New Delhi: Director Samjad PS’s Half has become the first Malayalam film to be screened in the Midnight Madness section at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Written by Praveen Viswanath and Samjad, Half is an action thriller centred on two half-blood vampires and their quest for revenge. It had its world premiere on 18 September at TIFF 2026. The film’s screening received an electrifying response from the audience, as seen in a video on Instagram.
The energy reportedly continued through the post-screening question-and-answer session.
Apart from the director, producers Anne Sajeev and PK Sajeev, as well as actors Ranjith Sajeev and Aiswarya Raj, participated in a post-screening interaction with the audience. Composer Mithun Mukundan and sound designer Vishnu Govind also answered questions. The discussion covered the film’s themes, visual treatment, music, sound design and performances.
Audience members also discussed the film’s action sequences, with fight choreographer Very Tri Yulisman’s work drawing attention. The film’s music and sound design were highlighted for their role in shaping its overall atmosphere.
The Midnight Madness lineup included six world premieres across ten countries, including Australia’s Kick On, UK’s Rogue Trooper and The Face of Horror.
The TIFF appearance comes as Half expands its international distribution plans. Excel Entertainment and AA Films are presenting and distributing the film across North India, while international sales rights have been acquired by European sales agent Best Friend Forever (BFF).
Meanwhile, Nagaland filmmaker Theja Rio’s debut feature Angh won the Platform Prize at TIFF, along with a cash prize of CAD 20,000.
Angh had its world premiere at TIFF on 15 September. It was also the only Indian film in the 12-film Platform competition. The feature film stars Douglas Henshall, Anghlong Konyak, Sobino Rengma, Genpai Konyak, Amah Konyak and Wangton Konyak.
It is produced by Nancy Nisa Beso and Rio. Jungle Book Studio represents the film internationally and domestically. It had acquired Angh’s international sales rights ahead of the TIFF premiere.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)