The Sitges Film Festival, or Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya, is the world's first annual fantastic film festival and cultural event in Sitges, Catalonia. It specializes in fantasy and horror films, of which it is considered one of the world's foremost international festivals. With a solid trajectory, the Sitges Festival offers fantastic cinema from around the world and a stimulating framework for meetings, exhibitions, presentations, and projections.
Venues
The central headquarters of the Festival, Hotel Meliá Sitges, features two projection rooms: the Auditorium, with a capacity for 1,380 spectators, and the Tramuntana Room, where 400 journalists gather first thing in the morning to enjoy press screenings. The Brigadoon Section offers free sessions that celebrate, recover, and pay tribute to the most daring genre of cinema. These sessions are held on the -1 floor of Hotel Meliá. Cine El Retiro, an emblematic venue in the center of Sitges, has a capacity of 600 seats and hosts the best premieres from the Panorama and Midnight X-treme sections. Cinema Casino Prado is another key venue in the DNA of Sitges. It is a temple for sections such as New Visions, Anima't, and Seven Chances, and also hosts night sessions and marathons.
Entertainment
The Foodtastic Area, located at Balmins Avenue with Ramon Planas Street, transforms into a vibrant Food Truck haven from October 5 to 15. Nestled by the sea, it offers a diverse array of national and international cuisines catering to carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and seafood enthusiasts alike. Operating from noon to midnight, it promises a culinary adventure against a picturesque backdrop.
Meanwhile, MEETING emerges as a dynamic outdoor leisure space within the festival. Set in a relaxed, chill-out atmosphere at Avinguda Balmins, 21 (near Ermita de Sant Sebastià), it hosts a spectrum of activities, including live music, film screenings, podcasts, and multidisciplinary arts. Engage in brand activations, strike a pose at the photocall, and mingle with cinema enthusiasts. Adding to the ambiance, Lola Van, a 1974 Volkswagen T2 van transformed into a deluxe DJ booth, provides a groovy soundtrack in true zombie dance style.
Awards
The Gorilla, part of the festival's Official Fantastic Section, stands as its premier award, with winners chosen by an international jury. Categories include Best Feature-Length Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Special Effects, and Best Cinematography, among others. Additionally, the festival presents esteemed awards such as the José Luis Guarner Critics' Award, the Citizen Kane Award for Best Debut Feature, the Noves Visions Award, and the Carnet Jove Jury Award. Notable recognitions also include the Grand Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema, the Anima't Awards for Best Animated Short and Feature Film, the Màquina del Temps Award honoring figures in fantasy film, and the Midnight X-Treme Award for outstanding motion pictures from special screenings, selected by the Carnet Jove Jury.
History of Sitges Film Festival
The festival's origins lie in the International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, held in 1968.
