[BITS] Female-Directed Films to Catch at Blood in the Snow 2019

Since 2012, the Blood in the Snow Film Festival has been shining a spotlight on contemporary Canadian genre cinema, offering an eclectic showcase of Canadian filmmakers from established names to promising film students. This year’s festival will be held November 21st to 26th at The Royal Cinema in Toronto, Ontario. Come celebrate Canadian genre cinema and check out some fabulous female-directed films!

The opening film of this year’s BITS film festival is Puppet Killer (2019), the feature film debut from Vancouver-based actress and filmmaker Lisa Ovies. The film seems to promise a retro-inspired slasher comedy with some decent gore and a particularly unusual villain menacing the requisite group of friends attempting to enjoy a relaxing weekend in the woods. The screening starts at 9:30 pm on Thursday, November 21st and will serve as the film’s Toronto premiere.

Audrey Cummings, director of Berkshire County and Darken, brings her third feature to BITS for its Toronto premiere on Friday, November 22nd at 9:30 pm. She Never Died (2019) tells the story of Lacey (Olunike Adeliyi), an immortal predator struggling to maintain control over her violent instincts and spare the innocent.

Also, be on the lookout for some female-directed short films in the numerous showcases on offer (all descriptions as per the BITS website):

Video Vengence (Dir.Nada Cosovic)

Two “cool girl” video rental shop employees make the best of the graveyard shift when an obnoxious customer shows face.

Be Good (Dir. Anik Jean)

Nathan is a 6 years old kid like most kids of his age with a lot of imagination. He loves to dress-up and be in a character of monsters, zombies, vampires, superhero. He would prefer to play with someone of his age, a friend than to play with his imagination. but who? the new babysitter might be the one.

Asking For A Friend (Dir. Kelsey Bollig)

Blake and Q are childhood best friends, roommates, and well – soulmates. After a long day trying to maintain her #girlboss status at work, Blake’s one-track mind is solely set on the nachos Q has promised to make for dinner. In addition to the nachos, however, Q has also unexpectedly managed to kill someone in their apartment. Through a series of heavily graphic and hilarious situations, the girls tap into their inner serial killers and decide to handle the body themselves. Their naivete and inexperience leads to a weekend full of accidental drugs, Saran Wrap, and body that, for whatever reason, will not stop bleeding. So hypothetically speaking – how do you get rid of a body? Asking for a friend.

Pepper (Dir. Kate Felix)

Weylon is looking for a hired hand and Fidelma needs the job desperately, but her duties in the dark barn might prove beyond her tolerance.

Spectre (Dirs. Gabriela Diacon & Mariana Diacon)

Things turn sinister at midnight when Anna realizes a presence in her house.

Experience Machine (Dir. Ivana Bittnerova)

A young mechanic and his family lead comfortable lives in a sleek underground bunker. His life of futuristic luxury begins to deteriorate when the medical device strapped to his wrist is corrupted, revealing the reality of their true dystopian world.

Trash (Dir. Suzanne Etheridge)

They thought the dump fires were behind them, but something has emerged from the flames. Actions have consequences in this dark fairy tale, reminding you to take care of your trash, before it takes care of you.

Resolve (Dir. Marta Borowski)

Resolve explores the ways we hurt one another and the nature of forgiveness in a world connected by social media.

Blackout (Dir. Tanya Hoshi)

Blackout is a 12-episode mystery/horror web series and special feature presentation. While investigating a mysterious case of extreme sleepwalking and memory loss, a documentary production is derailed when the paranormal symptoms of their subject begin to affect the crew as well.