Blood in the Snow Film Festival

Toronto, ON, Canada, North America

28 Oct, 2020 - 07 Nov, 2020

Category

Short, Feature

Blood in the Snow Film Festival logo
Blood in the Snow Film Festival

Toronto, ON, Canada, North America

Is this your festival?

Is this your festival?

About the festival

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.

Due to COVID-19, we are excited to announce we have moved BITS to broadcast nationally on the Super Channel cable channel October 28 to November 7, 2020 with our unique program of premiere features, shorts, and web series.

This is a once and a lifetime opportunity for filmmakers to get their audience in front of potentially over 400,000 Canadian subscribers (on cable, Amazon Prime and Apple).

FAQ - please read before submitting your film

How would this work?

Any films selected (features, shorts, web series) will only be shown once and repeated 3 hours later for west coast primetime screening. Feature films selected for Super Channel will be offered a broadcast license that will be decided between the filmmakers and Super Channel. We will still have the same mix of feature films paired with an opening short film along with our dedicated short film programs: “Emerging Screams”, “A Series of Web Bites”, “Funny Frights” and “Dark Visions”.

How are my chances still of getting into BITS this year?

The lineup will be almost exactly the same as we normally would program, so your chances of getting into BITS is the same as before.

How would this affect our festival run at other festivals and other distribution offers?

The films are geo-blocked to be only shown in Canada so it shouldn’t have any negative impact on distribution offers and other festival screenings.

Our film is scheduled to play other festivals, how would that work?

The broadcast license for future screenings Super Channel wouldn’t begin until the pre-negotiated timeline (usually 6 to 18 months). So you would still be able to continue your festival or theatrical run after the BITS premiere on Super Channel and it shouldn’t impact negatively on any other sales for your film.

Is Blood in the Snow getting a piece of our broadcast license?

Absolutely not. Super Channel is our presenting sponsor to our festival this year and Blood in the Snow will not be involved with any broadcast deal you receive.

What will I need to get a broadcast license with Super Channel?

They will go over the details with you directly and they have an experienced team that will walk you through what you need to get.

Will I still get my BITS filmmaker laurels?

Absolutely. We will be in contact with your laurel if your film is selected.

Will you still be doing the “Bloodies” awards?

We will still be giving out the awards on Super Channel after our closing night screening on Saturday November 7, 2020.

Will you be doing a Q&A after the screening with key cast and crew?

Yes but pre-recorded to broadcast after the film. We will be in touch about how we will be doing that.

What will happen to the future of Blood in the Snow?

We are already booked for Blood in the Snow to return to the Royal Cinema in Toronto in November 2021.

So this is the best of both worlds, if you get into Blood in the Snow, you will get a festival screening with BITS and also be offered a broadcast license to take effect at a later date. Any questions please feel free to contact us at info@bloodinthesnow.ca.

Awards & Prizes
On closing night we hand out certificate mounted awards during a big awards show that we call "The Bloodies" that will be given out on closing night on Super Channel.

- Best Feature
- Best Short
- Best Web or TV series
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Ensemble
- Best Special FX
- Best Music Score
- Best Poster

About

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.

Due to COVID-19, we are excited to announce we have moved BITS to broadcast nationally on the Super Channel cable channel October 28 to November 7, 2020 with our unique program of premiere features, shorts, and web series.

This is a once and a lifetime opportunity for filmmakers to get their audience in front of potentially over 400,000 Canadian subscribers (on cable, Amazon Prime and Apple).

FAQ - please read before submitting your film

How would this work?

Any films selected (features, shorts, web series) will only be shown once and repeated 3 hours later for west coast primetime screening. Feature films selected for Super Channel will be offered a broadcast license that will be decided between the filmmakers and Super Channel. We will still have the same mix of feature films paired with an opening short film along with our dedicated short film programs: “Emerging Screams”, “A Series of Web Bites”, “Funny Frights” and “Dark Visions”.

