The 57th edition of the Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia has finally arrived!!
This unmissable event for film lovers will take place from October 3 to 13, 2024 , and there is no better place in the world to enjoy fantasy and horror films.
What is the Sitges Festival?
For those who don't know, the Sitges Film Festival is the world's leading fantasy film festival and one of the most renowned film events in Europe.
A bit of history
The festival was founded in 1967 as the First Week of Film, Photography and Audiovisuals . In 1968, the first official edition was held under the name of the 1st International Week of Fantastic and Horror Film , without a festival category or awards. The films were screened at the Casino Prado , mostly Spanish, and foreign films in their original version without subtitles.
In 1970, the screenings moved to the El Retiro cinema , but the first editions were not a great success with the public. However, little by little, the festival was consolidated into the event we know today, with more than 350 screenings over 11 days .
The festival has always been held in the beautiful town of Sitges , just 40 kilometres from Barcelona, where its streets and beaches are filled with characters from the world of fantasy and horror.
The evolution of the Festival
The chronicles of the time highlighted that blood, violence and terror were a predominant part of the festival's programming. Thus, the fame that endures to this day and attracts thousands of horror film fans every year was created.
Throughout its history, the festival has had the honour of hosting great directors, producers and actors such as:
- Quentin Tarantino
- David Lynch
- Ray Liotta
- Takashi Miike
- Anthony Hopkins
- Ed Harris
- Terry Gilliam
- Tilda Swinton
- Cameron Diaz
- Zoe Bell
- Jodie Foster
- Viggo Mortensen
- David Cronenberg
- Darren Aronofsky
- Wim Wenders
- Park Chan-Wook
- John Woo
- Alex de la Iglesia
- Paul Naschy
- Guillermo del Toro
- Santiago Segura
- Joe Dante
- Mira Sorvino
- Johnnie To
- Tony Curtis
- Jon Voight
- Robert Englund
- Susan Sarandon
- Sam Raimi
- Narciso Ibanez Serrador
- George A. Romero
- And many more...
This festival is a great attraction for the media, but also for the public looking to discover cinematic novelties in genres such as fantasy and horror, in an unrivalled atmosphere.
A festival recognized by the Oscars
The Sitges Film Festival is qualified by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Hollywood for the Oscars . The winning shorts in the fiction and animation categories are automatically preselected for the famous American competition.
The Festival Posters
The festival posters have paid tribute to icons of world fantasy cinema . From characters such as Charles Chaplin, Dracula or the Wolf Man , to iconic films. The 2024 poster pays tribute to the film Freaks or La parada de los monstruos in Spanish.
What awaits us in the 2024 edition
Choice of films
Choosing which films to watch is no easy task. With over 350 screenings announced by the organisers, you'll have to wait until the official programme is published (a few weeks before the start of the festival) to make your plans.
If you're lucky enough to attend all 11 days, you'll be able to enjoy everything, but if not, we recommend choosing carefully. Some films will be released later on streaming platforms or in cinemas, but many will be exclusive to the festival.
The projection rooms
The most acclaimed films are usually screened in the Auditorium of the Hotel Melià , but there are also second and third screenings in other venues. Don't forget the iconic Prado and Retiro venues, where the festival was born. This year, unfortunately, the Retiro is under construction, but the Prado will preserve the authenticity of the festival.
Featured films
This edition will be opened by Steven Soderbergh 's long-awaited Presence , which will not be released in theaters until January 2025 . To close, we will have Alexandre Aja 's Never Let Go , which will be released at the end of October 2024.
In the Official Fantastic Competition Section, films such as:
- The Second Act by Quentin Dupieux
- Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In by Soi Cheang
- Bury Your Dead by Marco Dutra
- Get Away by Steffen Haars
- Jae-Hyun Jang exhumed
- Mads by David Moreau
- Escape from the 21st Century by Li Yang
- Basileia by Isabella Torre
- A Different Man by Aaron Schimberg
The 2024 jury
This year's jury will consist of Lisa Dreyer, Stephen Thrower, Christophe Gans, Fred Dekker and Carlota Pereda .
Honorary Awards
This year, honorary awards will be given to great figures such as:
- Nick Frost – British actor and screenwriter, known for Zombies Party .
- Corey Feldman – American actor famous for his roles in Gremlins and The Lost Boys .
- Heather Langenkamp – Star of A Nightmare on Elm Street .
- Courtney Gains and John Franklin – The legendary Malachai and Isaac from Children of the Corn .
- Fred Dekker – Cult director and screenwriter, known for The Terror Calls and RoboCop .
