We Present the Festival's Main Pillars Seven Days Before its Kickoff

One week before the start of the 58th edition, we present the latest developments, emphasizing the gender perspective and the transmission of the fantastic genre in all its diversity. The Festival adapts its programming to different generations of viewers and continues its commitment to increasing dialogue among film industry professionals.

Barcelona, October 2, 2025. At the Filmoteca de Catalunya film archive, Ángel Sala, Artistic Director of SITGES – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, and the General manager of the Foundation, Mònica Garcia i Massagué, held the institutional press conference for the benchmark fantastic film competition one week before its kickoff on Thursday, which will be on Thursday, October 9. The press conference was attended by the Director of the Institut Català d'Empreses Culturals (Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises - ICEC), Edgar Garcia Casellas, and the Mayor of Sitges, Aurora Carbonell. Carbonell announced that, in honor of the Festival, “a permanent, three-meter-tall statue of King Kong will be inaugurated and installed at Sitges’ Sant Sebastià Beach.” And, according to Massagué, “as of today, 14% more tickets have been sold than last year at this point.”

During the presentation event, the Festival's main areas were recalled. Naturally, the spotlight was on the most eagerly awaited films and encounters with both domestic and international celebrities such as Carmen Maura, Benedict Cumberbatch and Terry Gilliam, in addition to the extensive lineup of Sitges Industry and Parallel Activities. All this without overlooking the fact that Sitges is stepping up its pledge to sustainability under the same slogan as 2024 – ‘We Are Legend’ – preserving its environmental commitment through a program that directly impacts the health of the surrounding territory. 

The event also served to present the official Sitges 2025 commercial spot. Filmed from behind using a sequence shot, the sinister archetype of the psycho-killer who intimidates people with phone calls—in line with the killers in Scream and Black Christmas—reminds us that horror and comedy make good roommates. Following the theme of the poster designed by the CHINA agency, the skull with a clown nose, Sitges makes things crystal clear. After a good scare, a good belly laugh can follow.

Destination Derry With No Return Ticket 

If there's a universe that was screaming out to be expanded on, it's undoubtedly the universe of Pennywise the clown, the seventh art's most feared clown. Sitges will offer an exclusive screening of the first few minutes of the pilot episode of It: Welcome to Derry, the new HBO series premiering on October 27th on the Max platform. In it, we will discover the origins of the sinister clown with the pointy teeth and snake eyes. During the presentation, we will be joined by executive producers Bárbara Muschietti and Andy Muschietti, the duo behind the two-part film adaptation of Stephen King's famous novel It, first published in the US in 1986.

On this occasion, the Muschietti siblings take us back to 1960s America, long before the terrible events that affected a group of teenagers in the two It movies, released in 2017 and 2019. This new series serves as a prequel to these two films, and brings us back to the diabolical birth of the famous monster that devours children in the town of Derry, played once again by the unsettling Bill Skarsgård.

A key piece of the Serial Sitges section, It: Welcome to Derry shares the program with other episodic proposals. As we already mentioned in previous announcements, we will also show Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order, an AMC Networks series. The most intriguing true-crime comes from Carles Porta with 33 días and the new episodes of Crims, the 3cat series produced in collaboration with Goroka and The True Crime Factory. The delirious comedy, on the other hand, comes from Atresplayer. It is titled Rafaela y su loco mundo and is created by Aníbal Gómez.

Committed to the Creators of Tomorrow 

Sitges Industry has always stood out as a direct source of support for genre productions of tomorrow. From this platform -that promotes projects in their embryonic phase or in post-production – many success stories have emerged, among them the satanic When Evil Lurks by Argentinean director Demián Rugna – a major award winner at Sitges 2023 that cleverly establishes a dialogue with John Carpenter's filmmaking – and the intense drama about school bullying Tiger Stripes, directed by Malaysian filmmaker Amanda Nell Eu, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival's Critics' Week in 2024. 

