Genre: Horror
Shivers
Director
David Cronenberg
A Companion of the Order of Canada, Cronenberg is a legendary filmmaker and pioneer of the body horror genre. His directing credits include iconic films such as Scanners, Dead Ringers, Videodrome, and Crash, for which he won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. He also directed eXistenZ, Crimes of the Future, The Shrouds, and others. He has won over 80 awards, including the Golden Coach at Cannes, and lifetime achievement awards from TIFF and the DGC.
Cast
Lynn Lowry, Paul Hampton, Joe Silver
Producer
Don Carmody
Genres
Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Language Version
FR Subtitles
Scared Shitless
Director
Vivieno Caldinelli
Cast
Steven Ogg, Daniel Doheny, Chelsea Clark
Producer
Brandon Cohen
Genres
Comedy, Horror
Original Language
English
Night of the Zoopocalypse
After a mysterious meteor crashes at Colepepper Zoo, unlikely friends Dan, a short-tempered mountain lion, and Gracie, a fierce teenage wolf, team up to stop the unleashed virus that is transforming their friends into “zoombies”.
Chock-full of both scares and laughs, this gorgeously animated family-friendly horror-comedy is fun for kids and adults alike.
“In a world dominated by Pixar and Dreamworks, Night of the Zoopocalypse is a fun reminder that other studios produce good work, and there’s never been a better time to go to the movies and support a Canadian production.” – Matthew Simpson, That Shelf
Directors
Rodrigo Perez-Castro, Ricardo Curtis
Writers
Steven Hoban, James Kee
Cast
David Harbour, Gabbi Kosmidis, Pierre Simpson
Producers
Mark Smith, Steven Hoban, Yohann Comte, Joe Iacono, Wes Lui
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Horror
Interest
Literary Adaptation
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributors
Apollo Films, Elevation Pictures
This Is Not a Test
Director
Adam MacDonald
Writers
Courtney Summers, Adam MacDonald
Cast
Luke Macfarlane, Missy Peregrym, Olivia Holt
Producers
Cybill Lui, Adam MacDonald
Genres
Action/Adventure, Horror, Thriller
Interests
Literary Adaptation, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Blue Fox
Les chambres rouges (Red Rooms)
Director
Pascal Plante
Montreal-based Plante is a screenwriter and director whose short film credits include Drum de marde!, Blue-Eyed Blonde, and Nonna, among others. His features include Les faux tatouages, which premiered at the Berlinale, Nadia, Butterfly, which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival, and Les chambres rouges, which has garnered 15 awards and 34 nominations internationally.
Writer
Pascal Plante
Cast
Laurie Babin, Sasha Samar, Juliette Gariépy
Producer
Dominique Dussault
Genres
Horror, Thriller
Interest
Strong Female Leads
Original Language
French
Language Versions
EN Subtitles, FR CC
Canadian Distributor
Entract Films
- Own Voice
Seeds
In this tense thriller, a Mohawk internet personality receives her first sponsorship, promoting the seed and fertilizer company Nature's Oath. But when she returns to her reserve, she discovers a dark side to the company that threatens both her and her people.
Director
Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk)
Writer
Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk)
Cast
Graham Greene (Oneida), Cherish Violet Blood (Kainai), Meegwun Fairbrother (Ojibway), Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk)
Producers
Jennifer Jonas, Leonard Farlinger
Genres
Horror, Thriller
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Environment, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
levelFILM
It Feeds
Director
Chad Archibald
Writer
Chad Archibald
Cast
Ellie O'Brien, Ashley Greene, Shawn Ashmore, Mark Taylor
Producers
Navid McIlhargey, Morris Chapdelaine, Evan Ottoni, Chad Archibald, Cody Calahan
Genre
Horror
Interest
Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Canadian Distributor
Black Fawn Distribution
Die Alone
A brilliant blend of romance and horror, Die Alone is a refreshing take on the zombie genre with a heartfelt message at its core.
“This isn’t just a zombie film; it’s a haunting exploration of love, loss, and what it means to hold on when everything else falls apart.” – Thom Ernst, Original Cin
Director
Lowell Dean
Dean is an award-winning writer and filmmaker whose directing credits include the shorts Doomed! and Juice Pigs, the series Dust Up; Blood, Lies and Alibis; and Lamb of Love, among others, the miniseries Keeping Canada Alive, and a segment in the genre film anthology I Heart Regina. He has also directed several features, including Wolfcop, Another Wolfcop, Supergrid, Dark Match, and Die Alone, which won the Midnight X-Treme Audience Award at the Sitges Film Festival.
Writer
Lowell Dean
Cast
Carrie-Anne Moss, Douglas Smith, Frank Grillo
Producers
Kevin DeWalt, Danielle Masters, Benjamin DeWalt
Genres
Horror, Romance, Thriller
Interest
Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Canadian Distributor
Quiver Distribution
The Brood
A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist's therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, amidst a series of brutal murders.
Director
David Cronenberg
Writer
David Cronenberg
Cast
Art Hindle, Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar
Producers
Victor Solnicki, Claude Héroux, Pierre David
Genres
Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Original Language
English
- Own Voice
My Animal
Living with a curse that turns her into a wolf if she’s out of the house after midnight, Heather (Menuez) is kept on a tight leash by her overbearing parents. But everything changes when she falls for the new girl in town, Jonny (Stenberg). The two form an instant connection, but as their relationship develops, it causes Heather to rebel, increasing the risk that her secret could be exposed – with disastrous consequences.
A stylish and tense horror-romance, this exciting first feature from director Jacqueline Castel features amazing performances from its two emerging leads, brought together with a cast of Canadian icons.
“My Animal marks an impressive, confident feature debut for several key talents.” – Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter
Director
Jacqueline Castel
Castel is a filmmaker and cinematographer who has directed the music video Alan Vega: Nike Soldier and the short films Twelve Dark Noons, The Puppet Man and Now Wakes the Sea. Her debut feature film, My Animal, premiered at Sundance and won Best Director at the Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival. She has nearly 60 credits as a cinematographer, and was named a “director to watch” by Fader magazine for her music video work.
Writer
Jae Matthews
Cast
Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg
Producers
Michael Solomon, Andrew Bronfman
Genres
Drama, Horror, Romance
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Female Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+
Original Language
English
- Own Voice
Short Film Programme
If you’d like to show several short films together as a programme, please feel free to get in touch for advice and tips on selecting the perfect combination for your needs.
Director
Shorts Programme
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Experimental, Family, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Bullying, Classics, Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Discrimination, Environment, ESL, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, LGBTQ2S+, Literary Adaptation, Newcomer Stories, Social Justice & Politics, Sports, Strong Female Leads
Original Languages
English, French
- Own Voice
Indigenous-made Short Films
Director
Various
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Experimental, Family, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, French, Other Language
- Own Voice
The Guest
Director
Nick Rodgers (Anishinaabe)
Writer
Nick Rodgers (Anishinaabe)
Cast
Philippe Mathon
Genres
Animation, Comedy, Horror
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Psycho Goreman
Two children accidentally resurrect an evil alien overlord, who they name Psycho Goreman (or PG for short). While a magical amulet allows the kids to control him into doing their bidding, PG still wants to destroy the universe - and soon their activities draw the attention of a Planetary Alliance that sends an elite assassin named Pandora to stop PG from carrying out his evil will. In this battle of good vs. evil, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top.
From Steven Kostanski, the creator of the cult-hit Manborg, Psycho Goreman is a fantastical ride that is as bizarre as it is hilarious.
Director
Steven Kostanski
Writer
Steven Kostanski
Cast
Matthew Ninaber, Owen Myre, Nita-Josée Hanna
Producers
Steven Kostanski, Shannon Hanmer, Stuart F. Andrews
Genres
Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Dystopia Films
Haunter
On the night before her sweet 16th, Lisa (Abigail Breslin) becomes stuck in time, reliving the day over and over.
Director
Vincenzo Natali
Writer
Brian King
Cast
Michelle Nolden, Peter Outerbridge, Abigail Breslin
Producer
Steven Hoban
Genre
Horror
Interests
Family Relationships, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
eOne
Splice
Elsa (Sarah Polley) and Clive (Adrien Brody) are married scientists who defy legal and ethical boundaries by splicing together human and animal DNA to create a new organism.
Director
Vincenzo Natali
Writers
Vincenzo Natali, Antoinette Terry Bryant, Doug Taylor
Cast
Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac
Producer
Steven Hoban
Genres
Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Original Languages
English, French
Canadian Distributor
Les Films Seville
Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés (Saint Martyrs of the Damned)
The town’s inhabitants are a strange group — a mayor who rules with an iron fist, the creepy twins running the motel, the woman who serenades cows, a masked mechanic, and many others. But Flavien can’t get anyone to help him, as they’re all suspicious and even downright aggressive toward him. With an arresting visual style and quirky sense of humour, the film pushes the boundaries of the conventional thriller, tackling questions about identity, responsibility and mortality in a refreshing way.
Director
Robin Aubert
Aubert is a filmmaker, actor, and screenwriter. He has starred in many critical and box office hits, such as De père en flic, Guibord s’en va-t-en guerre, Jeune Juliette, Mon cirque à moi, and Une colonie, for which he won a Prix Iris for Best Supporting Actor. He has also directed numerous films, including Saints-Martyrs-des Damnés, À l'origine d'un cri, and Les Affamés, which won Best Canadian Feature Film at TIFF and ten Prix Iris.
Writer
Robin Aubert
Cast
Sylvie Boucher, Isabelle Blais, François Chénier
Producers
Roger Frappier, Luc Vandal
Genres
Drama, Horror
Interest
Family Relationships
Original Language
French
Language Version
EN Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
Christal Films
The Witch
As a New England family attempts to resettle their farm in the 1700s, an evil presence haunts the forest. This terrifying film won the Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Director
Robert Eggers
Writer
Robert Eggers
Cast
Anya Taylor-Joy
Producers
Rodrigo Teixeira, Jodi Redmond, Lars Knudsen, Daniel Bekerman, Jay Van Hoy
Genre
Horror
Interest
Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Elevation Pictures
Pin
When young Leon (Hewlett) forms a bond with an anatomy doll he calls Pin, his father (O’Quinn) doesn’t give it much thought, seeing it as a typical childhood imaginary friend. But after both of Leon’s parents are killed in a car accident, his attachment grows into a dangerous level of fixation, and he begins to employ the doll in increasingly horrific ways. This incredible piece of psychological horror will keep you on the edge of your seat.
A cult favourite among horror fans but currently out of print, we’re pleased to offer a rare chance to see Pin in honour of its 35th anniversary.
“A cool, bloodless, well-made thriller with a taste for the quietly bizarre.” – Janet Maslin, The New York Times
Director
Sandor Stern
Writer
Sandor Stern
Cast
David Hewlett, Cynthia Preston, Terry O'Quinn, Bronwen Mantel
Producer
Rene Malo
Genre
Horror
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Family Relationships, Literary Adaptation
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
eOne
- Own Voice
Blood Quantum
The term “blood quantum” refers to a colonial system enforced on Indigenous peoples in North America which determines their individual status and rights based on their “percentage” of Indigenous ancestry. It is a tool of control, assimilation and erasure of Indigenous peoples.
In this brilliantly provocative horror film set in an isolated Mi’kmaq community, the Indigenous population remains immune to a raging zombie virus infecting the surrounding white population.
Blood soaked, fast paced and darkly comic, Blood Quantum is a wild ride using the zombie genre as a vehicle to explore white supremacy, colonialism, genocide and Indigenous self-determination.
Director
Jeff Barnaby (Mi’qmaw)
Barnaby’s films paint an urgent and unflinching portrait of Indigenous life and culture. His shorts include the Genie Nominated File Under Miscellaneous, the Jutra nominee The Colony, and the Sundance selection From Cherry English. His features, Rhymes for Young Ghouls and Blood Quantum, both premiered at TIFF and won 13 awards collectively. Following his death from cancer in 2022, imagineNATIVE launched the Jeff Barnaby Grant for emerging Indigenous filmmakers, and he received a posthumous tribute award at the CSAs.
Writer
Jeff Barnaby (Mi’qmaw)
Cast
Forrest Goodluck (Diné/Mandan/Hidatsa/Tsimshian), Michael Greyeyes (Plains Cree), Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Blackfoot/Sámi)
Producers
Robert Vroom, John Christou
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama, Horror
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
Elevation Pictures