2025 Blood in the Snow

Film Festival · Deadly Exposure · Horror Development Lab

🇨🇦 Fearless Canadian Horror

🩸 Isabel Bader Theatre · Toronto · Nov 17–22

Get Your Tickets!
Photo of BITS2025 poster art illustration of a blue ice skull breaking through the ice of a frozen cave in the snow.
📍 Isabel Bader Theatre

93 Charles St W, Toronto, ON

Films screen nightly Nov 17–22 with Q&As to follow.

🍻 After-Parties

Tranzac Club
292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, ON

From 9:30 PM – close, Nov 17–22.

🎬 Industry Events

Visit DeadlyExposure.ca

Industry conference lineup TBA Oct 27

Festival Schedule

Choose a festival day

Monday, November 17 7:00 PM ET DARK VISIONS — Horror Shorts Program • 94 min

Our opening night program features the darkest, most chilling, and intense Canadian short films of the year.

Horror Canada 🇨🇦
Do You See Her?
Dir. Janet-Rose Nguyen • 7:14

Katie fears something stalking her, seen without glasses..

Donations
Dir. Shelly Findlay • 8:20

In a world where blood is money, one man pays the price to live.

The Spider
Dir. Michelle Godoy Priske • 5:00

A woman faces her birth mother on Halloween night..

Sweetie
Dir. Taylor Olson • 2:55

A little girl calls her dad for help when a monster lurks.

Zoé
Dir. Rémi St-Michel • 15:52

Shards of Zoé’s mind cling to memories of happier times.

Nicky Nine Doors
Dir. Jenna Schaefer, Minsoo Koh • 4:52

Alone after hours, a woman becomes prey to a cruel prank.

First Rites
Dir. Findlay Ironside • 6:02

A young woman seeks comfort from a long-dead corpse.

Lost in Your Thoughts
Dir. Marshall Leigh George • 10:38

In therapy, a woman explores memories to find her sister.

Time Eater
Dir. Ryan Couldrey • 12:50

A grandma with dementia faces danger babysitting her granddaughter.

Hammer, Wrench and Screwdriver
Dir. Gabriel Vilandré • 13:00

A teen returns stolen tools, but events take a dark turn.

Immortal Embrace
Dir. Reamonn Joshee • 7:19

Emily, turned vampire, finds help from her mother.

Monday, November 17 9:30 PM ET SON OF SARA — Feature film • 83 min Dir. Houston Bone

Haunted by strange urges and visions, a pregnant woman accepts a dinner invitation that descends into a bloody, nightmarish spiral.

Horror LGBTQ Canada 🇨🇦
Opens with:
Heirlooms
Dir. Dan Abramovici • 12:44

While clearing her late mother’s things, she finds a secret.

Tuesday, November 18 7:00 PM ET MONSTERS & MARTIANS — Sci-fi Shorts Program • 95 min

A collection of the finest sci-fi shorts from this planet—or any other.

Science Fiction CANADA 🇨🇦
Sanctorum
Dir. Prasanna Paul • 8:00

An ex-engineer builds a robot to battle evil forces.

Asteria
Dir. Daniel Brown • 4:55

An interstellar runaway hides in a man’s home.

Echo
Dir. Victoria Long • 16:30

When her partner returns, Ava must choose her side.

Solipsis
Dir. Massimo Russo • 19:57

Years in a bunker, Cal fights to survive and reach the world.

Kitty & the Viper
Dir. John-Daniel Arauz • 13:05

In Neo San Francisco, the Viper and Kitty fight the Jackal.

Strangers
Dir. Andrew G. Cooper • 10:54

Trapped in a basement, two men hide from creatures outside.

He
Dir. Hira Vin • 16:00

A shapeshifter grants love, until one woman breaks the rules.

The Archivists
Dir. Dallas Harvey • 7:30

An agent bound to an alien relic fights to save the world.

Tuesday, November 18th 9:30 PM ET FOREIGNER — Feature film • 80 min Dir. Ava Maria Safai

Yasamin Karimi, a Persian teen, struggles to fit in at her 2004 high school. When she dyes her hair blonde, she unknowingly awakens a demon tied to the parts of herself she wishes to erase. A heartfelt horror story about the cost of assimilation and the power of denied identity. This screening celebrates a project first pitched at the 2023 BITS Development Lab.

ASL Interpreter / Open Captions Horror Dark Drama Canada 🇨🇦
Opens with:
The Indestructible
Dir. Kalen Artinian • 15:00

A teen escapes into comics as reality and fantasy collide.

