Genre: Horror
- 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
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
Various
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
Blood and Donuts
Most people prefer coffee with their pastry, but then, most people aren't Canadian vampires trapped in an all-night donut shop! Boya (Gordon Currie), a sexy Gothic vampire, rises after 25 years of hibernation in ‘90s Toronto. Overwhelmed by his new surroundings, Boya takes refuge in an all-night diner where he forms a close relationship with a charming waitress (Helene Clarkson) and an offbeat cabbie (Justin Louis) who’s in too deep with the local gangsters, lead by none other than Filmmaking Icon David Cronenberg. Blood & Donuts is the hilariously morbid debut feature film from accomplished Canadian director Holly Dale (Dexter, The Americans, Durham County).
Director
Holly Dale
Writer
Andrew Rai Berzins
Cast
Gordon Currie, Louis Ferreira, Helene Clarkson, Fiona Reid
Genre
Horror
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
Malofilm Distribution
The Peanut Butter Solution
Hands down the most surreal children’s movie in Canadian history, this cult classic from the Tales For All series has to be seen to be believed.
Director
Michael Rubbo
Writers
Vojtech Jasný, Andrée Pelletier, Louise Pelletier, Michael Rubbo
Cast
Matthew Mackay, Siluck Saysanasy, Alison Darcy
Producers
Nicole Robert, Rock Demers
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Family, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Original Languages
English, French
Canadian Distributor
Cineplex Odeon Films/Criterion
Les affamés (Ravenous)
In the bleak aftermath of an outbreak of zombies in rural Quebec, Bonin (Marc-André Grondin) struggles to survive along with the rapidly dwindling remaining population. When he encounters a group hiding in a house that is in the path of an invading horde of the undead, he must decide whether or not to save them, as doing so would put him and his companions in danger.
Les affamés is a brilliant and fresh take on the zombie genre, maintaining a tense atmosphere with exceptional moments of horror. It won the Best Canadian Feature prize at TIFF in 2017 and swept the Jutra Awards (now the Prix Iris) with ten wins, including Best Film and Best Direction.
“Robin Aubert's idiosyncratic and nuanced drama breathes fresh life into the zombie apocalypse subgenre.” - John Leydon, VarietyDirector
Robin Aubert
Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés premiered at TIFF 2005. Aubert also directed the feature films À quelle heure le train pour nulle part, À l’origine d’un cri, and Tuktuq, and starred in De père en flic, the critical hit Guibord s’en va-t-en guerre, Jeune Juliette, and Mon cirque à moi. His latest film, Les Affamés won Best Canadian Feature at TIFF 2017 and ten Prix Iris. He is currently completing his next film, Tu ne sauras jamais.
Writer
Robin Aubert
Cast
Charlotte St-Martin, Marc-André Grondin, Monia Chokri, Micheline Lanctôt
Producers
C.S. Roy, Stéphanie Morissette
Genres
Action/Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller
Original Language
French
Language Version
EN Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
Les Films Seville
- Own Voice
Afflicted
Afflicted is a rare Canadian entry in the found-footage thriller genre that was called “ambitious in scope and practically flawless in execution,” by the Toronto Star’s Bruce DeMara.
Directors
Clif Prowse, Derek Lee
Writers
Clif Prowse, Derek Lee
Cast
Clif Prowse, Derek Lee, Michael Gill, Baya Rehaz
Producers
Chris Ferguson, Zach Lipovsky
Genres
Action/Adventure, Horror
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Criterion
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
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
Canadian Distributor
Wapikoni Mobile
Black Christmas
If Black Christmas doesn’t make your skin crawl, it’s on too tight!
At the start of winter break, a group of sorority sisters begin to receive threatening anonymous phone calls. The calls are initially creepy, but soon turn murderous as girls start disappearing from the sorority house and the sisters begin to suspect a killer is in their midst. But no one realizes just how close the mad murderer may be!
Inspired by the terrible true crimes of the Westmount murders in Montreal, Black Christmas is surely not your traditional holiday fare, but when the film is this historically significant — Bob Clark’s film is often cited as one of the first slasher films in horror — naughty or nice, it’s time to check it off your list!
Director
Bob Clark
Writer
Roy Moore
Cast
Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon
Producer
Bob Clark
Genres
Horror, Thriller
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Warner Bros
Crash
After hitting Dr. Helen Remington (Hunter)’s vehicle in a critical car accident, film producer James Ballard (Spader), a man in an open marriage, and Remington, whose husband died in the crash, begin an unlikely affair that seems to take place exclusively in and around automobiles. While he is recovering, Ballard meets Vaughan (Koteas), a man who leads a bizarre subculture of people who fetishize car crashes, car safety tests and traffic accidents in general. As Vaughan’s unusual cult meetings intersect with their lives, Ballard finds deeper meaning not just in his marriage, but in mankind’s increasingly intertwined and disturbing relationship to technology.
Director
David Cronenberg
Writer
David Cronenberg
Cast
James Spader, Holly Hunter, Elias Koteas, Deborah Unger
Producers
David Cronenberg, Robert Lantos, Jeremy Thomas
Genres
Drama, Horror, Romance, Thriller
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Language Version
FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
eOne/Criterion
Fido
Visually captivating, sly and clever, Fido follows the Robinson family, who have been hesitant to get a zombie of their own even though everyone on the block has one. All that changes when Mom (Moss) buys Fido (Connolly), and the loveable brute becomes young Timmy’s best friend. Fido is a funny, satirical and refreshing movie with an all-star cast and a standout performance by Billy Connolly as Fido.
