Sitges Film Festival 2023

The premier fantasy film festival on the global stage is returning for another exciting year, as Sitges transforms into a haven for film enthusiasts. Over the course of a week, this event promises an immersive experience with screenings, exhibitions, and presentations of fantasy films from around the world. With a strong history of delivering top-notch content, the festival provides a dynamic platform for networking, exhibitions, talks, and film screenings.

This renowned festival, initially established in 1968 as the "1st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies," has evolved into an indispensable gathering for film aficionados and audiences seeking fresh perspectives and cutting-edge technologies in the realm of cinema and audiovisual media.

The 56th edition of the festival will prominently feature Catalan and Spanish film productions. Notably, Paco Plaza is set to make a triumphant return to present the opening film, "Sister Death." Joining him are esteemed figures like Pablo Berger, Carlota Pereda, and Álex de la Iglesia, all poised to make a significant impact on this year's event.

Stepping beyond borders, the festival will showcase "Acid," a French fantastique film directed by Just Philippo. This thought-provoking film delves into the anxiety of survival in a world facing the wrath of nature. It paints a disconcerting picture where some humans have mutated into animals. In "The Animal Kingdom," a project by Thomas Cailey, starring Adèle Exarchopoulos and Romain Duris, we are thrust into a desperate and unsettling scenario. Sébastien Vanicek's "Vermin" will awaken our arachnophobia, while Stéphan Castang's "Vincent Must Die" narrates the harrowing drama of a man, portrayed brilliantly by Karim Leklou, who discovers one day that an unknown horde is out to end his life.

The festival will also host trend-setting films in the genre, including Cameron and Colin Cairnes' "Late Night with the Devil," Jason Yu's "Sleep," Weston Razooli's "Riddle of Fire," Christopher Murray's "Sorcery," Demián Rugna's "When Evil Lurks," and "Club Zero," featuring Mia Wasikowska, a controversial creation by Jessica Hausner, an established talent in European cinema.

Animation and documentaries will have a notable presence, with offerings like Tian Xiao Peng's "Deep Sea," Áron Gauder's "Four Souls of Coyote," Robert Morgan's "Stopmotion," and Eddie Alcazar's "Divinity," all set to astonish audiences with their exceptional animated sequences. In the non-fiction category, films such as David Gregory's "Enter the Clones of Bruce," Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak's "A Disturbance in the Force," Sarah Appleton and Jasper Sharp's "The J-Horror Virus," and Yves Montmayeur's "Kaidan: Strange Stories of Japanese Ghosts" will pay homage to the enduring allure of Japanese horror for fans.

Each year, the charming town of Sitges eagerly anticipates its annual rendezvous with fans of the fantastic genre, the film industry, and the press. The festival seamlessly blends the best contemporary genre cinema with retrospectives of films that have left an indelible mark on the world of fantasy. Additionally, it pays tribute to individuals with a special connection to the fantastic genre, making it an event of unparalleled significance for cinephiles.