July 23, 2009 Legendary filmmaker George A. Romero ended the chorus of fan speculation today by announcing the title of his latest film, George A. Romero's "Survival of the Dead", which he had jokingly been calling ’'... of the Dead" since production began late last year.

The film will premiere at the prestigious 2009 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the celebrated “Midnight Madness” series, Sept. 10-19. The series spotlights the ten best new horror movies from around ­the world.

"We’re overjoyed to welcome George back into the dark hallowed halls of Midnight Madness," says International Programmer, Colin Geddes. "And on a personal note, it’s a thrill for my inner ten-year-old, who rolled pennies to buy a VHS copy of "Night of the Living Dead."

George A. Romero's "Survival of the Dead" follows a war-weary band of soldiers who are lured to a remote island that promises to be the last paradise on earth, only to discover that even here there is no escape from the appetites of either the living or the dead.

Says Romero, "We’re in the final stages of post-production and it’s great to come up for air and find out the film’s been chosen to appear at the Festival. It’s just a terrific honor."

The Toronto International Film Festival also announced its complete 22nd Midnight Madness programme, a Festival favourite drawing legions of devoted fans for manic midnight screenings of wild and wicked films for the witching hour. Midnight Madness continues to offer films that you might not expect in a festival context, an eccentric mix of the weird and the wonderful, and this year's features include crazed animation, chick fights, zombies, vampires, a possessed cheerleader, exhilarating martial arts and more!


"This year's Midnight Madness lineup is a showcase of some of the most highly anticipated thrillers and chillers of the year," said Colin Geddes, TIFF programmer. "Bloody proms and zombies seem to pop up as main themes, but I've made sure to inject some truly bizarre action into the mix with animated plastic toys from Belgium and Russ Meyer inspired fighting femme fatales."


Purchase online at tiff.net/thefestival, by phone at 416-968-FILM or 1-877-968-FILM (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed weekends and holidays) or in person at the Festival Box Office at Nathan Phillips Square (Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week), located at 100 Queen Street West, in the white tent, west of the square. The 34th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 10 to 19, 2009.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS
Midnight Madness Opening Night
Jennifer's Body Karyn Kusama, USA
World Premiere
Jennifer's Body tells the story of small-town high-school student Jennifer (Megan Fox) who is possessed by a hungry demon and transitions from being "high school evil"—gorgeous (and doesn't she know it), stuck up and ultra-attitudinal—to the real deal: evil/evil. The glittering beauty becomes a pale and sickly creature jonesing for a meaty snack, and guys who never stood a chance with the heartless babe take on new lustre in the light of her insatiable appetite. Meanwhile, Jennifer's best friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried), long relegated to living in Jennifer's shadow, must step-up to protect the town's young men, including her nerdy boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons). Written and executive produced by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody (Juno).

A Town Called Panic Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar, Belgium/Luxembourg/France
North American Premiere
An outlandish animation style captures the absurd wit and surreal adventures of plastic toys Cowboy, Indian and Horse.

Bitch Slap Rick Jacobson, USA
World Premiere
In this campy action comedy from the creators of Xena and Hercules, three hot-blooded women try to uncover some booty in the desert using feminine charms, fists and machine guns.

Daybreakers Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig, Australia/USA
World Premiere
Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill star in this sci-fi horror about a future populated by vampires where humans are the minority.

George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead George A. Romero, Canada
World Premiere
Master director George A. Romero returns to his world of the undead, this time pitting two feuding clans in the middle of the fallout of a zombie epidemic.

The Loved Ones Sean Byrne, Australia
International Premiere
A troubled teen's prom dreams are shattered by a series of painful events that take place under the mirrored disco ball, involving syringes, nails, power drills and a secret admirer in this wild mash-up of Pretty in Pink and Misery.

Ong Bak 2: The Beginning Tony Jaa, Thailand
Canadian Premiere
Martial-arts superstar Tony Jaa stars in and directs this epic tale of revenge set hundreds of years in the past. Featuring a huge cast and hordes of elephants, this prequel takes Jaa's skills to the next level, showcasing him as a master of a wide range of martial-arts styles - while proving him to be a promising director as well.

[REC] 2 Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza, Spain
North American Premiere
In the follow-up to the acclaimed [REC], a SWAT team enters the old apartment to control an epidemic with terrifying results.

Solomon Kane Michael J. Bassett, United Kingdom
World Premiere
From Robert E. Howard, the legendary creator of Conan, comes this tale of a savage mercenary in sixteeth-century Century England who owes the devil his soul and seeks to redeem himself by fighting evil.

Symbol Hitoshi Matsumoto, Japan
International Premiere
Japanese comedy superstar Hitoshi Matsumoto (DAINIPPONJIN) stars in and directs this absurd and outlandish comedy about a man trying to escape a unique dilemma.


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