Midnight Madness Returns to Toronto International Film Festival

Tomb it may concern: strap in, secure your spooktacles, and feel free to let loose a mighty battle cry, because Midnight Madness has just launched its lineup for the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival®, presented by new programmer Peter Kuplowsky. Screening for near-riotous crowds into the wee hours, this year's films are guaranteed to melt minds, split sides and drop jaws. Midnight Madness is generously sponsored by Cineplex Entertainment.

"We can't wait to unleash Peter on Midnight Madness audiences," said TIFF Artistic Director Cameron Bailey. "He's tracked down 10 films that preserve the section's legendary kick-out-the-jams approach, while still putting his own ruthless stamp on it. Just watch."

Midnight Madness opens with Joseph Kahn's provocative World Premiere of Bodied, and also presents the World Premiere of The Disaster Artist, directed by James Franco and based on the making of Tommy Wiseau's 2003 cult film, The Room. Kuplowsky also
welcomes back several Festival alumni, including David Bruckner, Ryuhei Kitamura, S. Craig Zahler, Hélène Cattet, and Bruno Forzani. A new film directed by Canadian musician Seth A. Smith of Dog Day will also screen, as well as the Canadian Premiere of
the acclaimed short-film Great Choice, which will precede the World Premiere of Brian Taylor's Mom and Dad, starring Nicholas Cage and Selma Blair. Finally, the section will introduce two new feature filmmakers with Coralie Fargeat's Revenge and the
section's Closing Night presentation of Sôichi Umezawa's Vampire Clay.

"With my inaugural lineup, I've sought to assemble an eclectic group of films that expand and explode traditional definitions of genre and shock cinema," said Peter Kuplowsky, Programmer for Midnight Madness. "Starting with Joseph Kahn's proverbial mic-drop Bodied, a transgressive and self-critical battle rap satire produced by Eminem, and ricocheting between occult rituals and brutal brawls, the tropes across these 10 Midnights may be familiar, but the execution always innovates, be it in their distillation, fragmentation or subversion. Some will terrify, and others may mystify, but all will electrify audiences well past the witching hour."

Under Kuplowsky's new direction, Midnight Madness will continue to showcase the classically terrifying, as well as boundary-pushing, stylized and innovative films - wiring up and energizing its loyal late-night fang-club! The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.

Midnight Madness Opening Film.

Bodied Joseph Kahn, USA World Premiere

Brawl in Cell Block 99 S. Craig Zahler, USA North American Premiere

The Crescent Seth A. Smith, Canada World Premiere

The Disaster Artist James Franco, USA World Premiere

Downrange Ryuhei Kitamura, USA World Premiere

Great Choice Robin Comisar, USA Canadian Premiere

Let the Corpses Tan Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani, Belgium/France North American Premiere

Mom and Dad Brian Taylor, USA World Premiere

Revenge Coralie Fargeat, France World Premiere

The Ritual David Bruckner, UK World Premiere .

Midnight Madness Closing Film.

Vampire Clay Sô

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