Announcing Sitges Industry's Lineup
The 57th edition of the SITGES - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia continues its commitment to initiatives aimed at professionals from the film industry, offering conferences, meetings, round table discussions and workshops with leading names as part of Sitges Industry.
The SITGES - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia continues to grow year after year in all its areas. The Sitges Industry section, specifically aimed at professionals from the audiovisual sector, is no exception and this year arrives with a large number of initiatives with key names in international fantastic and horror productions. Here we will detail some of the activities that are going to be taking place, while we encourage you to check out the complete program on our website.
Horror Girls is Back and in Style
Following the success of its first edition, Sitges is once again hosting Horror Girls, 2nd Meeting of European Female Filmmakers Specializing in the Fantastic Genre, a series of round table discussions and encounters that highlight how the talent of female auteurs is valued in each of the stages of the film product's value chain. Within this framework, we will be able to enjoy an encounter with actress Heather Langenkamp (Nancy Thompson in A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and Wes Craven's The New Nightmare ), who will be receiving the Time Machine Award at this year's Festival, and a conversation between Coralie Fargeat (director of The Substance and Revenge) and Carlota Pereda (director of Piggy and La Ermita), two of the most provocative and freshest voices in contemporary horror.
Among the different activities, we propose round table discussions on production and distribution: Priscilla Smith, Manon Barat and Antonia Nava will explore the role of distributors in introducing female talent into the market; Nahikari Ipiña, Nuria Valls and Enrique López Lavigne will reflect on women in production; and Lauren LaVera, Desirée de Fez, and Iván Fund will focus on the heterogeneous nature of female icons in horror movies.
We have also organized a series of conversations between pairs of filmmakers regarding their directing experiences (Paco Plaza & Denisse Castro, Marysia Nikitiuk & Paul Urkijo, Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala) and a round table discussion on three exciting studies focused on the role of the female creator in fantastic genre with Mònica Garcia i Massagué, Heidi Honeycutt and Victoria McCollum, where we will be presenting 'HORROR GIRLS: WomanInFan Europe', an official Sitges Festival book that deals with the role of European horror girls.
Sitges Fanpitch and Coming Soon: Discovering the Future of the Fantastic Genre
For the tenth year in a row, the Sitges Film Festival is organizing the Sitges FanPitch, its feature film and series project pitching competition. The people behind the selected projects will have the opportunity to make a sales pitch and meet with each of the participating companies. The event will be held in hybrid format on October 6th and 7th.
And speaking of pitching, the Coming Soon event will also take place during the Festival, reserved, in this case, for projects in more advanced stages, whether they are in the final stages of development or already looking for financing. There will be a live pitching session among a selection of the best international fantastic genre projects received, including the screening of the first trailers.
Sitges Cocoon Powered by Cupra: Technology and Cinema
The relationship between technology and fantastic film is fundamental if we want to understand the evolution of genre filmmaking over the last decade. That's why Sitges Industry continues to be committed to Sitges Cocoon Powered by Cupra, a program that unites technology and video games with the world of fantastic genre films.
On the one hand, the round table discussion More Blood!!!! Visual Effects in Terrifier 3 will bring together three key figures behind the visual impact and success of the Terrifier franchise: Olga Turka, an expert in special makeup effects; David Howard Thornton, the actor who brings to life the infamous Art the Clown; and Damien Leone, the director and creator of the franchise. During this session, the participants will share exclusive details regarding the creative and technical process behind the visual effects of Terrifier 3, exploring how some of the film's bloodiest and most shocking scenes were achieved.
And on the other hand, in the Intersections: Video Games, Other Audiovisual Formats and Business panel discussion, we will explore the intersections, challenges and especially the opportunities of collaboration between film and video games. Xènia Peña (lead designer at Electronic Arts), Guille Cascante Portabella (CEO and producer at GOROKA TV), Mikel Mas (CEO and executive producer at Cornelius Films), Josema Roig (co-founder and creative director at Estudio Melbot) and Adrià Serra Mayoral (director of digital content and transmedia strategy at 3CAT) will speak at this session.
Encounters: Talking with the Protagonists
A fundamental part of Sitges Industry are the Encounters, talks where some of the most important names in fantastic genre films provide an in-depth look at their careers. This year we will be able to enjoy encounters with several Festival award winners at this edition, including Nick Frost, essential actor in Edgar Wright's “Cornetto Trilogy”; Geoffrey Rush, Oscar winner and internationally acclaimed for his role as Hector Barbossa; Alexandre Aja, director of High Tension and the remake of The Hills Have Eyes; Stephen Thrower, author of essential books on horror films such as Nightmare USA; Christophe Gans, filmmaker behind Brotherhood of the Wolf and Silent Hill; Fred Dekker, screenwriter and director of Night of the Creeps and The Monster Squad; and Corey Feldman, one of the stars of Friday the 13th, The Goonies and The Birthday. Also joining our Encounters is director Asif Karadia, responsible for Amy, Senna and Diego Maradona , who this year is participating in the Festival's Official In Competition Selection with 2073.
