The organizers of the Fantasia international Film Festival send us word that "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" Co-Writer and Co-producer Guillermo del Toro will not be appearing at tonight's screening due to unforeseen commitments, but he will be sending an exclusive video introduction in his place.

Press Release:

We regret to announce that due to unforeseen commitments, Guillermo del Toro will not be able to join us in Montreal for the premiere of DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK at the Fantasia International Film Festival on Thursday, August 4.

Mr. del Toro expressed his great disappointment at not being able to attend and will be sending an exclusive video introduction in his place.

In better news, we are pleased to announce that Rider and Shiloh Strong will be on-hand at the Hall Theatre to introduce their new short film, THE DUNGEON MASTER, which has its Canadian premiere in front of DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK. This is Rider (CABIN FEVER, BOY MEETS WORLD) and Shiloh's second directorial effort, after the award-winning short, IRISH TWINS (Jury Award and Audience Award at the Woods Hole Film Festival, Special Jury Prize in the Action/Cut Short Film Competition, Best First-Time Director at DC Shorts).

Film District recently provided us with the offical poster and trailer for their upcoming release "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", which is having it's canadian premiere at this year's Fantasia Film Festival. The Guillermo del Toro co-produced and co written film is a remake of the 1974 ABC TV movie of the same name. The film will be released in the U.S. on August 26th.

Plot Synopsis:

Blackwood Manor has new tenants. While architect Alex Hurst (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) restore their Gothic mansion's period interiors, Alex’s young daughter Sally (Bailee Madison)—neglected by her real mother and brushed aside by the careerist father—can investigate the macabre history and dark corners of the estate. Spurring Sally's investigation are the voices—rasping whispers who call out to her from the basement, who promise her understanding and friendship, who are so very hungry and would like to be set free. When Sally gives in to her curiosity, she opens a gateway into a hellish underworld from which an army of beady-eyed, sharp-clawed monsters emerge, small in size but endless in number: the homunculi. Confronted with the horror that now threatens to taker her life and destroy her family, Sally desperately tries to warn the whole house, but there's just one problem: no one believes her. Will she make them understand in time, or will they become another chapter in the centuries-long horror story of Blackwood Manor?

Based on the 1973 telefilm that Guillermo del Toro believes to be the scariest TV production ever made, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK was co-written and co-produced by del Toro and directed by Troy Nixey. Akin to PAN’S LABYRINTH, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK focuses on a young girl’s struggle against menacing and terrifying forces.

Upcoming Screenings:

August 4th, 2011 / 9:10 pm / Hall Theater / Montreal Canada

"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark": Official Trailer

Film District, the studio behind the hit horror film "Insidious", recently released this haunting poster for "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", which is co-written and co-produced by Guillermo del Toro and stars Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison.

Plot Synopsis:

Guillermo del Toro presents DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK, a horror film starring Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce and Bailee Madison, directed by Troy Nixey. Based on the 1973 telefilm that del Toro believes is the scariest TV production ever made, the story follows Sally (Madison), a young girl who moves to Rhode Island to live with her father (Pearce) and his new girlfriend (Holmes) in the 19th-century mansion they are restoring. While exploring the house, Sally starts to hear voices coming from creatures in the basement whose hidden agenda is to claim her as one of their own. Akin to del Toro’s PAN’S LABYRINTH, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK focuses on a young girl’s struggle against menacing and terrifying forces.

FilmDistrict will release the film on August 26th.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at:http://www.dontbeafraidofthedark.com