Join us at the Isabel Bader Theatre, Toronto
Nov 20-25, 2023
Films will screen at The Isabel Bader Theatre (93 Charles St W, Toronto, ON M5S 2C7) with Q&A to follow.
After-parties will take place following each screening at the Tranzac Club (292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, ON M5S 2M7) starting from 9:30 pm to close.
NEWS
BITS 2023 HORROR DEVELOPMENT LAB
We are thrilled to announce the incredible filmmakers that were selected to participate in the 2023 Horror Development Lab!
Lu Asfaha & Fonna Seidu
Sonya Chwyl & Anik Desmarais-Spencer
Jaden Curtis & Mariah Owen
Rylan Friday
Brenna Goodwin-McCabe
Constance Hilton & Tricia Black
Jessica Landry
Samantha MacAdam
Maude Michaud
Ava Maria Safai & Nicco Graham
Heyishi Zhang
The BITS Horror Lab is a development program focused on facilitating business and production opportunities for genre (horror, sci-fi, action, thriller) scripted projects and short films by traditionally underrepresented BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ Canadian filmmakers and content creators.
BITS RADIO
Check out the BITS Radio podcast hosted by Robert Belamy - Interviews with BITS Alumni film makers throughout the festival.
Listen
BITS Horror Development Lab Announced:
Nov 18-23, 2021![]()
2023 LINE UP ANNOUNCED
Thrillers play a big part of the lineup this year with the festival feature opener Last County by Barret Mulholland and the World Premiere of Walking Supply from director Derek Barnes.
Other highlights include the highly acclaimed My Animal, from director Jacqueline Castel which recently won the Silver Audience Award for Best Canadian Feature at Fantasia and long time alumni Jesse Thomas Cook returns with The Hyperborean. Jesseâs last film to premiere at BITS in 2021, Cult Hero went on to be nominated for six Canadian Screen Awards.
Two short films that originally played at BITS have been made into feature films making their Toronto Premiere at Blood in Snow: Robert Cuffleyâs sci-fi film Romi and the festival closes with the gonzo tribute to The Last Video Store by the directing team of Cody Kennedy and Tim Rutherford.
Other titles include the indigenous led horror-comedy anthology series Tales from the Rez directed by Trevor Solway and the neo-noir mystery thriller Purgatory Jack by the brotherly Brett Butler and Jason Butler. The festival also includes five feature length short film programs including the highly popular comedy horror program Funny Frights and Unusual Sights and the highly regarded Dark Visions program which will be part of the opening night festivities.
TICKETS
Our full Deadly Exposure passes are 100% SOLD OUT.
BUT have no fear...we have added a new PANEL PASS that will get you into all the industry panels (Nov 24) and our Producer Masterclass (Nov 25) along with the cocktail receptions each day. Only $40. These are limited as well and will sell out.
We also still have our FESTIVAL PASS that will get you into every screening and after party for $96 (price goes up soon to $116)
and our SHORT FILM PASS that gets you into all six short film programs for only $60.
Do you have what it takes to join the Blood in the Snow crew? We are always looking for a variety of different skills. We want to hear from you! Please fill out the following form to tell us a little more about yourself.
"This is an amazing festival! It was such an honor to have my short 'Lunachicks' screen here alongside some really talented filmmakers! The communication and effort put into making this a great festival is very evident and it was one of the most fun festivals I've been to. I felt very welcomed and there was really great audience turnout and engagement. I recommend submitting to this 100% even if you feel your film is only borderline 'genre'."
"BITS is the best. Aside from screening the coolest genre films, their Deadly Exposure conference allowed me to meet, learn, and network with dozens of industry decision makers, potential distributors, and fellow filmmakers. I couldn't give this festival enough praise. I look forward to being able to submit another film!"
"My short screened in 35 festivals and this was one of the tops! I was also selected for their inaugural Horror Development Lab and connected with filmmakers and key industry players which will help get my creature feature made and give my career a boost. Highly recommend!"
"What a great all around festival filled with great films, great panels, great networking and amazing sharing of love of film!"
"Bits was by far one of our favorite festivals. Not only did we get to see our film in a theater with a live audience, we were also selected to take part in the Directors Lab and Deadly Exposure event. This experience was so unreal and has helped put us on the path to continue expanding our short into a feature. Thank you guys so much. We hope to take part again with our future projects."