*OUR LATE DEADLINE FOR FILM & SCREENPLAY SUBMISSIONS ENDS ON JUNE 30TH, 2026!

ONE OF ONTARIO'S TOP RATED HORROR FILM FESTIVALS RETURNS FOR 5-NIGHTS, CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF TERROR!
From October 14th-18th, 2026 we will be showcasing a wide range of films and trailers from around the world at the historic Paramount Theatre, which is located in the downtown core of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. HORROR, THRILLER AND MYSTERY FILMS ARE WHAT WE LOVE!

Our festival is built by filmmakers for filmmakers, and we know the hard work and dedication it takes to make a film of any genre and length. Film festival submission fees can add up very quickly, so we kept our entry fees low.

Each year, we invite all selected filmmakers to showcase their work to our passionate and engaged audience. The experience extends beyond the screen, as each screening is followed by a live Q&A, giving creators a direct platform to discuss their craft and connect with cinema lovers. This vibrant atmosphere of exchange is not just for the audience; it is within this community that filmmakers have forged invaluable industry connections, allowing filmmakers to network with industry peers, collaborate on future projects, and build long-lasting professional relationships. This exchange of ideas and experiences makes our festival not just a celebration of genre cinema, but also a valuable opportunity for artistic growth and career advancement.

-NEW! We have partnered with Canadian distribution label: Red Water Entertainment, (A division of Indiecan Entertainment) specializing in true indie genre cinema! This latest collab means that Official Selections in the Feature Film category at Terror in the Bay Film Festival will now have a direct opportunity to land distribution, and join Red Water's ever-growing catalogue, which already includes several past Terror in the Bay gems: Daughter Of The Sun, Chainsaws Were Singing, Head Like A Hole and Vampire Zombies From Space!

- NEW! We have teamed up with TERROR FILMS RELEASING - a globally recognized independent film distributor, best known for "The Taking Of Deborah Logan" and the "Hell House LLC" Franchise. Selected feature films of Terror in the Bay Film Festival will have an exciting opportunity to land distribution with Terror Films Releasing. This partnership is a game-changer for our selected filmmakers!

"Huge thank you to Terror In The Bay Film Festival for putting on another incredible event. Nothing beats spending time with such awesome people while meeting wonderful filmmakers from all over the country all in one house watching films together."
- Andrew Simpson [Terror in the Bay Alumni] 2025

"The folks behind Terror in the Bay are warm, welcoming, and supportive of filmmakers. Great audiences every night I was there and the programming is fun, original, and takes risks. And Thunder Bay is both beautiful and weird (in the good ways). Outstanding experience."
- Jason Cortlund [Crookedfinger] 2025

*We accept films of any budget, length, and production value. Our judges treat every film equally, and will be graded with our utmost honesty, and unbiased view. If your film is picked as an official selection, it will automatically be considered for individual award nominations. Good Luck! *IMPORTANT - WE DO NOT ACCEPT FAN-MADE FILMS.

*FilmFreeway GOLD MEMBERS RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 15% OFF! WE HAVE KEPT OUR FEES LOW FOR INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS WORLDWIDE + STUDENT FILMMAKERS RECEIVE A SPECIAL DISCOUNT!

*ALL OFFICIAL SELECTIONS, IN EVERY CATEGORY WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR NOMINATIONS AND AWARDS.

*2025 TERROR IN THE BAY FILM FESTIVAL FEATURED ON THE CBC (COPY & PASTE LINK TO VIEW) >>> https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-84-up-north/clip/16175590-terror-returns-thunder-bay-9th-annual-horror-film <<<

*2025 Readers' Choice "Best Film Festival" (1st place) The Walleye Magazine
*2024 Readers' Choice "Best Film Festival" (1st place) The Walleye Magazine
*2022 Readers' Choise "Best Film Festival" (1st place) The Walleye Magazine
*2021 Readers' Choice "Best Film Festival" (1st place) The Walleye Magazine
*2020 Readers' Choice "Best Film Festival" (1st place) The Walleye Magazine

- RANKED IN THE TOP 600 OUT OF 12,000+ "MOST POPULAR FILM FESTIVALS" IN THE FilmFreeway DATABASE. (JANUARY, 2025)

SPECIAL PAST EVENTS:

- On March 16th, 2026 we had the pleasure of hosting a Q&A session with a (local) executive producer at a pre-screening for the Canadian horror film: UNDERTONE

- On April 19th, 2023 we partnered with REEL CANADA to screen a Double Feature for the 10th Annual National Canadian Film Day! We had the honour of screening Jeff Barnaby's BLOOD QUANTUM & David Cronenberg's CRIMES OF THE FUTURE.