This year, Sitges Industry will be held in the Festival's Garbí Room and Norai Marquee with a major new addition to the lineup. We're referring to MaestrAs, a cycle that picks up where last year's highly successful Horror Girls conferences left off, to develop a series of encounters between leading female creators from the contemporary fantastic and horror genre scene. This allows us to get closer to them so we can learn about their careers and their own particular vision of the film industry. From the award-winning director of Titane and Alpha, Julia Ducournau, to the casting director of Stranger Things, Carmen Cuba; to veteran personalities with decades of experience, such as producer Gale Anne Hurd, actresses Carmen Maura, Nancy Loomis, and Barbara Crampton, or cult director Mary Harron, who will be having an essential conversation with Sitges 2022's breakthrough director, Carlota Pereda. These high-profile names -already confirmed on our 2025 Artists list- are part of the pioneering WomanInFan initiative, which will feature the Fantastic Residency, aimed at promising young female filmmakers in collaboration with DAMA.

As is tradition, Sitges is not only seen on screen. It is also read. We highlight the arrival of two publications edited by Hermenaute that will delight fans of horror cinema. Under the WomanInFan label comes Horror Girls: Estados Unidos & Canadá, which invites us to explore monstrous territory through a female perspective. From the silent era of Lois Weber to the global phenomenon of The Walking Dead produced by Gale Anne Hurd. The authors featured in the book are Ángel Sala, Heidi Honeycutt, Shelagh Rowan-Legg, Amanda Reyes, Alexandra West and Paul Corupe under the direction of Mònica Garcia i Massagué.

The second notable publication we are also announcing is Risas y escalofríos, a collective essay on two apparently antagonistic drives: fear and laughter (the great leitmotif of this year). Contributors include Violeta Kovacsics, Lluís Rueda, Guillermo Triguero, Víctor Matellano and Gerard Casau, coordinated by Jordi Sánchez-Navarro and Ángel Sala.

New Format, Greater Dialogue 

No less important are the popular Encounters, a golden opportunity to attend exclusive talks given by leading personalities from different generations. Troma Films co-founder Lloyd Kaufman, cult director Joe Dante, and French actor Dominique Pinon will take center stage in sessions of stimulating conversations. 

However, the format has undergone some changes. For this 58th edition, Sitges is proposing a hybrid of the classic encounter concept -a talk with the audience where artists share their particular vision of a film or field- and the now traditional press conferences. 

This way, journalists and fans share the same space to listen and speak with internationally renowned celebrities such as Julia Ducournau, Emilie Blichfeldt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Wheatley, and Scott Derrickson. This promotes a sort of Q&A with different audiences, open to a wide range of questions.

The Pioneer Who Paved the Way Forward 

In addition, Sitges Industry will also be in charge of presenting the first Josefina Molina Award for Best Fantastic Feature Film Screenplay by a Woman. This joint initiative from the SGAE Foundation and the Sitges Film Festival, in collaboration with WomanInFan, promotes the presence of contemporary female voices in fantastic and horror genre filmmaking, acknowledging their quality and originality when it comes to writing screenplays. The award, valued at €10,000, is named after filmmaker Josefina Molina, a pioneer in Spanish fantastic genre with Vera, un cuento cruel. This intriguing film from 1973, rediscovered by the Seven Chances section, paved the way for generations of cinematic creation. During the Festival, the winner of the Award will be presented at a public event that will serve as a tribute to Molina and female fantastic genre scriptwriters. 

Finally, industry activities will be ideally complemented by other activities that directly impact networking, such as Producers Meet Producers, the Film Financing Market, Sitges Coming Soon, and Sitges FanPitch, an initiative that, incidentally, has helped to promote Lucid. We're referring to a feature film set in a stimulating, dreamlike universe, shot in 35 mm and co-directed by first-time feature film directors Ramsey Fendall and Deanna Milligan, who are competing this year in the Noves Visions section.

Zombies and Popcorn from the Heart of Sitges 

Meanwhile, the Festival will once again be screening films in Sitges' old town. The Parallel Activities Department returns to the Mercat Vell Room, located in Plaça de l'Ajuntament (Town Hall Square), which will become an official venue. In addition to the Sitges Family lineup, which focuses on attracting new audiences and generations, another new feature is the Popcorn Screenings sponsored by Frit Ravich. This type of screenings - halfway between documentary memory and monstrous delirium - will turn the Festival's most family-friendly venue into a celebration of love of cinema. 

