The Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS), Canada’s premier showcase of homegrown genre cinema, returns for its 14th thrilling edition this fall — running November 17 to 22, 2025, fully in-person at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto.
This year’s festival dives deep into the many faces of horror — from dark psychological thrillers and sci-fi nightmares to bloody action, eerie mysteries, and twisted comedy.
The 2025 lineup opens with the World Premiere of Director Houston Bone’s Son of Sara, setting the tone for a week of bold and unforgettable Canadian storytelling. Among this year’s most anticipated titles is Foreigner by Ava Maria Safai, a mysterious and haunting feature that was first pitched at the 2023 BITS Horror Development Lab — marking the first completed feature to emerge from the festival’s own development incubator.
Documentaries take center stage as well, with the Toronto Premieres of Nash the Slash Rises Again! and Behind the Castle Doors: The Origin of The Hilarious House of Frightenstein, both paying tribute to iconic figures who shaped Canada’s pop and genre legacy.
The festival closes on a high-energy note with the Toronto Premiere of Influencers — Kurtis David Harder’s standalone sequel to the critically acclaimed Influencer, which first screened at BITS in 2022 once again starring the acclaimed Cassandra Naud.
Other major highlights include the Toronto Premieres of Buffet Infinity and the blood-soaked mayhem of Fresh Meat and Violence, ensuring a lineup that’s as eclectic as it is intense.
BITS 2025 also features five curated short film programs, spotlighting Canada’s most innovative emerging voices. This year introduces a brand-new sci-fi showcase, Monsters and Martians, alongside returning audience favourites like Funny Frights and Unusual Sights and Dark Visions, which will help kick off opening night festivities.
“This is easily our most wide-ranging program yet,” said Kelly Michael Stewart, Festival Director and Founder of Blood in the Snow. “Fresh Meat is by far the most violent film we’ve ever played, but we’re also celebrating children’s programming with Behind the Castle Doors — proving there’s something for everyone this year.”
Each feature will be preceded by a short film and followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers, giving audiences a rare opportunity to engage directly with the creative voices behind the work.
Tickets for the Isabel Bader Theatre lineup are on sale now – https://bloodinthesnow.ca/
Below is the complete 2025 Blood in the Snow Film Festival lineup, featuring all feature and short film programs screening in-person at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
About Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS)
Now in its 14th year, the Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS) is Canada’s leading platform dedicated to celebrating and championing contemporary Canadian genre cinema — including horror, sci-fi, thriller, action, and dark comedy. Founded in Toronto by Kelly Michael Stewart, BITS has grown from a grassroots showcase into a nationally recognized festival spotlighting emerging and established voices in independent filmmaking.
Through its annual screenings, the BITS Horror Development Lab, and its Deadly Exposure industry conference, the festival continues to support and strengthen Canada’s genre film community. Blood in the Snow remains a vital launchpad for new talent and bold storytelling, bringing fans and filmmakers together in celebration of the strange, the dark, and the unforgettable.
Tickets and passes are now on sale at www.bloodinthesnow.ca
For more information, please contact
Kelly Michael Stewart
info@bloodinthesnow.ca
BITS 2025 Full Screening Schedule
Monday, November 17th
7:00 pm – Dark Visions (94 mins)
Our opening night program brings together the darkest, scariest, and most intense Canadian
short films of the year.
Do You See Her? (dir. Janet-Rose Nguyen) – 7:14 mins
Katie struggles with terrible vision and a creeping sense of paranoia as she suspects a
terrifying entity is stalking her—visible only when her glasses are off.
Donations (dir. Shelly Findlay) – 8:20 mins
In a world where blood is currency, a man must decide how much of himself to sacrifice
to follow his ex-girlfriend on social media.
The Spider (dir. Michelle Godoy Priske) – 5 mins
On Halloween night, a young woman confronts a shocking reunion with her birth mother.
Sweetie (dir. Taylor Olson) – 2:55 mins
A little girl calls on her father’s help when a monster lurks in her room.
Zoé (dir. Rémi St-Michel) – 15:52 mins
Shards of Zoe’s mind cling desperately to fleeting memories of happier times.
Nicky Nine Doors (dir. Jenna Schaefer, Minsoo Koh)
– 4:52 mins
Alone in the office after hours, a woman becomes the target of a prank that escalates
into something far more sinister—and unnervingly watchful.
First Rites (dir. Findlay Ironside) – 6:02 mins
Seeking solace for the afterlife, a young woman turns to a long-dead corpse—the only
source of answers.
Lost in Your Thoughts (dir. Marshall Leigh George)
– 10:38 mins
During EMDR therapy, a woman enters a physical manifestation of her memories in
search of her missing sister.
Time Eater (dir. Ryan Couldrey) – 12:50 mins
While babysitting her granddaughter, a grandmother with undiagnosed dementia faces
an unexpected home invasion.
Hammer, Wrench and Screwdriver (Marteau, clé anglaise & tournevis) (dir. Gabriel
Vilandré) – 13:00 mins
Jonathan, 16, returns stolen tools to a hardware store—only to find events unravel in
unexpected ways.
Immortal Embrace (dir. Reamonn Joshee) – 7:19 mins
Turned into a vampire against her will, 16-year-old Emily must navigate her new reality
with the unwavering support of her single mother. A poignant coming-of-age tale
exploring identity, family, and mother-daughter bonds amid the supernatural.
9:30 pm – Son of Sara (dir. Houston Bone) – 83 mins
Haunted by strange urges and visions, a pregnant woman accepts a dinner invitation that
descends into a bloody, nightmarish spiral.
w/ short: Heirlooms (dir. Dan Abramovici) – 12:44 mins
A young woman attempts to dispose of her deceased mother’s belongings, uncovering a
shocking secret in the process.
Tuesday, November 18th
7:00 pm – Monsters & Martians (95 mins)
A collection of the finest sci-fi shorts from this planet—or any other.
Sanctorum (dir. Prasanna Paul) – 8:00 mins
Decan, a former mechatronic engineer, secretly builds an advanced robot designed to
hunt the malevolent forces threatening humanity.
Asteria (dir. Daniel Brown) – 4:55 mins
An interstellar runaway breaks into a rural man’s home on a cold winter night.
Echo (dir. Victoria Long) – 16:30 mins
When her partner returns from investigating a mysterious ocean crash site, Ava must
choose where her loyalty truly lies.
Solipsis (dir. Massimo Russo) – 19:57 mins
Years after hiding in an underground bunker with her late husband, Cal survives by
clinging to two tenets: stay alive, and keep trying to reach the outside world.
Kitty & the Viper (dir. John-Daniel Arauz) – 13:05 mins
In futuristic Nouveau San Francisco, the hero “the Viper” and his rage-fueled partner
“Kitty” attempt to stop the industrialist “the Jackal” from triggering a pollution apocalypse.
Strangers (dir. Andrew G. Cooper) – 10:54 mins
A young man trapped in a basement with a stranger must survive as otherworldly
creatures prowl the streets outside.
He (dir. Hira Vin) – 16:00 mins
A shapeshifting entity fulfills patrons’ dreams of love—but one woman’s choice to defy
the rules leads to chilling consequences.
The Archivists (dir. Dallas Harvey) – 7:30 mins
A desperate agent becomes host to a parasitic alien relic, while a secretive doctor and
his assistant race to prevent a world-ending calamity.
9:30 pm – Foreigner (dir. Ava Maria Safai) – 80 mins
Yasamin Karimi, a Persian teen, tries to fit in at a 2004 high school. When she dyes her hair
blonde, she unwittingly unleashes a demon tied to the parts of herself she wishes to erase. A
horror tale with heart, exploring the cost of assimilation and the power of denied identity.
This screening is a celebration of this project that was first pitched at the 2023 BITS
Development Lab.
w/ short: The Indestructible (dir. Kalen Artinian)
– 15 mins
James, a troubled high schooler, escapes his oppressive world through a comic-book
fantasy. Increasing pressure from family and peers pushes him to the brink, blurring the
lines between imagination and reality.
Wednesday, November 19th
7:00 pm – BITS and BYTES (100 mins)
A feature-length program spotlighting the best genre web and digital series.
