Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival Reveals First 2026 Picks With Trick ’r Treat Anniversary Screening
Horror fans in Vancouver have another reason to mark October on their calendars.
The Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival (VHS) has revealed the first wave of programming for its ninth edition, led by a 19th anniversary screening of Trick ’r Treat with writer and director Michael Dougherty in attendance.
The festival will run from October 14 to 18, 2026, with new films, filmmaker conversations, industry panels, and events for emerging creators.
What to Know About VHS 2026
The first announcement includes four feature-film premieres alongside a full slate of creator-focused events.
- Dates: October 14 to 18, 2026
- Special Screening: Trick ’r Treat 19th anniversary presentation
- Special Guest: Michael Dougherty
- World Premiere: Encryption
- Western Canadian Premiere: Sleep No More
- BC Premieres: Ithaqua and The Glorious Dead
- Industry Events: Filmmaker talks, distribution discussion, and live table reads
Michael Dougherty Headlines the Opening Night
VHS will open its ninth edition on October 14 with Trick ’r Treat, the anthology horror film that helped turn Sam into one of modern horror’s best-known figures.
Dougherty, who also wrote and directed Krampus and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, will attend the special presentation. The screening will include a new 4K restoration of Season’s Greetings, his original animated short that first introduced audiences to Sam.
The festival describes the screening as a chance to revisit a modern cult classic while seeing the early work that shaped its most recognizable character.
Four New Films Join the Program
The first wave spans sci-fi mystery, body horror, creature features, and apocalyptic horror.
Encryption, shot in British Columbia, will have its World Premiere. Brayden DeMorest-Purdy directs the story of conspiracy theorist Theo and his niece Eddie as they follow clues connected to Cryp-Tech, a secretive group hiding otherworldly horrors. Alex Zahara and Megan Charpentier lead the cast, with Karin Konoval appearing as the relentless Jane Dough.
Sleep No More receives its Western Canadian Premiere. Directed by Indonesian filmmaker Edwin, the body-horror story follows two sisters investigating their mother’s death at a decaying wig factory in East Jakarta. Rachel Amanda, Lutesha, and Iqbaal Ramadhan star.
Hammer Films’ Ithaqua makes its BC Premiere, bringing the legendary studio back to creature horror with its first original monster in 60 years. Casey Walker directs a story set in the frozen Canadian wilderness, where survivors of a 19th-century fur-trading outpost face starvation, extreme cold and an ancient evil. Luke Hemsworth, Leenah Robinson, Kevin Durand, Michael Pitt, and Craig Lauzon star.
The Adams Family’s The Glorious Dead also makes its BC Premiere. John Adams and Toby Poser direct this darkly funny apocalypse, following a sheriff and her deputy through a town where people vanish, creatures roam and the dead refuse to stay buried. Poser, Zelda Adams, and Lulu Adams star.
Industry Events Focus on the Craft
The festival will give creators a closer look at the business and creative side of filmmaking.
Dougherty will take part in From Cult Classics to Blockbusters: In Conversation with Michael Dougherty, discussing his path from original genre projects to major studio franchises.
The First Five Minutes of Horror will examine how opening scenes build tone, character, stakes, pacing, and audience interest. Participants include Zach Lipovsky, Eli Craig, Rachel Talalay, and editor Greg Ng.
The Indie Horror Distribution panel will feature Sean Harris Oliver and Kurtis David Harder, covering festival exposure, publicity, theatrical releases, sales, and audience targeting.
VHS will bring back its Table Read Series, where emerging writers can hear their scripts performed by professional actors and receive practical feedback. Karen Lam and Dennis Heaton are confirmed participants.
More films, shorts, guests, and events are still expected as VHS builds its complete 2026 program.
Do you have a story to share? Email us at hi@overheretoronto.com or join us at our Instagram page at @OverHereToronto.
