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 2025 Blood in the Snow Film Festival will take place in-person in Toronto in November 17 to 22, 2025. 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". There are activities all week 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 selected directors 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 Lead Acting Performance in a feature
- Best Lead Acting Performance in a short film
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Special FX
- Best Music Score
- Best Sound Design

Rules & Terms

Toronto Premiere status is required for feature films and short films. Previous local cast and crew screenings in Toronto can possibility disqualify you as well. You as the lead filmmaker(s) is required to attend the festival and promote your screening, if selected. We take your film playing Blood in the Snow seriously and we expect you to as well.
Any questions about eligibility, please email info@bloodinthesnow.ca before submitting.

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 (permanent residence or citizen) 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 or pilot (3 to 30 minutes in length). The film example doesn't have to be a proof of concept and can be a film that shows your best work. Music videos and documentaries are discouraged for this category.
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.

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.
94 Reviews
Overall Rating
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Value
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  • Cotton Bush

    I can't recommend the Blood in the Snow Development Lab highly enough! The lab was incredibly inclusive, with mentors and industry professionals who were genuinely passionate and deeply invested in each project. Their guidance was invaluable, and their encouragement left me feeling more inspired and optimistic about the film industry than ever before. This experience not only gave me confidence in my own work but also renewed my hope that similar initiatives exist across other genres.

    December 2024
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  • Dallas Soonias

    Can't say enough about this fest. Its fun, inviting and inclusive. Kelly and his team have dialed this thing in and its clear they care about the details. I'd recommend this fest to anyone and everyone.

    December 2024
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  • Colin G Cooper

    Although I fell remarkably ill a few days into the festival, I very much enjoyed my experience at BITS with our short film BATH BOMB. The staff was attentive and provided some fun opportunities like interviews with BITS Radio and FernTV. Isabel Bader Theatre is massive, and they did a pretty great job of filling it. I even enjoyed struggling through our Q&A hopped up on cold medication in a state of near-zombification :) Many thanks to Kassy, Kelly, and the rest of the team!

    December 2024
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  • Sean Oliver

    Awesome festival! Great location and venue. The staff and volunteers are incredible. Hands down one of the best genre festivals to check out.

    December 2024
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  • Simon Madore

    Loved my experience at BITS 2024! The team, the venues and the crowd was great! Hope to be selected again in the future :)

    December 2024
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