Petit Demons (dir. Juan Francisco Calero Hueso) –
5 mins
A survivor of prolonged abuse develops an addiction to absorbing the violence of
criminals—but a shadowy organization closes in.
Creepy Cape Breton – Ep: Hatman Part 2 (dir. Dawn Wells) – 11:53 mins
New witnesses reveal terrifying encounters with a shadowy figure known across
Indigenous communities as a harbinger of tragedy. Mi’kmaq filmmaker Dawn Wells
expands the investigation beyond her community, uncovering even darker horrors.
Bunker Time! (dir. Justin Miller) – 19:46 mins
Pearle and her rat companion, Cheese Louise, argue over a crack in the bunker during
Doomsday, risking their friendship and the safety of their world.
Jeff Dotter: Space Courier (dir. Shane Lawrence Campbell) – 13:26 mins
One man’s cosmic quest to maintain employment in the universe’s strangest delivery
job.
Ghosting (dirs. Luke Hutchie, Matthew Finlan) – 22:02 mins
Actors-turned-amateur ghostbusters explore haunted sites with celebrity guests, blurring
fiction and reality.
Ominous – Ep: Radioactive (dir. George Mihalka) –
29:00 mins
A DJ attempts to banish a demon from her airwaves, inadvertently exposing her entire
audience to supernatural peril.
9:30 pm – Buffet Infinity (dir. Simon Glassman) –
99 mins
Petty rivals, cult leaders, and exiled Lovecraftian gods clash at your favourite restaurant in this
chaotic, hilariously surreal feature.
w/ short: Tingling (dir. Swaroop Elamon) – 5 mins
A man’s ASMR video spirals from soothing whispers to unsettling terror as he drifts
toward sleep.
Thursday, November 20th
7:00 pm – Funny Frights (97 mins)
A showcase of Canadian shorts highlighting the unusual, the surreal, and the lighter side of
horror.
Weeds (dir. Stefano Toniatti) – 5:40 mins
A gardener faces an epic showdown with monstrous backyard weeds, battling with flair
and over-the-top bravado.
Cherry on Top (dir. Lulu Liu) – 14:57 mins
Two sisters use tips from a vintage porno magazine to escape a basement where
they’ve been trapped for a decade.
Ultra Cheese (dir. Kyle Dunbar) – 4:41 mins
Buddy’s pizza delivery takes a cursed turn, turning his Saturday night into a chaotic
misadventure.
Steal My Life (dir. Annie Wren) – 11:15 mins
A cool girl spirals into paranoia and psychosis as everyone seems to be copying her
style in this psychological-horror-comedy.
Blood Rights (dir. Caitlin Starowicz) – 7:49 mins
Summoning Bloody Mary to solve an unplanned pregnancy, two Texan friends ignite a
supernatural, feminist campaign, turning the demon into an icon of empowerment.
As Pale As Death (dir. Ryan Kukec) – 15:05 mins
A family outing to The Golden Goddess tanning salon turns nightmarish when the
ancient mummy owner absorbs victims to regain youth.
Seed (dir. Cameron Macgowan) – 6:40 mins
Two feral men on Trash Planet stumble upon a mysterious humanoid plant creature
while foraging.
WFH (dir. James Watts) – 12:19 mins
A writer struggles to survive the relentless demands of the gig economy.
Bidet (dir. James Brylowski) – 7:30 mins
A group of friends find themselves hunted by a possessed bathroom fixture.
Shrimp Fried Rice (dir. Dylan Pun) – 12:23 mins
At a gourmet Chinese restaurant, The Shrimp and his puppet Dave seek redemption
against Rat Bitch, the rodent benefactor of an animated hit.
9:30 pm – Fresh Meat (dir. Daniel Turres) – 105 mins
Influencers break into an abandoned prison for viral content—unaware that one inmate never
left.
w/ short: Breach (dir. Ross Langill) – 3 mins
A pregnant woman defends her home from two intruders in a tense, rapid-fire
confrontation.
