Often dwarfed and passed over by its big cinematic festival brother, the Toronto After Dark Festival has been growing in notoriety and size over the last few years. The critically acclaimed festival features new horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action, animated and cult films from around the world, including a number of award-winning features and shorts. Last year, the festival was attended by over 6,500 enthusiastic film fans and over 100 members of press and industry — according to their website, at least.

In its first wave of film titles revealed for 2008, Toronto After Dark Film Festival is proud to announce a selection of eight outstanding new horror, sci-fi, action and cult feature films that will have their Toronto Theatrical Premieres at the festival this October 17-24. The initial lineup includes a number of critically acclaimed and award-winning films from around the world including the much-anticipated new sci-fi horror musical REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, Sundance selection revenge thriller RED based on Jack Ketchum’s novel, cult horror action movie TOKYO GORE POLICE, celebrated vampire feature LET THE RIGHT ONE IN which won Best Picture at the Tribeca Film Festival, and Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton’s dark and twisted modern fairytale, IDIOTS & ANGELS.

A Festival Preview Trailer video after the jump.

The festival has slowly been creeping on my radar as of late. I always wanted to go, but TIFF usually wipes me out, both physically and financially. Perhaps Cinema Verdict needs to pay these fine purveyors of crazy a visit this year…

(via Toronto After Dark and AICN)