2026 Deadly Exposure Industry Conference
+ Horror Development Lab

Deadly Exposure is Canada's genre film industry conference — three days of in-depth panels, power round tables, and the Horror Development Lab, bringing together filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals at the Tranzac Club (opens in new tab), 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto.

Now in its 6th 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 in and around horror, sci-fi, action, and thriller. Whether you're developing your first feature or pitching a series, this is where connections get made and projects move forward.

Running alongside Deadly Exposure is the BITS Horror Development Lab — a hands-on development program supporting BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, women, and underrepresented Canadian genre filmmakers. Selected participants work directly with industry leads, receive pitch feedback, and leave with the connections and tools to take their project to the next level.

Now Accepting Applications

Horror Development Lab 2026

Blood in the Snow Film Festival · Nov 16—21, 2026

Supporting BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, women and underrepresented Canadian genre filmmakers. The lab is designed for filmmakers developing feature films or web/TV series and preparing to take their projects into production.

🧪Since launching in 2021, the lab has supported 61 projects, with several moving on to production as feature films and web series. Alumni include the award-winning Foreigner, which screened at BITS 2025 and is distributed by Raven Banner Entertainment.

Application Info Pitch Guidelines Budget Template ↓ Apply on FilmFreeway (opens in new tab)

Blood in the Snow Film Festival

Horror Development Lab 2026

Advancing diversity in Canadian genre film.

Info Session

Everything you need to know before you apply.

Wednesday, June 24

8:00 PM EST  ·  Online  ·  Free

Hosted by Vanessa Magic, Development Lab Coordinator
and Kelly Michael Stewart, Festival Director & Founder

Register — Free (opens in new tab) →

Applications Now Open · FilmFreeway · Nov 16–18 · Toronto