I’m Kelly Michael Stewart, the Founder and Festival Director of the Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS), based in Toronto, Canada. Over the past 15 years, I’ve dedicated my career to championing independent Canadian genre cinema — especially horror, sci-fi, thriller, and action — and to building spaces where bold, original voices can thrive.

How it all began

My journey started as a genre-obsessed film writer, contributing to outlets such as Fangoria, Toronto Film Scene, Planet Fury, and KISS Monster Magazine in the early 2010s. Around that time, I also launched Fright Nights at the Projection Booth, a monthly screening series that showcased Canadian and international genre shorts and features throughout 2012.

That experience — combined with my passion for Canadian genre film — led me to create the first Blood in the Snow Film Festival in late 2012. I wanted to move beyond one-off screenings and build an annual festival dedicated entirely to Canadian genre filmmakers. That first year, BITS ran as a weekend event with six features and a shorts program. Four of the screenings were near sell-outs, MTV Canada came out to cover it, and when it was over, I knew we had something special.

During those early years, I was also producing projects of my own. In 2013, I was the lead producer and co-writer of the short film One More for the Road, directed by Navin Ramaswaran. The following year, working with much of the same team, I co-wrote and produced Late Night Double Feature, a horror anthology feature. Both films screened widely across North America and gave me a deeper appreciation (and empathy) for the challenges filmmakers face in bringing their visions to life.

Building a festival for filmmakers

From the beginning, BITS was about more than just screenings — it was about celebrating filmmakers as if it were their “wedding day.” As the festival grew, we experimented with new elements: Short Film Showcase blocks, midnight screenings, vendor villages, preview events, and interactive gallery installations. Some stayed, some evolved, but all were designed to amplify the filmmaker experience.

By 2015, the festival was presenting eight features and fifteen shorts over three days (our third year at the Carlton). We introduced our first industry panel and welcomed filmmakers and fans from across the country. For me, it wasn’t only about entertaining audiences; it was about creating a joyful, memorable event that truly honored each filmmaker’s big moment.

Industry development and professional growth

In 2018, BITS expanded into a six-day event at the Royal Cinema and launched the Deadly Exposure Industry Conference — a major step toward building a professional ecosystem for Canadian genre creators. With panels, roundtables, networking opportunities, and market sessions, Deadly Exposure quickly became a vital hub for connecting filmmakers with producers, broadcasters, and funders.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, we adapted by partnering with Super Channel, broadcasting the festival nationwide. Even as we returned to in-person screenings in 2021 and 2022, we continued as a hybrid event, presenting both a broadcast program and live festival.

Also in 2021, we introduced the BITS Horror Development Lab as part of Deadly Exposure. This program was designed to nurture underrepresented voices in Canadian genre filmmaking and help early-stage projects grow from concept to production-ready. Each year, 12 emerging filmmakers from BIPOC, women, LGBTQ2IA+, and disabled communities are selected. Participants refine their pitches, attend workshops, and receive one-on-one mentorship with industry leaders to advance their projects toward production.

Between 2016 and 2018, I also created and hosted BITS TV, an interview series spotlighting Canadian genre filmmakers. It aired for two seasons on Bell TV1 and later became pre-show content for the festival. In 2017, we launched BITS Radio, a podcast hosted by Robert Bellamy (with me occasionally guest-hosting). Recorded each year during the festival, BITS Radio has since produced over 130 episodes, giving Canadian genre creators even more space to share their stories.

After four successful years at the Royal Cinema, we moved to our current home at the Isabel Bader Theatre in 2022. As of 2025, BITS presents 13 screening programs, including 8 feature films and 5 dedicated short blocks.

My vision

At its core, my programming philosophy is all about the filmmaker experience. I believe that premiering a film should feel like one of life’s greatest milestones — a celebration of years of hard work and creativity. I also believe deeply in supporting underrepresented voices and creating intentional pathways that help new creators break through barriers and build sustainable careers.

For me, Blood in the Snow has always been about more than films. It’s about community, connection, and amplifying bold Canadian stories that deserve to be seen and celebrated.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings.🩸