“There’s a true love of cinema both high and lowbrow among this group,” says a panelist of the team behind Toronto International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness program, which is newly helmed by Peter Kuplowsky, right-hand man of long-standing programmer and supporter Colin Geddes. “Giant and enthusiastic audiences pack the screenings, and genre stars can be made overnight as they present their films at the Ryerson Theatre,” adds a panelist. Indeed, TIFFMM has been rife with these “star is born” tales—like the time Geddes plucked Eli Roth’s directorial debut, Cabin Fever, out of the program’s trash bin of rejections and took a chance on it. (Once Quentin Tarantino saw it, he proclaimed Roth “the future of horror,” and the rest is history.) No frills and all films, Midnight Madness is less about events than it is about rallying to root for the zaniest, riskiest new titles the genre has to offer, and with programming like this, loyal attendees trust that they’re in good hands.
The Room’s Tommy Wiseau with James Franco, who plays Wiseau in The Disaster Artist, during its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness program. Photograph courtesy of Toronto International Film Festival
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Loved reading this, especially seeing Roger Corman, Larry Cohen(THE STUFF), Michael Moriarty(Q THE WINGED SERPENT), Adrienne Barbeau(ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK) and more recognizable memorable greats in film. Thanks for sharing!
Who knew there are so many fests dedicated to horror. Excited to have these in my conscious reservoir to keep up with their output in the future.
I felt it could have had more members to the panel more diversity of people who head to the larger fests as well as the rest. Of course there will be interweaving festivals but this list primarily focuses on larger ones but does not include many of the fests who r in the mid part of the US among other things.
Don't get me wrong, I'm Not putting down what this article is and contains. For me, it's not a piece that shows festivals that are on the rise or in the tier below many of these. Have nothing but respect for panel and the writer. No doubt more incarnations to come ... ;)
Missing Nightmares FILM FEST!!!
Solid list, but missing the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival is a huuuuge oversight. One of the best genre film festivals in Europe since 1983! One of the few festivals I've been to worldwide that truly has unique, internal festival culture. Really fosters a sense of community.
Other stuff worth mentioning includes:
Shockproof (Prague)
Next Fest (Los Angeles)
PUFF (Philadelphia)
Telluride Horror Show (Telluride, Colorado)
I feel like this is not a complete list of the best genre fests! some of these are all genre fest with a horror event thrown in. What about my favorite one Shriekfest? I've been submitting and involved with that fest for years now and they treat everyone great! The fest director is the best I've ever met!