TORONTO AFTER DARK ANNOUNCES 2025 LINE-UP

Wickedly wild creature feature, Johannes Roberts’ PRIMATE, and a hotly anticipated action sequel, Jalmari Helander’s SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE, headline Toronto After Dark’s 18th edition, alongside a thrilling slate that forays into realms of vampires, zombies, and the horror filmmakers themselves!

Sept. 24, 2025 - The Toronto After Dark Film Festival (TADFF) is excited to officially unveil its lineup of exciting new horror, sci-fi and action films that will screen this Oct 15-19, 2025 at the Scotiabank Theatre (259 Richmond St W). Across five thrilling nights, Toronto audiences will enjoy a fantastic showcase of 10 feature premieres, as well as 29 brilliant and bizarre short films from Canada and around the world.

The festival’s Opening Night double feature is headlined by the Canadian Premiere of Paramount Pictures’ PRIMATE, a nerve-racking horror directed by Johannes Roberts (The Strangers: Prey at Night) produced by Walter Hamada (It, The Conjuring), John Hodges and Bradley Pilz. In PRIMATE, a group of friends’ tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival, as a rabid chimpanzee is pit against a cast that features Johnny Sequoyah (Dexter: New Blood) and Oscar® winner Troy Kotsur (Coda).

The 2025 edition further features the Canadian Premiere of SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE, Jalmari Helandar’s furious follow-up to Sisu, his breakout 2022 action epic about a legendary commando-turned-gold prospector stoically portrayed by Jorma Tommila (Rare Exports, Big Game). In the sequel, the ex-soldier ventures into enemy territory to reclaim his family home by any means necessary and bloody bedlam ensues.

The festival’s longstanding affinity for the undead (both vampiric and zombified) will also be represented by another pair of Canadian Premieres: Adam MacDonald’s zombie thriller THIS IS NOT A TEST, based on Courtney Summers' popular post-apocalyptic YA novel, and Ed Shimborske’s ON GALLOWS HILL, which offers an inspired glimpse into a clandestine vampire community.

Toronto genre fans can also look forward to the Ontario Premieres of Tina Romero’s infectiously campy zombie comedy QUEENS OF THE DEAD, an epic martial arts saga from Gabriele Mainetti (Freaks Vs. The Reich, recipient of the TADFF ‘22 Audience Award) THE FORBIDDEN CITY, as well as REFLECTIONS IN A DEAD DIAMOND, a spellbinding experimental homage to Danger: Diabolik and European espionage films from Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani (Let The Corpses Tan). Also featured are some infectiously joyous celebrations of genre filmmaking courtesy of Sean Cisterna’s SILVER SCREAMERS, a delightful documentary about senior citizens banding together to make a horror film, and Ken’ichi Ugana’s endearing ode to the passion and camaraderie that blooms on a no-budget film set I FELL IN LOVE WITH A Z-GRADE DIRECTOR IN BROOKLYN. And finally there is William Bagley’s rousing supernatural action bonanza HOLD THE FORT, which features nearly the entire pantheon of creatures of the night.

Also announced is the festival’s popular short film slate, which pairs Canadian shorts with feature films, and includes dedicated sidebars for both Canadian and International titles. Showcased in this year’s lineup is the Canadian Premiere of THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM, the fiction debut of acclaimed writer and documentarian Kier-La Janisse (Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror), starring Don McKellar.

This year’s festival also marks the first time the festival will occur without the leadership of its former director and founder Adam Lopez, who tragically passed away last April after a heroic and public battle with cancer. Adam’s life and legacy will be commemorated during this 18th edition with the festival’s coveted audience award being retitled in his honor as the Adam Lopez Audience Award. Acclaimed Canadian artist Gary Pullin (Ghoulish Gary) has also been commissioned to create an illustrated tribute to Adam which will adorn t-shirts and prints that will be sold exclusively at the festival, and the proceeds of this year’s edition will go to Doctors Without Borders, a charity that was important to Adam.

The 2025 edition of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival was spearheaded by Interim Festival Director Peter Kuplowsky, with feature film curation by Justin McConnell and Christian Burgess, Canadian short film curation by Shannon Hanmer and International short film curation by Bridget Van Voorden. Further programming support was provided by Adam Bovoletis, Ikoro Sekai, Jay Clarke, Sonia Droulhiole, and Sophie Kohen.

2025 Toronto After Dark Lineup:

–FEATURES–

FORBIDDEN CITY, THE | Gabriele Mainetti | Italy

Ontario Premiere

HOLD THE FORT | William Bagley | USA

Ontario Premiere

I FELL IN LOVE WITH A Z-GRADE DIRECTOR IN BROOKLYN | Kenichi Ugana | Japan, USA

Ontario Premiere 

ON GALLOWS HILL | Ed Shimborske | USA

Canadian Premiere

PRIMATE | Johannes Roberts | USA | Opening Night Headliner

Canadian Premiere

QUEENS OF THE DEAD | Tina Romero | USA | Opening Night

Ontario Premiere

REFLECTIONS IN A DEAD DIAMOND | Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani | Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, France

Ontario Premiere

THIS IS NOT A TEST | Adam MacDonald | Canada 

Canadian Premiere

SILVER SCREAMERS | Sean Cisterna | Canada

Ontario Premiere

SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE | Jalmari Helander | Finland/USA

