TORONTO, September 9, 2026: Toronto After Dark Film Festival (TADFF) is thrilled to officially unveil the first four titles of its upcoming 19th edition. Running from Oct. 14-18 in downtown Toronto, this year’s festival will further see its core feature line-up grow from 10 premiere features to 14 exciting titles from across Canada and around the world!
Headlining the festival’s first full day of programming is the Canadian Premiere of 5 MORE MINUTES (d. Javier Ruiz Caldera). With the whole world thrust into an endlessly-repeating 5 minute loop, one bickering couple must navigate their way home while the consequences of their increasingly destructive decisions carry forth into each of the time loop’s next permutations. Caldera’s thrilling reinvention of the time-loop concept breathes new life into a beloved subgenre and is expected to be a fall season standout for genre fans.
Representing one block in this year’s After Dark Vampire Night is Nicky Murphy’s Fantasia Film Festival Award-Winning hit I LOVE PARIS (Gold Audience Award for Best International Feature). Announcing himself as a confident new voice in the world of low budget horror, Murphy’s mockumentary follows a brash Parisian musician (Aminata Thiboult) on her soul-draining pursuit towards music supremacy.
TADFF’s Closing Night features the hotly anticipated FROGMAN RETURNS (d. Anthony Cousins). An After Dark Alumnus (2016’s WHEN SUSURRUS STIRS), Cousins returns to the festival with the sequel to his 2023 cult hit FROGMAN. Fans of the first film and Frogman neophytes alike will appreciate the film’s blast of practical-effects gooeyness and creative cryptid lore in this new evolution for the already-beloved found footage franchise.
And finally, the World Premiere of Casey Donahue’s feature debut MY LOVE FOR YOU IS DEEP BUT THE DEVIL LOVES ME DEEPER will kick off TADFF’s new Late Night Programme. Produced by Doughboys Media & Devil Business, this glitched-out, low-budget deal-with-the-devil phantasmagoria features a murderer’s row of special appearances from alt-comedy faves like James Urbaniak (THE VENTURE BROTHERS), Mike Mitchell (THE NAPA BOYS), Kyle Mooney (BRIGSBY BEAR) and Beck Bennett (GREENER GRASS).
These four titles represent Toronto After Dark’s first wave of announcements for their exciting new expansion of festival programming. In addition to this year’s 11 feature film premieres and 2 short film programmes at Scotiabank Theatre, the festival will be holding 3 feature film screenings at the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC)’s CineCycle (129 Spadina Avenue) as part of its new Late Night Programme; a selection that spotlights more esoteric and experimental genre film programming.
The 2026 edition of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival was programmed by Festival Legacy Director Peter Kuplowsky; Director of Programming Shannon Hanmer; Festival Manager/Programmer Adam Bovoletis; Programmers Kassy Gascho, Justin McConnell, and Bridget van Voorden; and Programmer at Large Carolyn Mauricette. Further programming support was provided by Jay Clarke, Dara Jade Moats and Ben Whyte.
More than 50% of this year’s passes have been sold during the festival early-bird pricing window. The remaining CINE-MANIAC passes are priced at $150.00 CAD, and the ALL-NIGHTER passes, which include the 3 late night screenings, plus exclusive festival merch, are $220.00 CAD. Single tickets will also be available for $16.99 and will go on sale on September 23rd, following the announcement of the full festival lineup and schedule.
To purchase passes or for additional festival information, please visit www.torontoafterdark.com.
ABOUT TORONTO AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL
Founded in 2006 by the late Adam Lopez, Toronto After Dark Film Festival is one of the world’s leading showcases of new horror, thriller, sci-fi, action and cult cinema. Built from Lopez’s lifelong love of genre film and the passionate community he cultivated, the festival has become a beloved annual destination for film fans, filmmakers, press and industry, presenting new features and shorts from Canada and around the world. Toronto After Dark’s 19th edition takes place October 14–18, 2026 at Scotiabank Theatre in downtown Toronto.
