Blood in the Snow Film Festival presents
Canada’s genre film industry conferenceTranzac Club, Toronto
Deadly Exposure is Canada’s genre film industry conference: three days of in-depth panels, power roundtables, and industry sessions, bringing together filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals at the Tranzac Club (opens in new tab), 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto.
Now in its 9th year, Deadly Exposure is where Canadian genre meets the industry. Each day is packed with candid conversations, practical workshops, and direct access to producers, distributors, broadcasters, and financiers who work across horror, sci-fi, action, and thriller. Whether you’re developing your first feature, bringing a series to life, or building your career in Canadian genre film, Deadly Exposure is where filmmakers and industry professionals connect, exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and move projects forward.
Full lineup announced
All times ETTranzac Club, 292 Brunswick AveRound tables open to Deluxe and Industry pass holders; panels also open with a Panel PassPanels and masterclass have live open captions
Know before you go Plan your trip to BITS (opens in new tab)
| Event | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Deadly Exposure Industry Conference | Daytime, – | Tranzac Club (opens in new tab) |
| Horror Development Lab | Daytime, – | Tranzac Club (opens in new tab) |
| Blood in the Snow Film Festival (opens in new tab) | Evenings, – | Isabel Bader Theatre (opens in new tab) |
| ASL & open caption screenings | & | Isabel Bader Theatre (opens in new tab) |
| After-parties | Nightly, – | Tranzac Club (opens in new tab) |
| BITS Nightshift industry mixers (opens in new tab) | 6–9 pm, – | Tranzac Club (opens in new tab) |
All times ETMon & Tue open to Lab delegates and Deluxe Pass (opens in new tab) holders
Rise from the Coffin: coffee meet and greet
Complimentary coffee from Coffin Creek and snacks with your fellow delegates.
Welcome & orientation
The Lab’s goals, structure, and outcomes.
Bone Breakers: intros
All 12 projects share their title, a one-sentence logline, and their goals for the Lab.
Case study: From pitch to production with Lisa Ovies
How The Curse of Ghost Island grew out of the 2024 Lab and is now premiering at BITS. It plays Nov 20 at 7:00 PM, Isabel Bader Theatre.
Lunch
Post-production with Arielle Skolnik (DGC, CFC)
The post pipeline and the roles you need in place for the final stage.
Equipment with Greg Jeffs (Sunbelt Rentals)
Planning your production, and the $10K in in-kind services available to Lab projects.
Business affairs with Bonnie Do (House Panther Films)
How business affairs shapes rights management, contracts, and production logistics.
Rise from the Coffin: coffee meet and greet
Complimentary coffee from Coffin Creek and snacks with your fellow delegates.
Live pitch sessions
Lab delegates present their projects and get real-time feedback.
Lunch
Dead good storytelling with Duana Taha (WGC, DGC)
CSA-nominated writer Duana Taha on making characters shine and getting the audience on your story’s side.
Marketing strategies with Louie La Vella
New paths for marketing your project and reaching your audience.
Lab alumni cocktail
With past Lab alumni in the Southern Cross bar, inside the Tranzac.
Private sessions: group feedback with Lab Leads Anelle Dehghani on Instagram (opens in new tab), Sardé Hardie on Instagram (opens in new tab) and Rueben Martell on Instagram (opens in new tab), and one-on-one meetings with producers, distributors, and film companies.
Rise from the Coffin: coffee meet and greet
Complimentary coffee from Coffin Creek and snacks with your fellow delegates.
Power Roundtables: Session I
Lunch
Power Roundtables: Session II
Afternoon industry mixer
A networking drink at the Tranzac Club before the screenings at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
Rise from the Coffin: coffee meet and greet
Complimentary coffee from Coffin Creek and snacks with your fellow delegates.
Power Roundtables: Session III
Lunch
Panel 1
Live open captions
Strong genre films live or die by character. This conversation focuses on how filmmakers balance concept, tone, and audience expectation with emotionally grounded storytelling. Panelists will discuss development strategies, notes processes, and common pitfalls when building character-driven horror and thriller projects intended for both festivals and the marketplace.
Moderated by Dre Boulet on Instagram (opens in new tab), Filmmaker and BITS (Blood in the Snow, opens in new tab) jury member
Panel 2
Live open captions
The genre distribution landscape is shifting rapidly. This panel examines current and emerging pathways including AVOD/FAST channels, boutique theatrical, hybrid releases, international sales, and direct-to-audience strategies. Panelists will share what buyers are actively seeking and how filmmakers can future-proof projects in an unpredictable market.
Moderated by Kells McNells on Instagram (opens in new tab), Black Fawn Distribution (opens in new tab)
Afternoon industry mixer
A networking drink at the Tranzac Club before the screenings at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
Rise from the Coffin: coffee meet and greet
Complimentary coffee from Coffin Creek and snacks with your fellow delegates.
Panel 3
Live open captions
From development through delivery, cash flow remains one of the most challenging aspects of independent production. This panel breaks down practical budgeting strategies for genre projects, including contingency planning, managing deferred fees, navigating gaps between financing tranches, and keeping productions viable without sacrificing safety or quality.
Moderated by Emily Dix on Instagram (opens in new tab), BITS (Blood in the Snow, opens in new tab) Industry Coordinator
Panel 4
Live open captions
The digital landscape continues to create new opportunities for independent filmmakers to develop projects, connect with audiences, and explore innovative ways of bringing their stories to life. From web series and digital-first content to emerging platforms, online communities, and new approaches to production and audience engagement, this panel explores how filmmakers can adapt to a changing industry. Hear from industry professionals working across the digital space and discover new possibilities for developing projects, building creative partnerships, expanding your reach, and finding opportunities beyond traditional filmmaking models.
Moderated by Jess Blackwell, TOWebFest (opens in new tab), Festival Director and series creator
Lunch
Masterclass
Live open captions
Presented by Special FX Artist, Director & Producer Dallas Harvey, Transfigure Films (opens in new tab)
How do you decide when an effect should be practical, digital or a combination of both?
SPX Artist, Director and Producer Dallas Harvey takes filmmakers behind the process of planning and executing practical and CGI effects from the earliest stages of development through post-production.
Designed for emerging producers and directors, the session will explore how FX decisions affect budget, schedule, performance, camera work, production design and post-production, and why the best FX workflows begin long before the cameras roll.
Afternoon industry mixer
A networking drink at the Tranzac Club before the screenings at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
Every evening, Nov 16–21: Blood in the Snow screenings at the Isabel Bader Theatre, then after-parties back at the Tranzac.
See the 2026 film lineup (opens in new tab) Last year’s conference
We are thrilled to welcome back our Deadly Exposure industry conference and Lab coordination team for 2026!
Read the full team bios on the Horror Development Lab page →
Running alongside Deadly Exposure, Nov 16–18, the BITS Horror Development Lab supports BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, women, and underrepresented Canadian genre filmmakers. Meet this year’s 12 projects, lab leads and jury.