How are my chances still of getting into BITS this year?

The lineup will be almost exactly the same as we normally would program, so your chances of getting into BITS is the same as before.

How would this affect our festival run at other festivals and other distribution offers?

The films are geo-blocked to be only shown in Canada so it shouldn’t have any negative impact on distribution offers and other festival screenings.

Our film is scheduled to play other festivals, how would that work?

The broadcast license for future screenings Super Channel wouldn’t begin until the pre-negotiated timeline (usually 6 to 18 months). So you would still be able to continue your festival or theatrical run after the BITS premiere on Super Channel and it shouldn’t impact negatively on any other sales for your film.

Is Blood in the Snow getting a piece of our broadcast license?

Absolutely not. Super Channel is our presenting sponsor to our festival this year and Blood in the Snow will not be involved with any broadcast deal you receive.

What will I need to get a broadcast license with Super Channel?

They will go over the details with you directly and they have an experienced team that will walk you through what you need to get.

Will I still get my BITS filmmaker laurels?

Absolutely. We will be in contact with your laurel if your film is selected.

Will you still be doing the “Bloodies” awards?

We will still be giving out the awards on Super Channel after our closing night screening on Saturday November 7, 2020.

Will you be doing a Q&A after the screening with key cast and crew?

Yes but pre-recorded to broadcast after the film. We will be in touch about how we will be doing that.

What will happen to the future of Blood in the Snow?

We are already booked for Blood in the Snow to return to the Royal Cinema in Toronto in November 2021.

So this is the best of both worlds, if you get into Blood in the Snow, you will get a festival screening with BITS and also be offered a broadcast license to take effect at a later date. Any questions please feel free to contact us at info@bloodinthesnow.ca.

Awards & Prizes
On closing night we hand out certificate mounted awards during a big awards show that we call "The Bloodies" that will be given out on closing night on Super Channel.

- Best Feature
- Best Short
- Best Web or TV series
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Ensemble
- Best Special FX
- Best Music Score
- Best Poster

Awards & Winners

There are no winners yet for this festival

Terms and rules

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.

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.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

Canadian Short Films
Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $25
Regular (1st July, 2020) $30
Late (1st August, 2020) $35

Genre short films from 1m to 59mins. Canadian films only.

Canadian Feature films
Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $30
Regular (1st July, 2020) $35
Late (1st August, 2020) $40

Genre films over 60 mins. Canadian films only.

International / Canadian Short Films
Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $25
Regular (1st July, 2020) $30
Late (1st August, 2020) $35

- This category is for International co-productions with 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.

International / Canadian Feature Films
Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $30
Regular (1st July, 2020) $35
Late (1st August, 2020) $40

- This category is for International co-productions with 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.

Digital Category: Canadian Web, TV series (episodes) & music videos
Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $15
Regular (1st July, 2020) $20
Late (1st August, 2020) $25

This category is for Canadian web or TV series. Like our shorts and features we take web series that are horror, sci-fi, action, animation or dark drama. Submissions in this category can be currently available online. We are also open to Canadian genre themed music videos in this category.

Digital Category: Canadian Web or TV series (PREMIERE OF COMPLETE SEASON)
Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $15
Regular (1st July, 2020) $20
Late (1st August, 2020) $25

The category is for Canadian Web or TV series that are looking to premiere their complete season in a 60-90 minute block. Must NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE BEFORE NOVEMBER 26, 2019 and we must have at least the Toronto Premiere. (Message us at info@bloodinthesnow.ca if you have questions or need clarification.)

Canadian micro short - 15 second challenge
Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $250
Regular (1st July, 2020) $3
Late (1st August, 2020) $350

Can you tell a story in 15 seconds? Must be made in Canada of the horror, sci-fi, action genre variety and be EXACTLY 15 seconds long.

Matchmaking

What is the title of your film?

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How long is your film?

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min.

What type of category does your film fall into?

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What is the genre of your film?

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Monetary award

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