime downtown location!
I will also try and stay involved, as a Senior Advisor to our beloved event. Health permitting, next year you might even spot me on occasion on the Red Carpet , doing what I love to do, taking a pic with our filmmakers and fans and our popular mascot, TADDY Bear! You can also continue to follow my Cancer Fight Journey at my Facebook Page and Instagram, and any well wishes are always appreciation.
FOLLOW TORONTO AFTER DARK FOR UPDATES & GIVEAWAYS!
As fans await the return of Toronto After Dark Film Festival in October 2025, In the meantime, don't forget each month you can enjoy many more awesome movie-related news, contests and giveaways by following Toronto After Dark’s popular social media channels at Instagram, Facebook and X/Twitter as well signing up for our Email Newsletter!
Filmmakers: Get Ready!
If you are a filmmaker with a movie ready to submit for next year, Toronto After Dark's Call for Entries for 2025 will be starting up early in the New Year, with reduced submission fees for early entries. You can sign up to get notified of the Call at our Contact List here.
SEE YOU AFTER DARK IN 2025!
While we're obviously disappointed not to host our event this year, the Toronto After Dark team look forward to showcasing plenty more thrills and chills with you , showcasing the best new horror, thriller and sci-fi movies Oct 15-19, 2025 at the Scotiabank Theatre!
We Hope to See You After Dark next October!
Adam Lopez, Outgoing Festival Director & Founder, Toronto After Dark Film Festival