Sitges Industry, a Meeting Point
Beyond the Encounters, this year Sitges Industry is hosting a multitude of activities that deal with the thousand and one faces of the film industry. We invite you to attend round tables like How to Revive a Classic Movie in Today's Digital World: A Conversation with Christophe Gans, a talk on the need to restore classics with the legendary filmmaker, where precisely the restoration of 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' will be analyzed, Terror Arreu Catalunya (TAC-Terror Around Catalonia): Opportunities and Barriers for Genre Cinema in Catalan, a discussion on the underlying reasons for the low production of genre films in Catalan and the possibilities for promoting their production and dissemination; Present and Future of the Spanish Short Film, a session where representatives from the three industry associations will present their analysis and conclusions regarding the year 2024 and proposals for action for the years to come; and Proyecta Awards, a colloquium where renowned film industry professionals will present their views on the current state of production, marketing and distribution.
This year we will also offer European Genre Cinema Meets... CAA and European Genre Cinema Meets... UTA, two master classes with representatives from two of the most prestigious North American agencies as a gateway to the international market. There will also be a presentation of advances and new developments in the programming of the upcoming edition of ISLA CALAVERA Festival de Cine Fantástico de Canarias - Ciudad de La Laguna (Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival - City of La Laguna) and a talk on the birth, growth and future of Noviembre Fantasma, a pioneering project that has demonstrated that collaboration is the key to survival and success in the film industry. And of course, we couldn't forget the live podcast of Marea Nocturna, an indispensable Festival tradition.
And as if that weren't enough, there are still other essential activities for any industry professional and genre lover. Among them are Gora Gure Folk Horror (Long Live our Folk Horror!), recognition and imaginary of Spanish folk Horror and presentation of the book IRATI: El arte de la película (IRATI: The Art of the Film) with Paul Urkijo, Nerea Torrijos, Josemi Beltrán and Lluís Rueda.
Meanwhile, the sustainability conference Sustainable Filming Workshop: Cinema with Commitment. Producing in Green is Possible, a panel discussion that is part of the We Are Legend program, on how to conceive a sustainable production design with Carlota Guerrero, Asia Jarzyne, Oliver Lupiañez, Natàlia Ejarque, Laia Sanahuja and Sandra Magro.
Producers Meet Producers and Film Financing Market
And let's not forget Producers Meet Producers (PMP), the incubator for newly created audiovisual production companies with an annual meeting between emerging and already well-established production companies, organized by Productors Audiovisuals de Catalunya (PAC), which will once again be held as part of Sitges Industry. In the wake of the success of its previous editions, the PMP incubator has been consolidated in two modalities: Mentoring, consisting of monitoring and guiding the producer of a project for a year, and Consulting, specific consultations in 45-minute one-on-one meetings to provide guidance for a successful production.
We will also welcome the third edition of the Film Financing Market, an audiovisual market that puts independent producers in contact with private investors. The aim of this encounter is to provide more financing for audiovisual projects with international potential and to promote international co-productions by attracting projects from other countries.
You can find the entire Sitges Industry program on our website. Ticket reservations for the activities will be available starting Thursday, September 19th at 1:00 pm in the afternoon, through the Festival's website or the Sitges Industry Catalan Films platform.
Accredited Industry members will be able to reserve tickets for the Festival's screenings starting Thursday, September 26th, at 12:00 noon.
Friday October 4th
10:00 a.m. - Round Table - HORROR GIRLS. Distributors are not Afraid: Putting Female Talent into the Market. With Priscilla Smith, Manon Barat and Antonia Nava.
11:15 a.m. - Round Table - HORROR GIRLS. Female Massacre: Produce with a Woman Director, Why Not? With Enrique López Lavigne, Nahikari Ipiña, and Nuria Valls.
12:30 p.m. - Round Table - HORROR GIRLS. From Final Girl to Killer. With Lauren LaVera, Iván Fund and Desirée de Fez.
4:00 p.m. - Talk - HORROR GIRLS. In My Skin: Denisse Castro & Paco Plaza. Moderated by Rubén Gutiérrez del Castillo.
5:00 p.m. - Talk - HORROR GIRLS. In My Skin: Marysia Nikitiuk & Paul Urkijo. Moderated by Rubén Gutiérrez del Castillo.
5:30 p.m. - Podcast - Marea Nocturna - Live from Sitges 2024. With Àngel Sala, Desirée de Fez, Jordi Sánchez-Navarro and Xavi Sánchez Pons.
5:45 p.m. - Talk - HORROR GIRLS. In My Skin: Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala. Moderated by Rubén Gutiérrez del Castillo.
7:00 p.m. - Encounter - Encounter with Nick Frost. Moderated by Àngel Sala.
Saturday, October 5th
10:00 a.m. - Round Table - HORROR GIRLS. Bloody Obsession: Writing about Women and Horror. With Mònica Garcia Massagué, Heidi Honeycutt, Victoria McCollum and Alice Lowe.
10:00 a.m. - Presentation - Presentation of the VIII Edition of Isla Calavera Fantastic Film Festival of the Canary Islands - City of La Laguna. With Daniel Fumero, Ramón González and Vanesa Bocanegra Corrales. Presented by Àngel Sala.
