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KELLY MICHAEL
STEWART

Festival Director  ·  Producer  ·  Programmer

kelly@bloodinthesnow.ca · bloodinthesnow.ca · deadlyexposure.ca · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Innovative festival director and producer with over 15 years of leadership in Canada's genre film landscape. Founder of multiple industry-building initiatives including the Blood in the Snow Film Festival, BITS Horror Development Lab, and Deadly Exposure Industry Conference, dedicated to elevating emerging and underrepresented voices in genre filmmaking. Experienced programmer, host, and content creator with a proven track record in festival management, broadcast production, and industry development. Recognized juror and panelist across national festivals and funding bodies.

Founder & Festival Director

Blood in the Snow Film Festival

Toronto, ON  ·  Now in its 15th year

Founder and director of one of Canada's leading genre film festivals, showcasing Canadian horror, sci-fi, and genre cinema. The festival attracts more than 3,000 attendees annually over six nights at the Isabel Bader Theatre.

2012 – Present
Founder & Director

BITS Deadly Exposure Industry Conference

BITS Companion Conference  ·  Now in its 9th year

Creator and lead of the festival's companion industry conference, offering panels, workshops, and networking events for emerging and established creators. Panels, roundtables, networking events, and market-facing sessions.

2018 – Present
Founder & Director

BITS Horror Development Lab

Talent Development Initiative  ·  Now in its 6th year

Founder of an industry-focused development lab that supports underrepresented filmmakers — BIPOC, women, LGBTQ2IA+, and disabled creators — in advancing feature and series projects through workshops, pitch training, and one-on-one mentorship with established industry professionals.

2021 – Present
Host & Curator

Fright Nights at the Projection Booth

Monthly Screening Series

Curated and hosted a monthly genre film screening series showcasing Canadian and international genre shorts and features.

2011 – 2012
Host & Curator

Summer Showcase — Shorts Program

Curated Short Film Program

Curator and on-stage host for a curated selection of Canadian non-genre short films.

2012
Host

Viscera Film Festival — Canadian Showcase

International Travelling Showcase

Hosted the Canadian stop of the international female-driven horror shorts showcase.

2012
Segment Producer & Festival Host

Blood in the Snow on Super Channel

3 Seasons  ·  National Broadcast

Produced and hosted televised festival segments for national broadcast on Super Channel.

2020 – 2022
Creator, Producer & Series Host

Festival Pass

Bell Fibe TV1  ·  1 Season

Created, produced, and hosted a documentary-style series exploring Canadian film festivals for national broadcast.

2018
Creator, Producer & Series Host

BITS TV

Bell Fibe TV1  ·  2 Seasons

Developed and hosted a series highlighting Canadian genre filmmakers and behind-the-scenes insights, airing for two seasons on Bell Fibe TV1 before becoming festival pre-show content.

2016 – 2017
Executive Producer

Bloody BITS — DVD Shorts Collection

Black Fawn Distribution  ·  2 Volumes

Executive produced and curated two DVD compilations of Canadian genre short films.

2016 – 2018
Director & Producer

Cannibals, Self-Mutilation and Bloody Revenge

Feature Documentary

Directed and produced the feature-length companion documentary on the making of Late Night Double Feature.

2016
Lead Producer, Co-Writer & Director

Late Night Double Feature

Anthology Feature Film  ·  Hulu & Festival Circuit

Led production on a horror anthology feature film; wrote and directed the "Night Clown" segment. Screened at noted festivals and acquired by Hulu and other platforms.

2015
Lead Producer & Writer

One More for the Road

Short Film  ·  Dir. Navin Ramaswaran

Produced and wrote a dramatic thriller short that won multiple awards and played dozens of festivals across North America.

2013
Independent Production Fund (IPF)
Selection Committee — Short Form Series Development Program
2024, 2025, 2026
Calgary Underground Film Festival
48-Hour Film Jury; Panel — "The Importance of Film Community"; Round Table Guest
2024, 2026
Toronto Film School Film Fest
Awards Jury & Presenter
2025
Dead North Film Festival
Development Lab Mentor & Award Presenter · Yellowknife, NT
2020
Canadian Film Fest
Industry Panel Guest · Toronto, ON
2019
TO WebFest
Jury — Web Series Awards · Toronto, ON
2016 – 2019
CK Expo
Film Industry Panel Guest · Chatham, ON
2016
Mascara and Popcorn Film Festival
Awards Jury · Montréal, QC
2014