Awards & Prizes

- All Official Selections receive a festival laurel and will be considered for individual award nominations and awards including the coveted MORA AWARD!

- The Four Major Award Winners (Best Feature, Best Featurette, Best Short and Best Mini Short) will receive a laurel, printable AWARD CERTIFICATE & CUSTOMIZED STATUE "MORA" Created by sculptor Victor Oriecuia.

- Individual award winners will receive an additional laurel and a printable AWARD CERTIFICATE.

- Feature Film Distribution opportunities with RED WATER ENTERTAINMENT & TERROR FILMS RELEASING

- Official Selections (filmmakers) in attendance will receive a complimentary 5-NIGHT pass.

- We are IMDb qualified, which means every official nominee and winner will be posted on our IMDb festival page.

- MORA AWARDS - https://vimeo.com/375235385
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*2025 AWARD WINNERS:

-BEST FEATURE FILM (MORA Award) *CHAINSAWS WERE SINGING
​-BEST FEATURETTE (MORA Award) *TILL DEATH DO US PART
-BEST SHORT FILM (MORA Award) *THE NATURE OF DEATH
-BEST MINI SHORT FILM (MORA Award) *STRIP MALL
-BEST WEB SERIES *THE MADNESS OF DAVID JUDGE - CHAPTER ONE:
"SUDDENLY THERE CAME A TAPPING"
-BEST MUSIC VIDEO *GRAYSHAPES - BLADE
-BEST FILM TRAILER *THE CRIME FAMILY
-BEST DIRECTOR *JACOB HAMBLIN (TILL DEATH DO US PART)
-BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY *OSCAR IGNACIO JIMENEZ (THE ANGEL)
-BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY *ANDRES CABRERA RUCKS (ISLAND LIFE)
-BEST UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY *RISE UP LITTLE GIRL
-BEST UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY (1ST RUNNER-UP) *TOILET SHARKS
-BEST UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY (2ND RUNNER-UP) *INIQUITOUS
-BEST ORIGINAL SCORE *EDWARD O'MAHONY (BUNKER BABY)
-BEST EDITING *C0STANTINO CIMINIELLO & MITCHELL VINCENT SLAN (ROUGH CUT)
-BEST SFX MAKEUP *ERNAKA PUSPITA DEWI, JACKY FARHAN, DEFI, NANDA, PANJUL & PUTRI (LABINAK: THEY ARE ALMOST US)
-BEST TITLE/CREDIT SEQUENCE *SHAUN MUNRO (UNDERTONE)
-BEST ACTOR *BEN PETERS (ISLAND LIFE)
​-BEST ACTRESS *PAULA JON DEROSE (CROOKEDFINGER)
-BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR *CIARAN BERMINGHAM (BUNKER BABY)
-BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS *WELKER WHITE (CROOKEDFINGER)​​
-BEST FILM POSTER *PETE WARE (MOVING)
​-BEST ATMOSPHERE *JUD WILLMONT, NICHOLAS Z. SCOTT & KIRTAN HUMMELEN
(BLACK FOG)
-BEST ENSEMBLE *KARL ILVES, LAURA NIILS, JANNO PUUSEPP, MARTIN RUUS, RITA RATSEPP, PEETER MARAN, RA RAGNAR NOVOD, HENRYK JOHAN NOVOD
(CHAINSAWS WERE SINGING)
-BEST ACTING DUO *ZOE KOEP & ANISSA EISENBERG (SALT CIRCLES)
-BEST STUDENT FILM *LONG JOURNEY TILL DAWN
​-AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD *BERTA

Rules & Terms

THE RULES ARE BASIC BUT NECESSARY. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE YOU SUBMIT.

The entrant / submitter (individual or corporation) submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized and have the legal right to commit the film for screenings at Terror In The Bay Film Festival. 

It is agreed, by submitting, to allow Terror In The Bay Film Festival to screen this film without any associated screening fees. The submitter (individual or corporation) understands and accepts these requirements and regulations upon submission.

Terror In The Bay Film Festival is hereby granted to the right to utilize any excerpt from any film and/or trailer submitted and accepted for exhibition at Terror In The Bay Film Festival for promotional and/or advertising purposes.