“Currie’s zombie comedy is in a class by itself.”
— Lori Fireman, NOW Magazine
Director
Andrew Currie
Currie attended Simon Fraser University and the CFC. His feature films Mile Zero and Fido garnered international acclaim and awards. He recently directed The Steps and produced the feature Indian Road Trip and the short film Cloud Striker. He is currently writing and directing the feature The Invisibles.
Writers
Robert Chomiak, Andrew Currie, Dennis Heaton
Cast
Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Connolly, Dylan Baker, Henry Czerny
Producers
Blake Corbet, Mary Anne Waterhouse
Genres
Comedy, Horror
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Language Version
FR Dub
Canadian Distributor
TVA Films
Ginger Snaps
Teenaged sisters Ginger (Isabelle) and Brigitte (Perkins) live in Bailey Downs, a small town that has been hit by a mysterious run of dog attacks. On the night of Ginger’s first period she is attacked by a monstrous creature, setting her on the path to a much more dramatic transformation than mere puberty held in store!
With biting satire on the coming-of-age story, Ginger Snaps is a cult classic, howling with laughs, screams and frightfully fun dialogue. Nominated for three Genie Awards, the film went on to spawn two sequels.
Director
John Fawcett
Writer
Karen Walton
Cast
Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle, Kris Lemche, Mimi Rogers
Producers
Noah Segal, Daniel Lyon, Alicia Reilly-Larson, Karen Lee Hall, Steven Hoban
Genres
Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Family Relationships, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Canadian Distributor
TVA Films
Scanners
Scanners are social outcasts, the by-product of a failed experimental drug given to their mothers during pregnancy, and possess the unusual ability to read and control minds.
Security firm ConSec wants to harness these telekinetics and turn them into a powerful new weapon; however, Revok (Ironside) is hellbent on destroying ConSec and taking over the world. The only man who may be able to stop him is the stoic but equally powerful Vale (Lack).
Chaos reigns as the duo face off in a series of dramatic duels featuring some of cinema’s most jaw-dropping practical effects.
Busting heads and box-office numbers when it opened in 1981, Scanners demonstrates Cronenberg’s talent for accessible, fun and truly awesome science fiction.
Director
David Cronenberg
Writer
David Cronenberg
Cast
Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Michael Ironside, Patrick McGoohan
Producers
Pierre David, Claude Héroux, Victor Solnicki
Genres
Action/Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
Classics, Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Canadian Distributor
Groupe Laurem inc.
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
Abigail Breslin, Peter Outerbridge, Michelle Nolden
Producer
Steven Hoban
Genre
Horror
Interests
Family Relationships, Strong Female Leads
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)
Writer
Jeff Barnaby (Mi’qmaw)
Cast
Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Blackfoot/Sámi), Michael Greyeyes (Plains Cree), Forrest Goodluck (Diné/Mandan/Hidatsa/Tsimshian)
Producers
John Christou, Robert Vroom
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
Happy Birthday to Me
Director
J. Lee Thompson
Writers
John C.W. Saxton, Peter Jobin, Timothy Bond
Cast
Melissa Sue Anderson, Glenn Ford, Lawrence Dane
Genres
Horror, Thriller
Interest
Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Columbia Pictures of Canada
The Mask
When an archeologist finds an ancient mask, the excitement of the discovery soon becomes terror as he finds himself tormented by disturbing and surreal visions that slowly drive him mad. As these visions become increasingly violent, he must find a way to escape them before his nightmare becomes a reality. This horror classic was unleashed on audiences with an early use of 3-D, adding to its completely bizarre nature.
“The management is not responsible for nervous breakdowns,” one poster cautioned during the film’s original release! And while the film may not be that terrifying, the 3-D sequences were truly inventive and unique, and remain surprisingly freaky and effective even now.
Unsettling and surreal, this was the first Canadian horror film released in theatres and is still a favourite amongst horror aficionados.
Director
Julian Roffman
Writers
Slavko Vorkapić, Frank Taubes, Sandy Haver, Franklin Delessert
Cast
Paul Stevens, Claudette Nevins, Bill Walker
Producer
Julian Roffman
Genres
Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
Classics, Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
International Film Distributors
Dead Ringers
Two bodies. Two minds. One soul. In one of David Cronenberg’s best and most disturbing films, the lives of identical twin gynecologists (each played by Jeremy Irons) are disrupted when a beautiful woman (Bujold) enters their lives, throwing their relationship out of balance.
Kinky, bloody, and allaround gruesome, Dead Ringers is a complex relationship story, an intense psychological drama and a masterpiece of body-horror that puts a deadly spin on hopeless love and loss.
“A stylistic tour de force.” — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Director
David Cronenberg
Writers
David Cronenberg, Norman Snider, Bari Wood, Jack Geasland
Cast
Jeremy Irons, Geneviève Bujold, Heidi von Palleske
Producer
Marc Boyman
Genres
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
TVA Films
eXistenZ
Director
David Cronenberg
Writer
David Cronenberg
Cast
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe, Don McKellar
Producers
David Cronenberg, Andras Hamori, Robert Lantos
Genres
Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Languages
English, French
Language Version
FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
eOne
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
Jay Van Hoy, Daniel Bekerman, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Rodrigo Teixeira
Genre
Horror
Interest
Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Elevation Pictures