Presenting the Sitges2023 Commercial Spot and Announcing the Remaining Guest Appearances

The 56th edition of the SITGES - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is already on the runway, about to lift off just one week away from its opening. We have already announced the complete lineup, but we still hadn't confirmed important guests like Brad Anderson, Takashi Miike, Aritz Moreno, Gareth Evans or Quarxx, who have been added to a list of top-tier names. Brad Anderson will also be the latest on the list of honorary recipients of the Time Machine Award. 

 

Barcelona, September 28th, 2023. Ángel Sala, Mònica Garcia i Massagué, the Hon. Ms. Aurora Carbonell and Edgar Garcia, Director of the ICEC-Catalan Institute of Cultural Companies, presided over the traditional Institutional Press Conference at the Film Library, prior to the Festival's kick-off. 

From October 5th to 15th, the 56th edition of the SITGES - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia will be taking place, a record-breaking edition in every sense of the word: ticket sales, number of films, activities, guests... Our engines are already running at full throttle and it's time to wrap up all the remaining details: we can now present the official commercial spot, confirm guests as outstanding as Brad Anderson, Takashi Miike, Daniel Benmayor, Carlota Pereda or Aritz Moreno and announce some of the activities you'll be able to enjoy during the Festival. 

 

Special Guests at Sitges2023  

In 2004 'The Machinist' premiered at the Sitges Film Festival, a Spanish production with an American director, Brad Anderson, and starring Christian Bale. The film garnered two awards (Best Actor and Best Cinematography), causing a major impact among audiences and critics. Almost twenty years later, Brad Anderson returns to Sitges to pick up the Time Machine Award, joining Hideo Nakata, Lee Unkrich, J.A. Bayona, Mary Lambert and Lamberto Bava as this year's illustrious award winners. In addition, the American filmmaker will be presenting his latest project, ‘BLOOD’, a horror film about a boy who, after being bitten by a dog, begins to suffer from a disease that will cause him to develop an unquenchable thirst for blood. 

In addition to them, Sitges2023 will have an unsurpassable list of guests. Starting with the Spanish scene, Paco Plaza and Álex de la Iglesia (already confirmed for 'SISTER DEATH' and '30 COINS' respectively) will be joined by other big names in Spanish national fantastic genre film. In the Official In-Competition Selection, Aritz Moreno, Pablo Berger and F. Javier Gutiérrez will be in Sitges presenting 'MOSCAS', 'ROBOT DREAMS' and 'THE WAIT' respectively. Carlota Pereda returns to bring us 'LA ERMITA' and Daniel Benmayor will be presenting 'AWARENESS', a film whose trailer we were able to see as a world premiere at last year's Festival. 

In the terrain of series, among our guests are some of the best-known names in Spanish filmmaking. Berto Romero and Andreu Buenafente will be presenting 'EL OTRO LADO', a Movistar Plus+ series directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera and Albert de Toro (who will also be in Sitges). Also from Movistar Plus+ is 'LUZ EN LA OSCURIDAD', the new true crime series by Carles Porta, who will be visiting Sitges for the first time. Finally, also attending will be Tomás Peña and Fernando Navarro, the directors of the new Prime Video series 'ROMANCERO'. 

As for international attendees, special mention goes to guests behind films that promise to make all the headlines like Quarxx ('PANDEMONIUM'), Sébastien Vanicek ('VERMIN'), Weston Razooli ('RIDDLE OF FIRE'), Thomas Cailley ('THE ANIMAL KINGDOM'), Jorge Michel Grau ('RABIA'), the RKSS trio ('WAKE UP' and 'WE ARE ZOMBIES') or Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire. Another equally stellar guest will be Gareth Evans, an idol among Sitges fans who will be coming to present 'THE RAID' in 4K. 

Asian cinema will once again be in the spotlight at Sitges2023, not only because of the large number of films, but also thanks to a list of top-tier guests. Takashi Miike, a director who is synonymous with Sitges will be here this year presenting 'LUMBERJACK THE MONSTER' and the likewise Japanese filmmaker Keiichi Hara will be bringing us 'LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR'. As for South Korea, the line-up is second to none: Jason Yu (‘SLEEP’), Lee Sang-yong (‘THE ROUNDUP: NO WAY OUT’), Ryoo Seung-wan (‘SMUGGLERS’) and Um Tae-Hwa (‘CONCRETE UTOPIA’). Another stellar guest will be the Indonesian actress Alexandra Gottardo (‘MOTEL MELATI’), a superstar in her home country. 

  

Presentation of the Official Commercial Spot 

The official commercial spot for the 56th edition of the SITGES - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is finally here. In two different videos, the CHINA agency pays tribute to the 60th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds', with an unsettling game of gazes lost in a sky that, ever since then, is synonymous with mortal threat. 

