The Sitges Film Festival (Catalan: Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya) and also translated as Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia and originally the International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, is an annual film festival held in Sitges, Catalonia, Spain. It specializes in fantasy, horror and cult films. Established in 1968, the festival takes place every year, usually in early October, and is considered to be one of the world's top 3 largest and most prestigious genre film festivals, alongside Fantasia and Fantastic Fest.[1][2][3][4]
History
The festival's origins lie in the International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, held in 1968.[5]
The 55th edition of the festival was held from 6 to 16 October 2022.[6] It was the 22nd edition of the awards.[7]
Venues
The main venue of the Sitges Film Festival is the Auditori (Auditorium), located in the Hotel Melià Sitges, which has a capacity of 1,380 seats. In the same building the Tramuntana Room provides space for journalists to gather each morning.
As of 2023, other venues are: Cine El Retiro, Cine Casino Prado, and various other venues in the "King Kong area" providing for exhibitions, gatherings, and other events.[8]
Directors
As of 2023, the director of the festival since 2001 is Àngel Sala Corbí. Previous directors have included:[9][10][11]
- Roc Villas i Ventura (1999–2000)
- Àlex Gorina i Macià (1994–1998)
Awards
Since 1971 the festival has given awards to the best films, actors, and filmmakers.[12]
The festival is accredited by FIAPF as a "competitive film festival specialised in fantasy films".[13]
The Gorilla (Official Fantastic Section) are the festival's main awards. Award-winners are selected by an international jury. These awards are:[14][15]
- Best Feature-Length Film
- Best Director
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Screenplay
- Best Special Effects
- Best Cinematography
- Best Original Score
- Special Jury Prize
- Grand Audience Award for Best Motion Picture (Official Fantastic Selection)
- Best Fantastic Genre Short Film
The festival also presents:
- The José Luis Guarner Critics’ Award
- Citizen Kane Award for the Best Debut Feature (Best New Director)
- The Noves Visions (New Visions) Award
- The Carnet Jove Jury Award (film selected by a youth jury)
- The Grand Honorary Award (for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema)
- The Anima't Awards for Best Animated Short and Feature Film
- The Màquina del Temps (Time Machine) Award, given to individuals from the fantasy world film genre
- The Midnight X-Treme Award, for the best motion picture from the special screenings (selected by the Carnet Jove Jury)
and a few others...
Winners
See also
Other genre film festivals
- Fantasia International Film Festival
- Fantastic Fest
- Beyond Fest
- Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
- Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival
- Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
- Chattanooga Film Fest
- Fantaspoa
- Fantasporto
- FilmQuest
- FrightFest
- Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival
- Nightmares Film Festival
- Overlook Film Festival
- Screamfest
- Telluride Horror Show
- Toronto After Dark
- Fantafestival
- International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival
- Lusca Fantastic Film Fest
- New York City Horror Film Festival
- TromaDance
- A Night of Horror
References
- ^ Weinstein, Max (23 March 2022). "The Best Horror Festivals in the World 2022". Dread Central. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ Weinstein, Max (23 December 2020). "The Best Horror Festivals in the World 2021". Dread Central. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "World's 50 Best Genre Film Festivals 2021 — MovieMaker". www.moviemaker.com. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "Top 100 Fantastic & Horror Film Festivals in 2025 + Submission Tips". Adrian Țofei • Official Site. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ "The Festival". Sitges Film Festival. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ Andrew Mack (1 March 2022). "Sitges 2022: International Genre Festival Now Open For Feature Film Submissions". Screen Anarchy. Naver. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ Shelagh Rowan-Legg (28 July 2022). "Sitges 2022 Second Wave Announces Edgar Wright, VESPER, and more". Screen Anarchy. Naver. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "Theaters and venues". Sitges Film Festival. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Dimiteixen els responsables de Sitges Teatre Internacional", Teatralnet, 13 Feb 2001, (in Catalan). [Consulted 27-05-2020].
- ^ "Team", Sitges Film Festival official website. [Consulted 27-05-2020].
- ^ "Equip". Sitges Film Festival. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Festival Awards". sitgesfilmfestival.com. Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya.
- ^ FIAPF Accredited Festivals Directory (PDF). FIAPF. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2015.
- ^ Festival Awards, official website of the Sitges Film Festival. [Consulted 27-05-2020].
- ^ Festival Award-winners for the 52nd Edition (2019), official website of the Sitges Film Festival. [Consulted 27-05-2020].
- ^ Sitges 1971 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1972 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1973 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1974 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1975 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1976 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1977 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1978 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1979 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1980 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1981 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1982 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1983 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1984 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1985 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1986 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1987 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1988 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1989 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1990 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1991 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1992 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1993 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1994 Awards
- ^ Justino, a Senior Citizen Killer
- ^ Sitges 1995 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1996 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1997 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1998 Awards
- ^ Sitges 1999 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2000 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2001 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2002 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2003 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2004 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2005 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2006 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2007 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2008 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2009 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2010 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2011 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2012 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2013 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2014 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2015 Awards
- ^ Sitges 2016 Awards
- ^ "Sitges 2017 Awards".
- ^ "Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival (2018)". IMDb.
- ^ "Sitges Festival Celebrates ITS 52Nd Edition. l'Idem". 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Brandon Cronenberg's 'Possessor Uncut' Wins the Sitges Festival's Best Film, Director Awards". 18 October 2020.
- ^ "SITGES 2021 WINNERS: 'LAMB', SITGES 2021 BEST FEATURE LENGHT [sic] FILMS". 17 October 2021.
- ^ "55th Edition Award Winners". 20 October 2022.
- ^ "56th Edition Award Winners". 26 October 2022.
- ^ "57th Edition Award Winners | Sitges Film Festival". sitgesfilmfestival.com. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
External links
41°51′N 1°34′E / 41.850°N 1.567°E Coordinates added for Sitges Film Festival from Catalonia