Feature Films
A wide variety of Canadian horror, sci-fi, action, and thrillers. Toronto Premiere required; local cast/crew screenings in the GTA are strongly discouraged.
Programmed by all programmers.
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 FilmFreeway (opens in new tab).
Before submitting, please take a moment to review our FAQ below for important guidelines and tips.
Screening Programs
Opening Shorts
Short films from first-time directors and the most promising student filmmakers in Canadian horror, opening each feature film.
Programmers: Kassy Gascho & Heidy Morales
Dark Visions
A chilling selection of the festival's most terrifying horror shorts.
Programmers: Melanie Turner & Norm McGlashan
Monsters & Martians
The best in short-form science fiction.
Programmers: Nadine L'Esperance & Dara Jade Moats
BITS and Bytes
Web and digital series, proof-of-concept shorts, and music videos. No Toronto Premiere required (though encouraged).
Programmers: Dara Jade Moats & Heidy Morales
Funny Frights & Unusual Sights
Comedy and genre shorts with a light or offbeat tone. Often includes animated films.
Programmers: Kassy Gascho & Nadine L'Esperance
Bloody Spirits of Winter
Our showcase of Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit horror shorts exploring the supernatural, transformation, and survival through genre cinema.
Programmers: Nadine L'Esperance & Dallas Soonias
Programmers
Kassy Gascho
Toronto-based filmmaker, programmer, and production coordinator with experience at Hot Docs, Fantasia, TIFF, Hangar 18 Media, The Image Centre, and PurpleDOG Post. Her short #BOSSBABE won the Bronze Audience Award at Fantasia 2023.
@itskassywithak
Nadine L'Esperance
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
Norman McGlashan
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
Dara Jade Moats
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
Heidy Morales
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
Dallas Soonias
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
Kelly Michael Stewart
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
Melanie Turner
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.
@melanieturner777BITS Indigenous Advisory Committee
James Dixon
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
Nadine L'Esperance
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
Rueben Martell
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
Dallas Soonias
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
Dawn Wells
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.
@creepycapebretonSubmission FAQ
If you have additional questions, contact us at info@bloodinthesnow.ca — we're happy to help!
Sorry no. We are a non-profit run mostly by volunteers and we need the fees to help run the festival. However we try to keep submission fees low and encourage you to submit early to take advantage of early bird rates.
No, we strongly encourage you to wait until the film is 100% done before submitting. Our programmers won't have time to rewatch the finished version, so it's best to give us final work.
If you think it would be a good fit for Fantasia, CUFF, or Fantastic Fest then it will likely fit our programming. We play a wide mix of horror, sci-fi, thrillers, action and underground films — including animated films, documentaries and even films with puppets!
Our venue at the Isabel Bader Theatre seats 500 and we need the best chance to fill it. Historically when we have played films without a premiere, it has impacted attendance.
We have an International-Canadian category for titles that are partly Canadian. Just tell us how it is Canadian — for example: "Canadian director and crew but shot in the U.S."
No, all submissions need to be submitted through FilmFreeway (opens in new tab) to be considered.
Every feature and short film is watched by at least two programmers. If it scores well it is passed on to the others. All programmers and the Festival Director meet 2–3 times a year to discuss submissions. Once films are selected in early/mid October, the Festival Director sends a personal letter of acceptance.
Yes we can share programmer notes, but if asked in October/November we might not get back to you until after the festival. Please be patient.
The top two reasons historically have been issues with sound and/or colour design, or issues with length/pacing.
Absolutely! We expect you to, and bring as many people as you can. We give each filmmaker a complimentary pass to attend all screenings, so we encourage you to attend your screening and as many other programs throughout the week as possible.
- Screening in a 500-seat theatre with 5.1 surround sound in a great time slot (7pm, 9:30pm, or Saturday at 4pm).
- A complimentary screening pass to all 13 programs at the festival.
- Invites to networking cocktails throughout the week.
- An invite to be on BITS Radio for an interview.
- Guest list tickets (3 for shorts, 9 for features).
- On-stage introduction or Q&A.
- Filmmaker pin presented on stage & guest book signing.
- Photos in front of our 17.5 ft photo wall with our mascot.
BITS films are also eligible for the Canadian Screen Awards (CSA).
