The Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS) was first created in 2012 with a mandate to highlight the best in contemporary genre filmmaking in Canada.

The 2023 Blood in the Snow Film Festival will take place in-person in Toronto in November 20 to 25, 2023. The theatre is just steps away from the Museum station (across from the ROM) and the theatre is fully wheelchair accessible. The theatre seats 500 combined on the floor and balcony and is outfitted with a Christie IMB 2200 Digital Cinema projector.

Blood in the Snow has the reputation of being a "filmmaker’s festival". In 2021 the festival had 36 of the 44 filmmakers featured in attendance from all across Canada. There are activities all weekend long allowing filmmakers to network with other filmmakers and other important industry contacts. Filmmaker activities include industry panels, VIP industry cocktail socials and after parties every night of the festival.

Blood in the Snow is generously funded in part by Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates and the Independent Production Fund. The Blood in the Snow Film Festival is also on the eligibility list of festivals for the Canadian Screen Awards.

Blood in the Snow works to attract extensive press coverage. Past coverage has included reviews, interviews and profiles by outlets such as CP24, Sirius XM, The Star, NOW Magazine, Newstalk 1010 and Rue Morgue Magazine.

All filmmakers will receive a Filmmaker Pass that will get you into all of the in-person screenings at the festival for free.

Awards & Prizes

Awards & Prizes
We give out a series of awards called "The Bloodies" given out during the festival:

- Best Feature
- Best Short
- Best Digital series
- Best Lead Acting Performance in a feature
- Best Supporting Acting Performance in a feature
- Best Lead Acting Performance in a short film
- Best Supporting Acting Performance in a short film
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Special FX
- Best Music Score

Rules & Terms

We focus on Canadian filmmakers but we are now open to Canadian / international co-production films as well. Please read the submission requirements carefully BEFORE submitting.

By Canadian we mean that:
- the film has a Canadian director and;
- must be shot in Canada AND/OR have a predominately Canadian crew.

The International category are for international films that are co-productions with a Canadian company
and/or
- The main crew (Director/Producer) is a Canadian working abroad.
and/or
- The main actor(s) is a Canadian working abroad.

*IMPORTANT: For the Co-Production category, please follow up with an email to us (info@bloodinthesnow.ca) and let us know what aspect of the film is Canadian.

For the web series category, please submit one episode that you think best represents your series. We don't need a premiere status for the web series category and can be available online.

BITS HORROR DEVELOPMENT LAB SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Please submit one polished, completed short film (3 to 30 minutes in length). Please indicate if you'd like us to also consider the film for the in-person festival or just for the lab.
2. Please include applicant biography (director, writer and/or producer)
3. Upload (under Files & Attachments) a maximum 3 page proposal (or pitch book) describing the project. Please include a story description, bios of the team attached, a general budget summary and anything else you'd like to tell us about the project.
4. DO NOT submit any scripts.
5. Music videos and TV series are not eligible for the lab application.

If you have any questions about our requirements, please email us at info@bloodinthesnow.ca to check first before submitting.

By applying to BITS you have agreed to the terms listed above and that there are no submission fee refunds.
69 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jess Joy

    This is an amazing festival! It was such an honor to have my short 'Lunachicks' screen here alongside some really talented filmmakers! The communication and effort put into making this a great festival is very evident and it was one of the most fun festivals I've been to. I felt very welcomed and there was really great audience turnout and engagement. I recommend submitting to this 100% even if you feel your film is only borderline 'genre'.

    May 2022
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  • Graham M. Sheppard

    Just a perfect example of how to run a film festival.

    February 2022
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  • Krystle Ferdinand

    It was an honour to be a part of BITS 2021. The industry panels and networking at Deadly Exposure were an amazing way to meet and chat with industry experts and other filmmakers!

    December 2021
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  • Chris Benn

    A great Canadian film festival which takes care of its filmmakers, supporters and volunteers. Industry panels provide good resources for up and coming filmmakers while also serving as a great introduction to distributors. Old school classic cinema experience for in-person screenings is pretty awesome and the partnership with SuperChannel is also fantastic! Check this one out!

    December 2021
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  • Kassy Gascho

    Thank you so much for programming our short film The Phone Interview within the Funny Frights Programme, it was such an honor to be there alongside such amazing films. This festival goes above and beyond in every possible way, in terms of networking, community, and exhibition. Gtting to see our film on the big screen was indescribable. Cannot thank the BITS team enough!

    December 2021
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