11:00 a.m. - Presentation - Noviembre Fantasma: An Innovative Model of Collaboration Between Fantastic Film Festivals. With José Miguel Beltrán, Glòria Massana, Daniel Fumero and Rocío Moreno.
11:15 a.m. - Encounter - HORROR GIRLS. MaestrAs: Encounter with Heather Langenkamp. Moderated by Mònica Garcia Massagué.
12:15 p.m. - Round Table - Gora Gure Folk Horror (Long Live our Folk Horror!). With Josemi Beltrán, Paul Urkijo and Nerea Torrijos. Moderated by Lluís Rueda.
12:30 p.m. - Talk - HORROR GIRLS. MaestrAs: Coralie Fargeat meets Carlota Pereda.
4:30 p.m. - Round Table - More Blood!!! Visual Effects in Terrifier 3. With Damien Leone, David Howard Thornton, and Olga Turka. Moderated by Xavi Sánchez Pons.
Sunday, October 6th
9:30 a.m. - Pitch Session - Sitges FanPitch. Presented by Mònica Garcia Massagué
12:30 p.m. - Round Table - HORROR GIRLS. Behind and In Front of the Camera: Actress – Directors. With Kate Siegel. Moderated by Mònica Garcia Massagué
1:15 p.m. - Masterclass - European Genre Cinema Meets... UTA
4:30 p.m. - Encounter - Showrunners LAB: Encounter with Mike Flanagan. Moderated by Àngel Sala
6:00 p.m. - Pitch Session - Coming Soon: Buyers Showcase
Monday, October 7th
10:00 a.m. - Round Table - Present and Future of the Spanish Short Film. With Raquel Troyano, Aitor Arenas, Jaume Ripoll, Ana Pernia and Cristian Beteta. Moderated by Beatriz Hernández
11:15 a.m. - Masterclass - European Genre Cinema Meets... CAA
4:45 p.m. - Panel - Showrunners Lab: Mick Garris & Geoffrey Cowper. Moderated by Àngel Sala
6:00 p.m. - Round Table - Proyecta Awards
9:30 a.m. - Round Table - Producers Meet Producers. With Eva Fortanals, Mònica Garcia Massagué and David Martínez
04:00 p.m. - Masterclass - PMP: How AI Affects us in Audiovisual Production: Practical Cases
5:30 p.m. - Round Table - How to Revive a Classic Movie in Today's Digital World: A Conversation with Christophe Gans. With Bengamin Alimi and Christophe Gans. Presented by Jordi Sánchez-Navarro
6:45 p.m. - Round Table - Terror Arreu Catalunya (TAC-Terror Around Catalonia): Opportunities and Barriers for Genre Cinema in Catalan. With Cris Gambín and Sandra Forn. Presenta Mònica Garcia Massagué
Wednesday, October 9th
9:00 a.m. - Panel - Film Financing Market
10:30 a.m. - Panel - The Manga and Anime Industry: 30th Anniversary of Manga Barcelona. With Meritxell Puig and Oriol Estrada Rangil. Moderated by Gloria Fernández
12:00 noon - Panel - Intersections: Video Games, other Audiovisual Formats and Business. With Guille Cascante Portabella, Mikel Mas, Xènia Peña, Adrià Serra Mayoral and Josema Roig. Moderated by Ricardo Carretero
1:00 p.m. - Round Table - Chainsaws & Bloodbaths: Unmasking the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Saga. With Kim Henkel and Ian Henkel. Moderated by Annick Mahnert
6:00 p.m. - Encounter - Encounter with Stephen Thrower. Moderated by Àngel Sala
Thursday, October 10th
10:00 a.m. - Panel - Sustainable Filming Workshop: Cinema with Commitment. Producing in Green is Possible. With Carlota Guerrero, Asia Jarzyne, Oliver Lupiañez, Natàlia Ejarque and Laia Sanahuja. Moderated by Sandra Magro
4:30 p.m. - Encounter - Encounter with Christophe Gans. Moderated by Jordi Sánchez-Navarro
17:45 p.m. - Encounter - Encounter with Geoffrey Rush. Moderated by Àngel Sala
7:00 p.m. - Encounter - Encounter with Asif Kapadia. Moderated by Àngel Sala
Friday, October 11th
11:30 a.m. - Encounter - Encounter with Fred Dekker. Moderated by Xavi Sánchez Pons
12:45 p.m. - Encounter - Encounter with Corey Feldman. Moderated by Jordi Sanchez-Navarro
4:30 p.m. - Encounter - Encounter with Alexandre Aja. Moderated by Xavi Sánchez Pons
6:00 p.m. - Book Presentation - In the Mood for Cineasia. 20 years of Asian Cinema. With Gloria Fernández, Enrique Garcelán and Manuel Baraja
Saturday, October 12th
9:30 a.m. - Round Table - The Birthday: 20 Years Later - A Cult Classic Returns to the Big Screen. With Eugenio Mira, Corey Feldman, Jack Taylor and Erica Prior
4:30 p.m. - Panel - French Delights: Terror, Extremism and Cruelty. With Christophe Gans, Alexandre Bustillo, Alexandre Aja and Julien Maury