Wednesday, November 19 7:00 PM ET BITS AND BYTES — Web Series Program • 100 min

A feature-length program spotlighting the best genre web and digital series.

Web & Digital Genre Series CANADA 🇨🇦
Petit Demons
Dir. Juan Francisco Calero Hueso • 5:00

A survivor becomes a hunter of society's cruelest monsters.

Creepy Cape Breton — Ep: Hatman Part 2
Dir. Dawn Wells • 11:53

A Mi’kmaq filmmaker hunts a shadowy figure.

Bunker Time!
Dir. Justin Miller • 19:46

Trapped in her Bunker, kids TV host Pearle starts to crack.

Jeff Dotter: Space Courier
Dir. Shane Lawrence Campbell • 13:26

One man’s strange delivery job spans the whole universe.

Ghosting
Dirs. Luke Hutchie, Matthew Finlan • 22:02

Actors turned ghost hunters explore real haunted places.

Ominous — Ep: Radioactive
Dir. George Mihalka • 29:00

A DJ attempts to banish a demon.

Wednesday, November 19 9:30 PM ET BUFFET INFINITY — Feature film • 99 min Dir. Simon Glassman

Petty rivals, cult leaders, and exiled Lovecraftian gods collide at your favorite restaurant in this wildly chaotic, hilariously surreal feature. A genre-bending horror-comedy told through a series of inventive commercials.

Comedy Horror Surreal Canada 🇨🇦
Opens with:
Tingling
Dir. Swaroop Elamon • 5:00

A man’s ASMR video turns terrifying as he drifts to sleep.

Thursday, November 20 7:00 PM ET FUNNY FRIGHTS & UNUSUAL SIGHTS — Shorts Program • 97 min

A showcase of Canadian shorts highlighting the unusual, the surreal, and the lighter side of horror.

Comedy Horror Surreal Canada 🇨🇦
Weeds
Dir. Stefano Toniatti • 5:40

A gardener battles monstrous weeds with wild bravado.

Cherry on Top
Dir. Lulu Liu • 14:57

Trapped for years, two sisters find hope in a vintage mag.

Ultra Cheese
Dir. Kyle Dunbar • 4:41

A disgruntled delivery guy curses a layabout's pizza.

Steal My Life
Dir. Annie Wren • 11:15

A cool girl unravels as everyone starts copying her style!

Blood Rights
Dir. Caitlin Starowicz • 7:49

Two friends summon Bloody Mary for feminist revenge.

As Pale As Death
Dir. Ryan Kukec • 15:05

A tanning salon visit turns deadly under a mummy’s curse.

Seed
Dir. Cameron Macgowan • 6:40

On Trash Planet, two men discover a plant creature.

WFH
Dir. James Watts • 12:19

A writer fights to survive the grind of the gig economy.

.

Bidet
Dir. James Brylowski • 7:30

Friends face terror from a bathroom fixture possessed.

Shrimp Fried Rice
Dir. Dylan Pun • 12:23

The Shrimp and Dave face off against Rat Bitch.

Thursday, November 20 9:30 PM ET FRESH MEAT — Feature film • 105 min Dir. Daniel Turres

A group of influencers sneaks into an abandoned prison for viral content—unaware that one inmate never left.

Horror Gore Canada 🇨🇦
Opens with:
Breach
Dir. Ross Langill • 3:00

A pregnant woman defends her home from two intruders.

Friday, November 21 7:00 PM ET NASH THE SLASH RISES AGAIN! — Documentary Feature film • 80 min Dirs. Tim Kowalski, Kevan Byrne

A cinematic ode to Canadian music icon Nash The Slash, exploring the mind, madness, and artistic journey of this electronic pioneer and performance innovator. Clips from silent film, horror, and noir illustrate his emotional landscape, revealing a timeless message about identity and embracing one’s true self.

Documentary Music Canada 🇨🇦
Opens with:
Sampling
Dir. Jérémy Arné • 6:01

A punk musician hosts a strange experiment.

Grain
Dir. Ilana Zackon • 6:45

A young woman’s binge eating disorder threatens a town.

Friday, November 21 9:30 PM ET VIOLENCE — Feature film • 80 min Dir. Connor Marsden

In an alternate 1980s, anti-hero Henry Violence battles through a brutal cartel war, forced to make impossible choices to survive the violent chaos.

