The Toronto International Film Festival has announced the final section-specific announcements by detailing the films that will be included in the return of the TIFF “Midnight Madness” programme, featuring a wide array of eclectic horror.
This year, Midnight Madness will include World Premieres from 10 different countries of production, with ten midnight screenings that tackle everything from medieval ghosts to competing Canadian politicians. It’ll even include a screening of Curry Barker’s Obsession, the breakout horror hit of the year that’s grossed over $475 million, on a shoestring budget of under $1 million. We gave Obsession an 8/10 in our own review, saying,
“The film exists as both a high-energy plunge into terror and a thoughtful meditation on love’s darkest turns, showing how unchecked desire can become something entirely twisted. By grounding each terrifying development in character and emotional honesty, Barker ensures the audience never escapes the central question: what does it mean to strip away another’s will for one’s own happiness?”
In addition to the screening, TIFF will host a moderated Dialogues conversation with director Curry Barker and star Inde Navarrette, as part of the seven-day Summit at the John Bassett Theatre, for both pass holders and public ticket holders.
Each of the Midnight Madness films will screen at 11:59 pm at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, and are hosted by Peter Kuplowsky. Here’s the full list of the ten films featured.
- Anchors Aweigh | Matt Barats | USA | International Premiere
- Arrested Memory | SABU | Taiwan, Japan | North American Premiere
- HALF | Samjad | India | World Premiere
- Kick On | Nick Kozakis | Australia | World Premiere
- Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney | Matthew Rankin | Canada | World Premiere
- River | Joshua Giuliano | USA | World Premiere | Midnight Madness Opening Night Film
- Rogue Trooper | Duncan Jones | United Kingdom | North American Premiere | Midnight Madness Closing Night Film
- The Face of Horror | Anna Biller | United Kingdom | World Premiere
- The Spiral | Paolo Strippoli | Italy, France, Belgium | International Premiere
- Vintage Violence | Eugene Kotlyarenko | USA, Japan | World Premiere
TIFF 2026 will take place from September 10-20, 2026. While tickets aren’t currently live, you can become a TIFF Member to gain early access to pre-sales from August 21-27, as well as get $2 off the price of all Regular screening tickets. Regular screenings typically cost $30. You can head to the official TIFF website for more info and schedule details, and you can also take a look at our picks for the best of the festival from 2025.