Equally notable is the famous Zombie Walk, which faces the challenge of staging an even more epic parade than last year. On this occasion, the country's most festering march from beyond the grave will feature some very special guests. This year 2025, the Zombie Walk will be held in the delightful presence of the crew from Re-Animator, an undisputed classic among 80s horror comedies, directed by the much-missed Stuart Gordon, and which won the Award for Best Feature Film at Sitges 1985. The iconic actress Barbara Crampton and composer Richard Band will be accompanying the best hordes of the undead on a historic night for the Festival.

Fantastic and Horror, Beyond the Movie Theaters 

Throughout the film competition, the Parallel Activities also include a series of exhibitions that can be visited free of charge for the duration of the Festival. 

At the Miramar - Cultural Center, the poster for “Jaws, 50 Years of Terror Underwater” catches the eye. In the promotional image for this exhibition, Sitges' Ribera Beach is transformed into a veritable apocalypse of sea creatures. The scene is absolutely priceless. Steven Spielberg's Jaws threatens the crew of the Orca -which celebrates its half-century this year- and the green amphibian from Creature from the Black Lagoon converses with Roger Corman's giant crabs; while Eugène Lourié's legendary city-destroying dinosaur prepares to invade the coast. In this way, the exhibition honors the fertile imagination of underwater terror, before and after Jaws, through a visit that includes a children's area for younger film lovers. 

At the same time, the Estudi Vidal (Vidal Studio) in Sitges is hosting an intermittent exhibition of gothic horror in an operating room. 'The Horror Happening. Come to the Morgue' will delight all lovers of 1980s horror films. It features the new art installation by Salou-born actress and playwright Cristina Muñoz, dedicated to the film Re-Animator, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. 

The venue, decorated to resemble Dr. Herbert West's laboratory, allows visitors to interact with the elements in it, turning them into improvised actors in a chilling scene. Participants are the stars of a theatrical sequence somewhere between laughter and fear, key ingredients of Sitges' leitmotif this year. 

Also under the umbrella of Parallel Activities, director and producer Borja Crespo, together with his team of illustrators, presents ‘Fun & Terror. Cinema, Comix, Humor, and Horror’. At the exit from the screenings at the Meliá Hotel Auditori, Sitges' moviegoers will be able to rediscover the fantastic universe through his lighthearted and ironic approach. An explosion of creativity that celebrates pop culture in its most mischievous version, among monsters, laughter, and colorful nightmares. 

Finally, Sitges' schools will have their own space within the context of the film competition. Thanks to the Artkids exhibition at the Miramar - Cultural Center, imagination will take hold of primary school students during the Festival. Children from Escola Pia, Miquel Utrillo, Maria Ossó, and IES Benaprès will be involved in all kinds of artistic creations inspired by the myths and legends of The Goonies, Toy Story, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

CUPRA and Cinema Inspire the World

For the third consecutive year, CUPRA reaffirms its role as the Festival’s automotive partner, strengthening its commitment to the world of cinema and its mission to continue inspiring the world from Barcelona. This collaboration not only celebrates fantastic cinema but also supports new generations through The Dream Makers, an initiative of the SEAT CUPRA Foundation that brings together two competitions: the Short Film Contest, which produces short films by young filmmakers, and the Film Studies Contest, which awards full scholarships for training in audiovisual and film studies at ESCAC.

This year, during the Festival’s opening gala, the short film Señuelo by Martha Ayerbe will be presented, one of the winners of the Short Film Contest. Developed under the mentorship of J. A. Bayona, a key figure in the project’s creative guidance, the short film represents the emerging talent that the Sitges Foundation and CUPRA promote through The Dream Makers. The piece not only reflects the vision of a new generation of filmmakers, it also reinforces CUPRA’s commitment to cinema and artistic innovation.

In addition, as part of this commitment, CUPRA will award €20,000 to the winner of the Best Film Award, which is presented within the Official Fantastic Competition Section. This financial contribution will be allocated to supporting the distribution of the winning film in Spain, thereby helping it reach a wider audience and have a greater impact on the national film scene.

More Energy That's Even More Sustainable Through REPSOL 

For the second consecutive year, the Sitges Festival is powered by Repsol’s energy solutions to reduce its carbon footprint. The festival’s generators will run on approximately 6,300 liters of renewable fuel, helping to cut around 17.5 tons of CO₂ emissions. In addition, the company will supply renewable fuels for the Festival’s vehicle fleet.