 

Parallel Activities  

For the third consecutive year, the King Kong Area will once again be brimming with fantastic experiences of all different kinds. It's an open space concept that includes the rest of the venues where the Festival's parallel activities take place outside of its movie theaters: from the FOODTASTIC gastronomic area to the Sitges Family screenings at the MERCAT VELL, in addition to the exhibitions at the MIRAMAR and the ESTUDIO VIDAL or the FANSHOP, a place where you can find merchandise related to both fantastic and horror films.  

The MEETING area promises to continue to be a place for fans to get together and relax in a chill-out type atmosphere, with DJ sessions, recordings of podcasts like Tarde de Perros (Dog Day Afternoon), La hora Caníbal (Cannibal Hour), Estamos vivas (We’re Alive) or Terror Weekend and photocalls. In addition, there will also be other types of events like the "Sitges Fanzine & Comic II" encounter on Sunday, October 8th, a meeting of independent publishers organized by the Sitges Film Festival that aims to give visibility to the current Spanish Fanzine scene. The event will be accompanied by a talk in tribute to Francisco Ibáñez given by Jordi Canyissà, writer of the book "Ibáñez: el maestro de la historieta" (Ibáñez: the Master of Comic Strips) and David Muñoz, writer and director. We will also have the "Fantaskids 2nd School Film Exhibition" where the younger ones can show their creations in the world of cinema, the traditional presentation of MANGA Barcelona, who will present their content together with the Joso school or the PUCK caravan, a tiny itinerant projection room where you can live a magical and unique experience.  

As if all this weren't enough, the MEETING space will also be hosting different short film screenings, including a special Zombie Walk, collaborations with Baidefest, Fantosfrik and Fangofest, and our selection of the best short films that were screened at Sitges2022. 

We've also arrived at the 13th edition of the Zombie Walk, the mythical march of the most terrifying living dead anywhere on this planet. Once again this year, the undead will be invading the streets of Sitges in one of the most eagerly awaited events for Festival fans. It will be Saturday, October 7th and make-up sessions will be held from 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm in the Moritz marquees, located next to the FANSHOP, on San Sebastian Beach. This year's guest star will be Mary Lambert, the woman behind 'PET SEMATARY' (1989) and a Sitges2023 award winner, who will be in charge of kicking things off at 8:30 pm at the MEETING area, in front of the San Sebastián Chapel. 

 

Meanwhile, the MERCAT VELL area will once again be hosting the Sitges Family lineup, which this year has a selection of 28 short films and 19 feature length films divided into the Fantastic Kids and Fantastic Teens sections. This year we have also renovated the Mercat Vell screening room, offering a significantly improved experience for all moviegoers. Apart from the film screenings, the youngest ones will be able to enjoy free workshops, exhibitions and even participate in board games that will immerse them in a world of fantasy as they play. In order to maximize the range of activities that will be offered, some of them will take place in other spaces such as the PALAU DEL REI MORO.  

And finally, we will also feature exhibitions including "Creators of Monsters: George A. Romero Among Creatures and Ghouls", curated by Elsa Nery and Lady Laudano who, inspired by the horror classics of the eighties, recreate with their own hands the scenes and characters that have fascinated them the most; or "Animation! From The Enchanted Sword to Robot Dreams", a journey through the history of television and animated films in Spain. In the case of the first one, it will take place at ESTUDI VIDAL, while the second will be at the MIRAMAR CULTURAL CENTER.  

  

Sitges Industry 

On Monday, September 25th we announced most of the activities that will be part of Sitges Industry. In addition to everything previously confirmed (which you can consult at this link), we will also add the participation of Takashi Miike, Keiichi Hara and Brad Anderson who, in addition to presenting their films, will also be the protagonists of Encounters, a section where these creators will be talking about their work and their personal experiences as filmmakers. They are joined by Martín Hernández (Mexican Oscar-nominated sonidist for his work on 'Bridman’ and 'The Revenant’), who will star in “The Art of Sound in Cinema: An Encounter with Martín Hernández”, a unique opportunity to discover the creative process of such an internationally relevant figure. 

We would also like to highlight the Fantastic Geogenre sessions, an initiative carried out under the WomanInFan label, which will consist of 6 round table discussions that will take place on October 6th and 7th. We would like to point out that all participants in these conferences will receive a certificate of attendance. In order to recieve it, all you have to do is email us at industry.hub@sitgesfilmfestival.com with your name, ID number and email address. 

All of the Sitges Industry events tickets can now be reserved on the website or via the Sitges Industry Catalan Films platform. 