Canadian Premiere

–SHORT FILMS–

BATH BOMB | Colin G. Cooper | Canada

CADABRA | Tiffany Wice | Canada 

CLOWN SONG | Brady Dowad | USA

CREEPING CHARLIE | Briana Templeton | Canada

DAMSEL IN GEEKSTRESS | Renaud Parra | France

DID YOU KNOW THERE’S A BLACK HOLE IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR? | Joseph McMurray, Leonard Farr | Canada

DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS | Imanol Ortiz López | Spain

DRIFTERS | Adrian Bobb | Canada

EPADUNK (TERROR NIGHT) | Jakob Arevärn | Sweden

EXIT THE ROOM: A DAVID LYNCH TRIBUTE | Corey Nikolaus | Canada

FOR SALE | Barney Pell Scholes, Thomas Harnett O'Meara | United Kingdom

GHOST THEFT AUTO | Kyle Dunbar | Canada

GIANT SKELETON | Austin Birtch | Canada

GRANDMA IS THIRSTY | Kris Carr | United Kingdom

LOUD | Adam Azimov | Canada

MEAT CRAYON | Richard Rotter | Canada

MELTED DOLL | Marion Le Corroller | France

NOT TODAY SATAN | Ayesha Sheikh | Canada

OUTSIDE NOISE | Ethan Evans | United Kingdom

PANDORA INC. | Joe Lueben | USA

PIMPLE | Fernando Alle | Portugal

SEISMIC BRAIN IMPLOSION | Alistair Quak | Singapore

SOMETHING BAD THAT HAPPENED IN MY PAST | Mike Mildon | Canada

STRIP MALL | Andrew Appelle | Canada

MANGITTATURAJUK - THE GNAWER OF ROCKS | Louise Flaherty | Canada

THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM | Kier-La Janisse | Canada

THE RUG | Sean Cistern | Canada

UNCLEAN | Simon Chouinard | Canada

WINDOWS TO THE SOUL | Martin Berthiaume | Canada

The Festival’s All-Access Pass has gone OFF-SALE. Passholders will be able to make their individual selections later this week - stay tuned for an email. And single tickets will go on sale the week of Sept. 29th.

ALL-ACCESS PASSES FOR THE 2025 FESTIVAL! (SOLD OUT!)

UPDATE: THE ALL-ACCESS PASSES ARE SOLD OUT - BUT SINGLE TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!

The Toronto After Dark All-Access Pass is now on sale - and for a limited time discounted rate of $110.00!

The All-Access Pass gives festival-goers the comfort of Priority Entry to all screenings at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival combined with a substantial discount vs. regular ticket prices. Only 200 are available - and they sell out early each year, so secure yours here. Discounted rate ends Sept. 1st.

Note that for its 2025 edition, the All-Access Pass will work a little differently, as passes will be digitally claimed through the film festival platform Eventive. Through the platform, pass-holders will guarantee their seat by reserving tickets for individual screenings and events that they wish to attend. The reservation window will open a week before Single Tickets go on sale, so pass-holders can still be assured that they will have priority access to every screening at the festival. Buy them here.

If you still prefer to buy Single Tickets, they will become available in Late September (date TBD).

Memorial Screening for Adam Lopez: Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn

We were saddened to announce on social media channels last month that Adam Lopez - our founder and festival director - had passed away on April 8th, 2025, having fought a heroic three year battle with cancer; an experience he shared publicly, with both profound vulnerability and inspiring optimism.

Ever passionate for genre cinema and the community he cultivated through Toronto After Dark Film Festival, one of Adam’s final wishes was for his life to be commemorated alongside a screening of one of his favourite films: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn.

His family, friends and fellow “cine-maniacs” are therefore invited to return to The Bloor Cinema - the original venue of Toronto After Dark, which Adam founded 19 years ago - and to raise a bag of popcorn in his memory while experiencing the “thrills and chills” of a science-fiction classic.

The film will be preceded by a dedication to Adam Lopez, including spoken remarks and a photo and video tribute. Tickets are free, and can be reserved here.

Get Ready for the 18th Annual Toronto After Dark Film Festival, October 15-19, 2025!

Save the Date! Toronto After Dark Film Festival returns October 15 - 19, 2025 with our thrilling 18th Annual Edition, showcasing the best new Horror, Thriller and Sci-Fi Cinema from around the world! For the latest details visit our About Us & Key Info page!

2024 Festival Postponed to October 2025

We are deeply saddened to announce that the 18th Annual Toronto After Dark Film Festival, originally scheduled for October 2024, has been postponed until October 15-19, 2025. Unfortunately, circumstances beyond our control have led to this decision.

We look forward to seeing you After Dark again next year, once again at the Scotiabank Theatre in the heart of Toronto's downtown when we return with Five Nights of Awesome New Horror, Thriller and Sci-Fi Movies !

For more information on the postponement, please refer to the full statement from Festival Director & Founder Adam Lopez. Adam discusses the primary reason for the postponement (his current health issues), and the difficult decision to step down as the festival's leader at the end of this year. You can find the statement at the following link.

Thank You for Toronto After Dark 2023!

Huge Thanks again to everyone who took part in Toronto After Dark 2023, which wrapped up last weekend. From multiple sell-out screenings to a record number of delighted filmmakers in attendance our 17th edition was a huge success! Check out all the 2023 photos now online at our Facebook Albums here. We hope to see you After Dark Again for our 18th Edition in October 16-20, 2024. Cheers!