🩸 Submissions Now Open
Isabel Bader Theatre · Toronto · –
We are thrilled to open submissions for the 15th annual Blood in the Snow Film Festival running at the Isabel Bader Theatre, November 16–21, 2026. BITS is a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival consistently listed as one of the Top 100 reviewed festivals in the world on FilmFreeway.
🩸 At BITS, we curate five distinct short film programs each year, in addition to our feature film lineup and opening shorts. All submitted films are reviewed by our programming team. We accept submissions exclusively through Film Freeway.
Before submitting, please take a moment to review our FAQ below for important guidelines and tips.
Indigenous DIY horror filmmaker from Vancouver whose bold work blends body horror, comedy, and punk aesthetics. Her award-winning film No Pets Allowed (BITS 2015) gained recognition internationally. She has served as a juror for several international indie and horror festivals.
@xbluegirlx
Toronto-based film writer and cinephile who founded the review site Flick Hunter in 2012. He has reviewed hundreds of films at major festivals including TIFF, Fantasia, and ImagineNATIVE.
@balinknaut
Filmmaker, writer, and programmer from Regina. Her short films have played in horror festivals stateside, winning Best Short Film and Best Blood Bath. She's been an associate producer with the NFB and Director of Hospitality at Fantasia.
@moatsie
Founder of Hye's Musings, an alternative media website covering film, theatre, and arts and culture. A Rotten Tomatoes approved film reviewer born in Guatemala, now based in Toronto where she has been supporting the film scene locally and abroad for 15 years.
@hyemusings
Nehiyaw/Anishinaabe actor, writer, director, and producer. His short films have screened at ImagineNATIVE and BITS. A BITS Horror Development Lab alumnus with a feature in development, he was also the first Indigenous male to represent Canada in volleyball.
@soonias
Founder and Festival Director of Blood in the Snow since 2012. A writer, producer, and film event host, he has spent 15 years championing independent Canadian genre cinema and building spaces where bold, original voices can thrive.
@kellymichaelstewart
A programmer with BITS since its inception and now a member of its Board of Directors. Deeply passionate about genre cinema, she is dedicated to supporting and growing Toronto's horror film community through advocacy, curation, and community engagement.
@melanieturner777
Journalist, author, and Twitch streamer based in Peterborough, Ontario. Jessie has interviewed some of horror film and television's biggest names, with work featured in Fangoria and Scream Magazine. She is a two-time Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards nominee for Best Interview.
@jessievergreens
Queer Indigenous filmmaker and artist based in Winnipeg whose experimental work blends documentary and collage aesthetics through a lens of decolonization. His films have screened widely in Canada and internationally, and he is an experienced film educator and visual artist.
@jamesdixonfilm
Indigenous DIY horror filmmaker from Vancouver whose bold work blends body horror, comedy, and punk aesthetics. Her award-winning film No Pets Allowed (BITS 2015) gained recognition internationally. She has served as a juror for several international indie and horror festivals.
@xbluegirlx
Filmmaker from Waterhen Lake First Nation in Northern Saskatchewan whose work draws from Cree storytelling traditions. His debut feature Don't Say Its Name screened at Fantasia and BITS, and he is currently developing multiple film and television projects.
@rueben306
Nehiyaw/Anishinaabe filmmaker, actor, and athlete who writes, directs, and produces for film and television. His shorts have screened widely, and he is currently developing a feature with Telefilm Canada while also working as a broadcaster and analyst with CBC Sports.
@soonias
Mi'kmaq filmmaker from Membertou and founder of Cape Haunts Till Dawn Production. Her work spans documentary and horror, including projects for CBC Gem and Bell Fibe TV1, and she has received national recognition for her directing.
@creepycapebretonIf you have additional questions, contact us at info@bloodinthesnow.ca — we're happy to help!
BITS films are also eligible for the Canadian Screen Awards (CSA).