The entrant / submitter (individual or corporation) may submit the film digitally through FilmFreeway exclusively. We do not accept hard copies. You may have multiple entries.

Submissions in a language other than English must have subtitles. Works in progress are not accepted. WE DO NOT ACCEPT FAN-MADE FILMS.

All selections are final. The judging panel is mostly independent of the selection committee, making their voting entirely independent of one another. 

In addition, entrants represent and warrant to Terror In The Bay Film Festival that the film and all parts thereof are original; that the film does not contravene the rights of any person or entity and that entrants own or control the film and all parts thereof and have the sole authority to submit the film to Terror In The Bay Film Festival; the film entrants submitted to Terror In The Bay Film Festival is not subject to nor threatened by any litigation.

Entrants agree to defend and indemnify Terror In The Bay Film Festival, its directors, officers, employees, contractors, consultants, judges and agents against any and all claims, demands, actions, or lawsuits arising out of or related to the screening of the submitted film, performance of the music, or displaying of the art.

FURTHER CLARIFICATION: Entrants / Submitters (Individual or corporation) agree to all of the rules and regulations listed below prior to submitting the film.

*The film contains no genuine acts of Violence (Animal cruelty, Rape, Murder). 

*I hold Terror In The Bay Film Festival harmless from any damage to the print(s) or media materials(s) en route or otherwise during the course of the festival’s possession of the film.

*I hold Terror In The Bay Film Festival its owners, management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, and etc. harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from my entry.

*I certify that I have full rights to the use of the music in the entered work.

*I give permission for Terror In The Bay Film Festival to use stills, titles, copy, and/or information from the short for promotional purposes.

*I give permission for Terror In The Bay Film Festival to screen the film at the Festival for which it was submitted.

Entrants / Submitters (Individual or Corporation) acknowledge that no fiduciary or confidential relationship now exists between the festival and entrants, and entrants further acknowledge that no such relationship is established by these guidelines, my submission of the film, or by the festival’s acceptance, review or retention of the film.

Terror In The Bay Film Festival has the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to change the festival date or location if necessary to ensure a successful festival.

Entry fees are non-refundable. Projects can be from any of the last five years (production having been completed by December 2021). Entry Fees are in $US.
55 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Vanessa Powers

    This festival is excellent - it s prestigious and does an excellent job of marketing and social media, but also gives each film and filmmaker the time and attnention they deserve. I felt seen and celebrated, and my film even won one of the really cool awards given by the festival. I will be submitting again, 100%

    December 2025
    Helpful
  • Justin Robert Vinall

    I had the pleasure of having a film I produced with Chickenboy last year play and a film of my own, Stargazer screen this year! Both experiences I heard were amazing from colleagues of mine who were able to go! Beyond that the amount of direct and clear communication was outstanding and love was felt for all the work presented there. I couldn't be more pleased with having our Canadian premiere be at Thunder Bay! Thank you to the Terror in the Bay Team!

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Marani Bros

    Great genre festival in Thunder Bay, Ontario!
    Our film got selected but due to distribution issues couldn't have a screening at the fest, but the director Chris Borgo was still kind enough to leave Chainsaws Were Singing in competition without a screening.
    Imagine our surprise when we heard back that Chainsaws ended up winning both Best Feature Film and Best Ensemble! :D
    This is a festival that truly deeply cares about genre cinema and celebrates horror and fantasy to its core. Well worth submitting!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Sander, thank you deeply for leaving such a kind and honest review. Your film stood out as one of the most deserving among a truly remarkable lineup of features we screened this year. Congratulations to you and the entire team of Chainsaws Were Singing - we look forward to seeing your continued success on the big screen!

  • Gordon Phillips

    We weren't able to attend this year's event but we were so happy to be included and triple nominated for The Itch this year! The communication from the organizers was phenomenal and the the festival itself looked like a blast. A lot of really great films on their schedule!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Gordon, thank you for your review! The Itch screened in front of a very lively audience, and everyone really enjoyed it! We wish you continued success in the festival circuit, and look forward to seeing your next film!

  • Shaun Munro

    I sadly couldn't make it out to Terror in the Bay for the screening of my short film UNDERTONE but every impression I have of the festival is a very positive one!

    Communication in the lead up to the festival was great and it was a delight to be nominated for several awards and also win Best Title/Credit Sequence!

    I'll absolutely be submitting my next project to Terror in the Bay!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Shaun, thank you for writing a review, and Congratulations for winning Best Title/Credit Sequence. We loved Undertone, and certainly look forward to seeing your next film!