Repsol will also provide solar energy to power various festival facilities, such as the Mirador photocall, the King Kong Area, and the company’s own space set up during the event, where attendees will be able to recharge their mobile phones. Finally, the Festival’s electric vehicle fleet will have access to the fast-charging point located at Repsol’s service station in Sant Pere de Ribes.

New Edition of the Carnet Jove Jury 

The Carnet Jove Jury, organized by the Sitges Festival in collaboration with the Catalan Youth Agency, reaches its 21st edition with over 100 participants who have served as jury members over the past two decades. In this edition, the Carnet Jove Jury Award for the best film in the Official Fantastic Section and the Sitges Documenta Award for the best documentary production are presented once again.

The jury delegation includes the following members: Lucía Fabó Oses, from Reus, serving as president; Pepe Rico Piqué, from Lleida; Marc Negra Panadès, from Terrassa; Javier Méndez Cañada, from Masquefa; and Martina Rodríguez Correa, from Alella. Among other benefits for Carnet Jove holders at the Festival are discounts on ticket purchases, as well as the already established Carnet Jove Pack.

La Terremoto de Alcorcón to Host the 25th Anniversary of the SGAE Nova Autoria Awards

The unmistakable Terremoto de Alcorcón will serve as the master of ceremonies for the 25th birthday of the SGAE Nova Autoria Awards, organized by the General Society of Authors and Publishers (SGAE) and the SGAE Foundation through SGAE’s Territorial Council in Catalonia. With her charisma and flair, “La Terre” will enliven the celebration where the new talents of Catalan audiovisual production will be unveiled. The event will take place on Saturday, October 11, starting at 5:30 PM, at the Cañateca in Sitges.

Earlier that day, starting at 3:30 PM, the public will have the opportunity to attend the screening of the nine finalist works at Cine Prado. These films, selected from universities and film schools across Catalonia, are contenders in the categories of Best Direction, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Music. For this 25th anniversary edition, a total of 41 works were submitted (29 fiction, 7 animation, and 5 documentaries) from 18 institutions.

The 2025 jury is composed of director and screenwriter Belén Funes, writer and screenwriter Laia Aguilar, and film and television composer Francesc Gener. Part of the official Sitges Festival awards, the SGAE Nova Autoria Awards have become an essential platform for discovering and giving visibility to the new voices in Catalan audiovisual production.

Support for the 58th Edition

This year, festival screenings will take place in the following official circuit venues: Auditorio Meliá Sitges, Sala Tramuntana, Sala Llevant (Brigadoon), Cine Casino Prado de Sitges, Escorxador – Centre Cultural, and Centre Cultural Miramar.

Once again, the Festival thanks the commitment of its collaborating entities and companies: Moritz (main sponsor), CUPRA (automotive partner), Repsol (energy partner), CaixaBank (strategic partner), TV3, Catalunya Ràdio, and 3CAT (official television and radio), La Vanguardia (official newspaper), and Meliá Sitges (sponsor and official venue).

The Festival also confirms agreements with AMC - Dark TV, Aullidos, Campari, China Madrid, Cinesa, Cines Verdi, Cobega-Coca Cola European Partners, Cruz Roja, Dama Autores, Droom, Embotits Bundó, ESCAC, FNAC, Fotogramas, Frit Ravich, Fundación Japón, FX Animation, HBO Max, Grup Flaix FM, Grup Iguana, Grupo Prisa, Iberia, IES Joan Ramon Benaprès, Escuela de Hostelería, Grupo Main, Montaz Media, Ocimag, Port d’Aiguadolç, Reial Cercle Artístic, Renfe, SGAE and Fundación SGAE, Salicrú, Sensacine, Transperfect Translations S.L., The Original Cha-Chá, TikTok, Tresc, Vertix, and The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.

Sitges 2025 is organized thanks to the involvement of the Sitges Town Council, the Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia, and the cinemas Casino Prado de Sitges and Escorxador – Centre Cultural. The Festival is funded by the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts of the Ministry of Culture, the Diputació de Barcelona, and Carnet Jove – Department of Social Rights and Inclusion.