 

SGAE and the SGAE Foundation Will Also be at Sitges 2023 

The Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE-The Spanish Society of Authors and Publishers) and the SGAE Foundation, through SGAE's Territorial Council in Catalonia, have been collaborating and maintaining a mutual understanding with the Sitges Film Festival for more than two decades. This year, both organizations will be participating at the Festival on three different occasions: the "Animation!" exhibition, a round table discussion as part of Sitges Industry's WomanInFan program, and the SGAE Nova Autoria Awards in the Noves Visions section. 

Animation in our country is currently booming. If you would like to take a journey through its 100 plus years of history, don't miss the "Animation! From The Enchanted Sword to Robot Dreams" exhibition organized by the SGAE. With free admission and at the Miramar Cultural Center (c/ Davallada, 12), from October 6th to 15th it will bring together original objects from this film genre, from the first artisanal works released in the middle of the past century to present day. 

The SGAE Foundation collaborates in the program for the visibility and incorporation of female creators in fantastic filmmaking, WomanInFan, as part of Sitges Industry. The organization is part of the round table discussion "Leadership and References in the Fantastic Genre: the Creation of a Storytelling by Women Filmmakers", to be held on October 6th at the Hotel Melià in Sitges. 

Finally, on October 7th, the 23rd edition of the SGAE Nova Autoria Awards will be held at the Prado Cinema, organized by the SGAE and the SGAE Foundation through the SGAE's Territorial Council in Catalonia. We continue to support new audiovisual talents from universities and film schools around Catalonia. This year, director and screenwriter Jaume Balagueró; screenwriter, writer and script editor Marta Grau, and film composer, vocalist and singer-songwriter Alfonso de Vilallonga are the members of the jury that has selected the ten best works from Catalan universities and film schools to be screened in the categories of Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Original Music. 

 

It’s Bloody Green! 

Once again this year, the SITGES - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia continues to remain steadfast in its commitment to environmental and social sustainability, renewing the "It's Bloody Green!" initiative. This consists of a 12-point decalogue structured around three pillars: environmental sustainability, social and territorial commitment, and strategic and communicative commitment. 

In terms of environmental commitment, the Sitges Film Festival is committed to: protecting the ecosystems affected by the development of the film competition, promoting energy efficiency measures, preventing the generation of waste, prioritizing the use of reusable infrastructures and materials, promoting water saving, reinforcing the use of public transportation through its agreement with RENFE for the late night departure of the Fantastic Train and the reinforcement of the bus lines between the train station and the Hotel Melià, simplifying mobility options and promoting the presence of healthy food options in the menus of the King Kong Area and the Village Festival's gastronomic spaces. 

Regarding social commitment, the Festival is committed to: continuing to promote female talent through initiatives such as WomanInFan and ensuring a Festival free of sexist violence with a Punto Lila (Purple Point); and promoting the local fabric by favoring collaborations with SMEs in Sitges' restaurant sector and fostering synergies with social and educational projects from around the region. 

And in conclusion, we are also committed to implementing a well-founded sustainability strategy, which includes a detailed action plan with key indicators, as well as transparent and ethical communication, including both internal and external actions. 

  

Support for the 56th edition  

Once again this year, the Festival is grateful for the commitment of all the cooperating institutions and companies: Moritz (main sponsor), Cupra (automotive partner), TV3 (official TV network), La Vanguardia (official newspaper), Catalunya Ràdio (official radio station), Meliá Sitges (sponsor and official headquarters), and CaixaBank (strategic partner). 

The Festival confirms its agreements with Aullidos, Cafès Novell, China Madrid, CineAsia, Cineinforme, Cinemania, Cinemascomics, Cinemes Verdi Movie Theaters, Cinesa, Cobega-Coca Cola European Partners, D.O. Ribera del Duero, Droom, La Cruz Roja, Embotits Bundó, Dama, ESCAC, El Cinèfil, Filmax, FNAC, Fotogramas, Fundación Japón, FX Animation, Grup Flaix, Grup Iguana, Grupo Main, HBO Max, Hong Kong Trade Office, Iberia, IES Joan Ramon Benaprès Escola Hostaleria, Manuel Bundó Marqués S.L., Montaz Media, Nació Digital, Netflix, Ocimag, Sitges’ Port d’Aiguadolç Marina, Prime, Reial Cercle Artístic, Renfe, Sensacine, SGAE and Fundación SGAE, TerrorWeekend, The Original Cha-Chá, Tresc, Vertix and Wallbox. 

Sitges 2023 is organized thanks to the participation of the Sitges Town Hall, the Retiro and Casino Prado movie theaters in Sitges, the Catalonian Generalitat’s Department of Culture’s Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals (Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises), and receives financing from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports’ Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts), the Barcelona Diputació (City Council), the Servei Públic d’Ocupació de Catalunya -Conferència Sectorial d'Ocupació i Afers Laborals (Catalan Public Employment Service - Sectorial Conference for Employment and Labor Affairs), and the Carnet Jove - Departament de Benestar i Família (Department of Welfare and Family).