Friday, November 21st
7:00 pm – Nash the Slash Rises Again! (dir. Tim Kowalski)
– 80 mins
A cinematic ode to Canadian music icon Nash The Slash, exploring the mind, madness, and
artistic journey of this electronic pioneer and performance innovator. Clips from silent film,
horror, and noir illustrate his emotional landscape, revealing a timeless message about identity
and embracing one’s true self.
w/ short: Sampling (dir. Jérémy Arné) – 6:01 mins
A punk musician with perfect pitch invites strangers into his studio for an unusual
musical experiment.
w/ short: Grain (dir. Ilana Zackon) – 6:45 mins
A young woman’s binge eating disorder transforms her into a ravenous creature
threatening an entire town.
9:30 pm – Violence (dir. Connor Marsden) – 80 mins
In an alternate 1980s, anti-hero Henry Violence navigates a brutal cartel war, making
impossible choices to survive the violent landscape.
w/ short: Pariah (dir. AJ Lutsky) – 6:11 mins
A tense survival story where compliance is the key to staying human.
w/ short: Appendage (dir. Dave Thorpe) – 6:21 mins
Emma’s quiet morning is upended as alien creatures arrive, disturbingly resembling
certain appendages.
Saturday, November 22nd
4:00 pm – Emerging Screams (98 mins)
Showcasing Canada’s brightest first-time and student filmmakers in horror.
INBTWN (dir. Nic Altobelli) – 11:10 mins
Two estranged sisters confront their unresolved past in a liminal space where
temperature reflects emotional turmoil, seeking peace and closure.
The Outsider (dir. A. Burnett) 3:00 mins
A lonely prisoner longs to escape isolation and experience human connection.
The Yellow Wallpaper (dir. Lynn Naluyima) – 6:14 mins
A haunting adaptation of Charlotte Gilman’s classic, exploring the tension between
imagination and confinement for an isolated 19th-century woman.
No Lies in the Afterlife (dir. Haley Elizabeth Richards)
– 4:39 mins
Two friends attempt to connect with a deceased ex-boyfriend, only to have their secrets
revealed and their friendship tested.
Hear No Evil (dirs. Vai Petersen, Steve Petersen)
– 9:59 mins
Deaf after a car crash, Melodie must navigate her home alone while masked intruders
search for stolen items—and a mysterious voice guides her fight for survival.
Slaughter Slate (dir. Xavier Wehrli) – 8:11 mins
An obsessive film student’s sentient clapperboard turns his non-cliché horror project into
a slasher-style nightmare.
Making Beauty (dir. Tammy Salzl) – 13:20 mins
In a secret backyard studio, a young artist attempts to beautify the world with
increasingly savage results.Cancer szn (dir. Zach Green) – 12:42 mins
A modern witch’s obsession with a former friend leads to a fatal body-swapping spell
when she discovers her rival shares a birthday with her dream partner.
Disease (dir. Alex Masciotra-Milstein) – 4:48 mins
A human asks his zombie boyfriend to bite him, triggering a transformative—and
gruesome—love story.
Is That a Mirage? (dir. Grace Shi) – 13:00 mins
Juniper traverses a dystopian wasteland to trade a rare medicinal berry, aiming to save
her family and community.
Black Hole (dir. Brianna Russell) – 11:39 mins
A curious boy discovers a black hole in the woods of a town where no one can
leave—potentially his only escape.
7:00 pm – Behind the Castle Doors: The Origin of The Hilarious House of Frightenstein
(dirs. Morgan Baker, Tammy Heisel) – 66 mins
The Markowitz brothers reveal the story behind their quirky 1970s Canadian cult-classic,
including the legendary presence of Vincent Price.
w/ short: Soap Box (dir. Jimmy G. Pettigrew) – 16:14 mins
Hubert, 10, competes in the annual soap box race down the Mountain of the Muertay,
hoping to impress the girl who makes his heart race.
w/ short: My Friend Saabe (dir. Morningstar Derosier)
– 15:00 mins
A young Rez girl embarks on a journey with Saabe to bring spiritual reawakening to her
community.
9:30 pm – Influencers (dir. Kurtis David Harder) – 110 mins
In southern France, a young woman’s obsession with murder and identity theft sends her life
into a chaotic spiral.
