The Bay of Blood Film Festival (BOB) is a showcase of exceptional cinema, be it artistic, scary or horrific. BOB strives towards supporting and exhibiting independent media artists while working from our base of operations in North Bay, Ontario CANADA. BOB brings together audiences, media coverage, community partnerships and the film making industry to exhibit and celebrate Canadian genre films. As North Bay’s only horror festival we are dedicated to supporting local and international filmmakers alongside each other.

Bay of Blood (BOB) - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
As our second year approaches in 2024, the Bay of Blood Film Festival continues ambitions to become an internationally recognized festival, known for an incredible variety of feature and short film programs bringing communities together. We aspire towards having a particularly strong competition process which offers a series of great awards among peers. We want to celebrate independent films highlighting screen-based storytelling in and around the horror genre. We want to see all forms of short and feature content with no restrictions or guarantees for those submitting. We want to see films that consider themselves to be horror and have a great festival where industry, peers and the public come together.

The Bay of Blood Film Festival has been established to cultivate and support emerging and established filmmakers that pursue the horror genre. Our goal is to build participating filmmakers' profiles by providing a platform for sharing and celebrating great films. The Bay of Blood Film Festival will be held at the Ramada by Wyndham Pinewood Park Resort North Bay. Scheduled actions include, receptions, merch tables, panel discussions, interviews, meet-and-greet events, pop-up events and all several programs of screenings.

What you can expect from being part of BOB 2024:
1) Be part of the only North Bay horror festival that promotes local content!
2) See your film on the big screen!
3) Excellent communication and promotion of your work. Successful filmmakers in 2024 will receive press coverage with supporting media both locally and nationally.
4) Opportunity for industry meet and greets!
5) A festival team that truly exists to celebrate your work!

Submissions are currently open. Submit now to be a part of the Bay of Blood Film Festival in 2024!

Awards & Prizes

BOB Awards - The Bay of Blood Film Festival was founded to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of many independent filmmakers that have struggled for their craft. Our awards are designed to acknowledge the industry and the community of people that have worked so hard to make this festival happen. Awards may change from year to year as we establish what works best for us. The awards for this year are:

INDUSTRY AWARDS:
1) Best Screenplay
2) Best Cinematography
3) Best Original Score
4) Best Special Effects
5) Best Animation
6) Best Performance from an Actor in a Non-Human Role.
7) Best Beast
8) Filmmaker to Watch
9) Best Short Film
10) Best Animated Film
11) Best Supporting Performance
12) Best Leading Performance
13) Best Feature

JURORS CHOICE AWARDS
14) Grossest Gag
15) The Bram Stoker Award
16) The Mary Shelley Award
17) The Edgar Allan Poe Award

VOTERS CHOICE
18) Viewers' Choice Award
19) Favourite Non-Human in Film
20) Favourite Beast
21) Best Kill
22) Best Death

NOTE: Official selections and award nominations are determined by the official BOB programming team including expert judges and community members using assessment criteria and rubric. Nominated films will then be screened by a panel of judges and winners are determined by the final overall grade. A full description of each award can be found on our website: www.bayofblood.ca/awards.

Rules & Terms

Rules & Terms - SUBMISSION CRITERIA:
- Films are accepted in the horror genre.
- If selected, films must be provided in a 2K resolution compatible format preferably with 5.1 sound for best presentation.
- Multiple films may be submitted from a single filmmaker or production company.
- We encourage international submissions, but must contain English subtitles if not in English.
- We are accepting films that have been completed within the past 2 years, after January 1st, 2022.
- If you have any questions, please feel free contact us via email: bayofbloodcanada@gmail.com

By submitting, filmmakers agree that:
They have read, understated and fully comply with all submission eligibility information, Submission Guidelines, Terms and Conditions of Entry and Entry Eligibility requirements. To the best of their knowledge, all of the statements in this submission are true. This film or video is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. They are duly authorized to submit this film to the Bay of Blood Film Festival. They absolve any liability to The Bay of Blood Film Festival 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. They do not hold The Bay of Blood Film Festival with its owners, management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, and etc. accountable to any and all claims of liability resulting from their entry. They certify that they have full rights to the use of the music in the entered work. They give permission for The Bay of Blood Film Festival to use stills, titles, copy, and/or information from the film for promotional purposes. They give permission for The Bay of Blood Film Festival to screen the film as part of the Festival for which it was submitted. If selected, they will provide The Bay of Blood Film Festival with a digital copy of their film's movie poster (in vertical format) for use on the festival website.
5 Reviews
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  • Alessandro Albertini

    I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the two awards you bestowed upon me at your recent festival. Winning these awards has been an inspiring experience and I am deeply grateful for the recognition.
    Your festival has provided a platform for independent producers like me to showcase their talents and connect with others who share a passion for creativity. I am honored to have taken part in this wonderful event and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to participate alongside such talented and passionate people.

    May 2023
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  • Matt Robb

    Great festival, with great films, and lots of creative love being shared here. Quick and prompt communication. Will definitely be submitting future films here.

    May 2023
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  • Adam Kirkey

    This festival was a cool one, it was their first year, but the organizers clearly really love genre films! And the title alone, I mean come on! The best for laurels on your poster!

    April 2023
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  • Michael Dorfman

    The Bay of Blood Film Festival is awesome! Great communication, and an incredible selection of films! We are honored that our short film was selected/shown at the festival!!

    April 2023
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  • John Nicol

    Amazing festival... So thrilled to be part of what's sure to be one incredible event. A pleasure to have UNDERNEATH: An Anthology of Terror screen BOB as its final run at the end of our festival run! Bay of Blood was top-notch, and I look forward to submitting my next film.

    April 2023
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