Splatter Horror Crime Canada 🇨🇦
Opens with:
Pariah
Dir. AJ Lutsky • 6:11

A survival story where staying human requires compliance.

Appendage
Dir. Dave Thorpe • 6:21

Emma’s morning is disturbed by alien creatures.

Saturday, November 22 4:00 PM ET EMERGING SCREAMS — Shorts Program • 95 min

A showcase of emerging and student filmmakers creating standout short films.

Horror Canada 🇨🇦
INBTWN
Dir. Nic Altobelli • 11:10

Estranged sisters confront their past in turmoil.

The Outsider
Dir. A. Burnett • 3:00

A prisoner longs for connection and to escape isolation.

The Yellow Wallpaper
Dir. Lynn Naluyima • 6:14

A haunting take on Gilman’s work.

No Lies in the Afterlife
Dir. Haley Elizabeth Richards • 4:39

Two friends try to connect with a dead ex, revealing secrets.

Hear No Evil
Dirs. Vai Petersen, Steve Petersen • 9:59

Deaf and alone, Melodie fights with a guiding voice.

Slaughter Slate
Dir. Xavier Wehrli • 8:11

A film student’s clapperboard attacks!

Making Beauty
Dir. Tammy Salzl • 13:20

A young artist tries to beautify the world with savage results.

Cancer szn
Dir. Zach Green • 12:42

A witch’s obsession with a rival leads to a deadly body-swap.

Disease
Dir. Alex Masciotra-Milstein • 4:48

A human asks for a zombie bite, sparking a gruesome love.

Is That a Mirage?
Dir. Grace Shi • 13:00

Juniper braves a dystopian wasteland to trade a rare berry.

Black Hole
Dir. Brianna Russell • 11:39

A curious boy finds a black hole, his only escape from a town.

Saturday, November 22 7:00 PM ET BEHIND THE CASTLE DOORS: THE ORIGIN OF THE HILARIOUS HOUSE OF FRIGHTENSTEIN — Documentary Feature film • 66 min Dirs. Morgan Baker, Tammy Heisel

The Markowitz brothers reveal the story behind their quirky 1970s Canadian cult-classic, including the legendary presence of Vincent Price.

ASL Interpreter / Open Captions Documentary Cult TV Canada 🇨🇦
Opens with:
Soap Box
Dir. Jimmy G. Pettigrew • 16:14

A boy races down the Mountain of the Muertay to impress his crush.

My Friend Saabe
Dir. Morningstar Derosier • 15:00

A young Rez girl journeys with Saabe to heal her community.

Saturday, November 22 9:30 PM ET Influencers — Feature film • 110 min Dir. Kurtis David Harder

In southern France, a young woman’s obsession with murder and identity theft spirals her life into chaos.

Horror Thriller Canada 🇨🇦 / France 🇫🇷

Partner Cocktail Events

🩸 All events take place at the Tranzac Club — 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto.

Toronto Film Plug Cocktail

Toronto Film Plug Cocktail at Blood in the Snow 2025

$8 (+ tax & service)
  • Thursday, November 20 · 6:30 – 8:30 PM
  • Tranzac Club — 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto

Toronto Film Plug is hosting a classic cocktail reception at the 2025 Blood in the Snow Film Festival. Connect with TFP's bustling network of filmmakers with a drink in hand and some easy listening. Dress to feel fresh and find your next collaborators.

About Toronto Film Plug

Toronto Film Plug is a platform connecting filmmakers with their audiences and with each other to bring their films to life. During our regular events, we showcase 3 filmmakers as they pitch their short films live to a curated audience of industry professionals, who vote for the winner of $1000 + in-kind support. Participants gain built-in audiences and authentic connections across the industry. Long term, TFP is building a sustainable ecosystem empowering the next generation of Toronto storytellers.

ConneKt Film Cocktail

ConneKt Film Cocktail at Blood in the Snow 2025

$8 (+ tax & service)
  • Friday, November 21 · 6:30 – 8:30 PM
  • Tranzac Club — 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto

Join ConneKt Film for an exclusive cocktail reception at the 2025 Blood in the Snow Film Festival. Connect with fellow filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals for an evening of conversation, networking, and celebration of Canada’s vibrant genre film community.

About ConneKt Film

ConneKt Film is a community-driven platform designed to bring all film industry resources and opportunities together in one place. By centralizing job listings, grant deadlines, training and events, ConneKt Film helps creatives spend less time searching and more time creating.

