The Genre Film Lab
The Genre Film Lab is an accelerator program designed to support the development of effective finance, packaging and pitching strategies for Canadian genre film creators whose projects are at an advanced stage of development.
The Genre Film Lab program will begin in April 2025 with a masterclass on pitching and will culminate with a dedicated pitch session at the Frontières International Co-Production Market in July 2025. The sessions will include an introductory group pitch masterclass, three strategy sessions with genre industry experts focusing on financing and packaging, one-on-one pitch development sessions, and more.
What is Genre Film?
Genre projects include, but are not limited to thrillers, western, science fiction, fantasy and horror – or any imaginative combination of these.
Resources
Key Dates
Regular Submissions Deadline (Regular fee – 40$)
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Late Submissions Deadline (Late fee – 55$)
March 2026
PHASE 1 Begins
PHASE 2 Begins
PHASE 3 (Frontieres International Co-Pro Market)
Submit
Fantasia International Film Festival, Montréal
Participants
PROJECT TITLE: THEY ECHO
DIRECTOR(S): Lu Asfaha
WRITER(S): Lu Asfaha
PRODUCER(S), with associated PRODUCTION COMPANY(IES): Fonna Seidu (Snail Mail Media) Jay Wu, Andrew Ferguson and Matt King (LaRue Entertainment)
PRODUCTION PROVINCE/TERRITORY: Ontario
PROJECT TITLE: PEACHY
DIRECTOR(S): Sasha Duncan
WRITER(S): Sasha Duncan
PRODUCER(S), with associated PRODUCTION COMPANY(IES): Eloise Cameron-Smith; Dalila Jovanovic
PRODUCTION PROVINCE/TERRITORY: BC
PROJECT TITLE: DEEPFAKE
DIRECTOR(S): Miranda MacDougall
WRITER(S): Ariel Bond
PRODUCER(S), with associated PRODUCTION COMPANY(IES):
Lucy McNulty (Strange Company Productions)
Ariel Bond (Storiel Entertainment)
Magdalena Shenher (consulting)
PRODUCTION PROVINCE/TERRITORY: BC
PROJECT TITLE: THE EVERMORE
DIRECTOR(S): Mia Martinez
WRITER(S): Mia Martinez
PRODUCER(S), with associated PRODUCTION COMPANY(IES): Mia Martinez & Jonnathan George (Familiar Blue Films), Nic Altobelli (Naltobel Productions)
PRODUCTION PROVINCE/TERRITORY: BC
PROJECT TITLE: AFTER THE END
DIRECTOR(S): Elena Sturk Lussier
WRITER(S): Elena Sturk Lussier
PRODUCER(S), with associated PRODUCTION COMPANY(IES): Jessica Landry, Familiar Films
PRODUCTION PROVINCE/TERRITORY: Manitoba
Funded & Presented by
The Genre Film Lab 2025, in partnership with Frontières, is proudly supported by:
