The Toronto After Dark Film Festival (TADFF) has officially unveiled its lineup for its 19th edition of exciting new horror, sci-fi and action films for Toronto audiences to enjoy.
This year’s festival will 14 feature premieres, as well as 33 genre short films from Canada and around the world. Here, I am listing my personal picks of international films screening as part of this year’s lineup.
Hye’s Picks – International Feature Films
5 MORE MINUTES (5 MINUTOS MÁS)
Dir. Javier Ruiz Caldera | Spain
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.
Hye’s Note: I noticed this film had a market screening at TIFF: The Market last month. I have no updates on whether it has been picked up by a North American distribution company just yet. Its trailer is short enough to pique my interest. I recognize some of the actors in the film who are well established and whose work I enjoy.
RED SNOW (PUNAISTA LUNTA)
Dir. Ilja Rautsi | Finland
This is a holiday horror about an angsty teen whose vampire fantasies are fractured when a horrifically violent undead creature dressed as Jolly Old St. Nick shows up at her family’s doorstep.
Hye’s Note: This film also had a market screening at TIFF: The Market last month. I have no updates on whether it has been picked up by a North American distribution company just yet. Its trailer, however, sold me as a film to check out.
I LOVE PARIS
Dir. Nicky Murphy | Australia, France
After being transformed into a vampire, musician Paris pursues stardom at all costs. When a festival programmer suggests she build a bigger social media following, Paris throws herself into chasing recognition any way she can. This is a dark comedy about friendship, ambition and the chaotic, ‘bloody’ hustle of your twenties.
Hye’s Note: I read the filmmaker’s statement that she was inspired by her own experiences of living in Paris in her 20s and wanted to capture the sense of spontaneity of that time. She uses a mockumentary style to keep thing improvisational. This piqued my interest. This film also screened in Montreal at Fantasia this year and won the Gold Audience Award for Best International Feature Film.
SLEEP NO MORE (MONSTER PABRIK RAMBUT)
Dir. Edwin | Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Germany, France
The film follows two siblings travelling to Jakarta to investigate the grisly death of their mother while she was working at an old wig factory; only to discover that her “accident” was not an isolated incident.
Hye’s Note: This film screened at the Berlin International Film Festival and in Montreal at Fantasia 2026. It piqued my curiosity then, and now, it’s showing at TADFF. I read the film is a dark supernatural comedy set in a factory where the employees are being exploited. Totally sounds like something I would see. The film’s trailer is also showing me enough to interest me too.
SPECIES (SANGUINE)
Dir. Marion Le Corroller | France
Margot (Mara Taquin), a young intern at the country’s most competitive ER, struggles in the high-pressure environment. When multiple patients her age arrive with strange symptoms, her own body begins experiencing alarming transformations.
Hye’s Note: This film is described as “an energetic, blood-soaked parable set within the life-or-death world of modern medicine.” The film’s teaser trailer shows just enough to give an idea of how bloody the movie will be, so keep that in mind if you add this to our lists.
WHALEFALL – Opening
Dir. Brian Duffield | USA
A tense survival thriller starring Austin Abrams (RESIDENT EVIL) and Josh Brolin (WEAPONS), the film depicts the harrowing story of a scuba-diver (Abrams) who finds himself swallowed whole by a sperm whale and trapped inside the animal’s stomach. With a dwindling supply of oxygen left in his tank, the young man turns to the nautical and life lessons his father passed on to him in a desperate bid to survive.
Hye’s Note: This film is set primarily inside a whale, which I am sure will make for an interesting set design and visual effects. Similar to other films about being ‘stuck’ in a given space, do take note. I will let the film’s trailer speak for itself.
New Late-Night Programme
MY LOVE FOR YOU IS DEEP BUT THE DEVIL LOVES ME DEEPER
Dir. Casey Donahue | USA
This film will kick off this new late-night programme which spotlights more esoteric and experimental genre film programming.
My Love For You Is Deep But The Devil Loves Me Deeper is an ultra-low-budget arthouse horror feature film written and directed by Casey Donahue. It centres on a heartbroken woman strikes a deal with the Devil for infinite love, transforming into an enchanting siren who captivates men around her. As her power grows, she spirals into violent madness. Her best friend must uncover the truth and confront the Devil to stop her descent.
Hye’s Note: I read this was made thanks to a KickStarter campaign. It is produced by Doughboys Media & Devil Business and it features a row of special appearances from alt-comedy favourites like James Urbaniak (The Venture Brothers), Mike Mitchell (The Napa Boys), Kyle Mooney (Brigsby Bear) and Beck Bennett (Greener Grass).
MATAPANKI
Dir. Diego “Mapache” Fuentes | Chile
Ricardo is a punk who spends his days drinking and going to gigs with his best friends, Mella and Claudia. Despite his tough look, he has a sweet side: he takes care of his grandmother, who suffers from fibromyalgia. One day, after drinking a strange alcoholic brew, he gains superpowers that activate every time he drinks the potion. Determined to change society, he jumps into action, but things spiral out of control when he kills the Chilean President by accident, triggering a global conflict against him.
Hye’s Note: Being a Latin American film, I am very interested in film’s from the region. The filmmaker’s work explores territory, local memory, dissident identities, and contemporary social issues, all of which I am also interested in. I read some notes on this film and it’s been described as a fun superhero movie made within the cinema of transgression style. The film screened at various festivals, including Slamdance and Fantasia this year. Here is the Spanish trailer, if you are curious about this film too.
Additional Festival Details
This year’s festival also marks an inaugural partnership between the festival and its new lead sponsor ScareScore. ScareScore is building the world’s first biometric reaction platform for entertainment. Connecting to the smartwatch audiences already wear, ScareScore measures physical reactions as they happen and transforms them into a personal score across movies, streaming, attractions, and adrenaline experiences that they can share, compare, and compete against friends with! Select Toronto After Dark films will be ScareScore enabled.
TADFF will take place from October 14 – 18, 2026 at the Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre and CineCycle. For full festival listings, schedule and tickets, visit torontoafterdark.com.
Images courtesy of TADFF.
