DARK MATTER
Creston’s Bleeding Tree Film Festival shines a light on drama noir.
Dark drama, stage right — Bleeding Tree Film Festival isn’t just about showcasing films: it’s about connecting their creators to one another and a larger community. — Brandon Shaw Photo
Dark, gritty, deeply moving—and poised to leave a haunting impression. These are the films showcased at Creston’s Bleeding Tree Film Festival: an indie film event dedicated to dark drama, a sub-genre often overlooked in cinema. Founded by journalists and professors Mark Wolfe and Kerry McArthur, the festival was born from their experience in media and film, and a desire to carve out space for stories that defy traditional labels.
Following a successful debut in Cranbrook, the festival moved to Creston for its second year in 2024. While the decision was largely technical, Creston also holds personal significance—it’s where Wolfe and McArthur’s first feature film, The Orchard, premiered at the Tivoli Theatre. And with the Creston Hotel and Jimmy’s Pub across the street from the theatre—providing accommodations, dining, and a networking space for attendees—it comes together as an ideal spot for a film festival.
The journey to establishing Bleeding Tree started with The Orchard making its rounds on streaming platforms and film festivals. It was often categorized as horror, but something about that label didn’t quite fit for its creators. This sparked a realization: perhaps there was a missing sub-genre within the film industry. Enter ‘dark drama,’ stage right.
As described on the festival’s website, dark drama is a short or feature-length story about a protagonist who starts off with good intentions but, due to trauma, tragedy, addiction, ignorance, or poor decisions, may (or may not) spiral into dark places.
“Dark drama is a real thing,” Mark explains. “Even the Batman and Joker films are dark dramas. Yet when you go on IMDb or something like that, there’s just one tiny description of it.”
Testing their theory of a missing genre, Wolfe and McArthur launched the festival concept on FilmFreeway—an online hub for filmmakers—and received an overwhelming response from filmmakers struggling to find a home for their work. Bleeding Tree Film Festival was born—and from its inception, it was not just for screenings. Bleeding Tree also fosters real relationships, offering filmmakers networking opportunities and meaningful discussions about their films, rather than just laurels.
The first year drew approximately 100 film submissions, and this year, while they expect upwards of 150 submissions, only about 15 films will make the final cut. The 2025 festival’s theme is DIY Filmmaking, with a focus on independent and emerging filmmakers. And despite its heavy themes, the genre isn’t just about despair—there are also films that incorporate humour and hope.
More than a film festival, and reflecting the genre itself, Bleeding Tree is about connection. Wolfe and McArthur have created a space where filmmakers feel valued, and where audiences experience powerful storytelling. The success of indie dark dramas like the 2022 Canadian film Skinamarink, which turned a $15,000 budget into over $2 million in revenue, proves that the genre has a bright—and yet very dark—future.
The 2nd Annual Bleeding Tree Film Festival takes place May 2-4, 2025, in Creston. Get all of the details at www.bleedingtree.ca.
~ Danette Polzin
{This article is from our Spring/Summer 2025 issue set to hit shelves in early May!}
Find this full-length story and more in The Trench’s Winter 2024/25 edition: