In a year inevitably marked by the coronavirus pandemic, the Festival stood its ground by first taking refuge in the memory of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (leitmotif of the 53rd edition), and then in another unforgettable selection of the finest international genre cinema. Especially redemptive were the battle cries unleashed by Quentin Dupieux in Mandibules, the pre-depressive atmosphere of Amy Seimetz’s She Dies Tomorrow, and Kimo Stamboel’s wild reimagining of The Queen of Black Magic. With Possessor Uncut winning Best Film in the Official Selection, Brandon Cronenberg once again confirmed that Sitges is the perfect launchpad for the careers of the children of legendary masters.