DTRM & First Slate Cocktail

DTRM Inc. & First Slate International Cocktail at Blood in the Snow 2025

$8 (+ tax & service)
  • Saturday, November 22 · 6:30 – 8:30 PM
  • Tranzac Club — 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto

Join the teams from DTRM Inc. and First Slate International for an exclusive cocktail reception at the 2025 Blood in the Snow Film Festival. Mingle with filmmakers, producers, and industry guests in a relaxed and festive setting as we celebrate Canadian and international genre cinema.

About DTRM Inc.

DTRM Inc. offers bespoke services in Script Coverage, Territory Sales, Finance, and Post-Production Brokering. Notable titles include Sunset Superman, Backspot, and Campton Manor.

About First Slate International

Based in Los Angeles, First Slate International champions independent cinema, providing worldwide sales representation, development, and packaging support for films and television projects. Its current slate includes Surviving Silence, Peripheral, and Those Who Call.

NEWS

BITS Radio podcast season art
BITS Radio Podcast

The 2024 season is live—stream every episode at your pace. 🎧 Conversations with Canadian genre filmmakers: stories, insights, and process.

2024 highlight videos still
2024 Highlight Videos

Relive the energy of BITS 2024—Deadly Exposure and the Horror Development Lab highlights. 🎬 One Last Shot Productions • Music: Joshua C Love • Animation: Lance Fernandes.

Northern Frights newsletter artwork
Join Our Newsletter

Stay in the loop with timely festival updates, announcements, and behind-the-scenes features.

About Us

Festival Director Kelly Michael Stewart on stage
Horror Sci-fi Genre Canada 🇨🇦

🇨🇦 The Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS) celebrates the best in contemporary Canadian horror, genre, and underground cinema — championing bold storytelling, independent voices, and films that push creative and social boundaries. Based in Toronto, BITS unites audiences, media, and industry partners to showcase and elevate Canadian genre film. Founded in 2012 and registered as a not-for-profit in 2015, the festival continues to amplify the artistry and innovation of Canada’s genre filmmakers.

What we do
  • Premiere Canadian horror & genre cinema
  • Run the annual BITS Film Festival, Deadly Exposure Industry Conference & BITS Horror Development Lab
  • Host filmmaker Q&As, panels & networking events
  • Champion independent creators & bold storytelling
Where & when


Festival Team 2025
  • Kelly Michael Stewart — Festival Director & Founder
  • Vanessa Magic — Development Coordinator
  • Emily Dix — Industry Coordinator
  • Sarah Parrish — Web, Social Media & Front of House Coordinator
  • Adam Reich — Print Traffic Coordinator
  • Cassandra John — Volunteer Coordinator (Frederica Black Events)
  • Shanice Bowrin — Lab & Industry Assistant
  • Cebastian Roberts — Front of House
  • Stephane Allard — Theatre Traffic Editor & Production
Film Programmers

Kassy Gascho, Nadine L'Esperance, Norman McGlashan, Dara Jade Moats, Heidy Morales, Kelly Michael Stewart, Melanie Turner

Development Lab

Leads: Heather Buckley, Anelle Dehghani, Rueben Martell

Jury: Joanne Belluco, Joel H. Brewster, Theresa Cutknife, Raine Petrie, Chloe Navaretnam

Film Awards Juries

Features: Trey Anderson, August Kyss, Jessie Robbins, Colin Van Loon

Shorts: Ashli Agate, Rachel Beaulieu, Dre Boulet, Luis Ceriz

Creative & Support
  • Creative Direction & Design: Small Dog Design
  • On-Site Logistics: Sanjay Mohanta, Cindy Hinds
  • BITS Radio Host: Robert Bellamy
  • Photography: Colleen Yates (festival), Kseniia Pankova (industry)
  • Bumper Animation: Lance Fernandes
  • Bumper Music: Joshua Love
  • DJ’s: DJ D-Rock (Mon–Thurs) & DJ Osaze (Fri–Sat)
Partners & Services
  • Insurance: Marquee Insurance
  • Legal (IP): Shift Law
  • Bookkeeping: Michelle Herscu, MLHC
  • Accounting: Wilson Woo, Oasis LLP
Board of Directors 2025–2026
  • Kelly Michael Stewart — Chair
  • Cindy Hinds — Vice Chair
  • Jen Gorman — Secretary-Treasurer
  • Sarah Parrish — Member at Large
  • Melanie Turner — Member at Large
Festival sponsor logos including Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, and more

Testimonials