The 57th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia took place from 3 October to 13, 2024, in Sitges, Catalonia, Spain. Steven Soderbergh's psychological thriller film Presence opened the festival, while Alexandre Aja's survival horror film Never Let Go served as the festival's closing film. Austrian historical horror film The Devil's Bath, directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, won the Best Film award.
Background
While some films were announced in July 2024, the complete lineup was revealed on 10 September 2024. The festival's poster, commissioned to design agency CHINA and created through chemical techniques on photography, pays hommage to Tod Browning's 1932 horror film Freaks.
Australian actor Geoffrey Rush will be honoured with the Honorary Grand Prize (Gran Premi Honorífic). French director Alexandre Aja, English actor Nick Frost, American filmmaker Mike Flanagan, American actor Corey Feldman, American actress Heather Langenkamp, Greek-Italian film producer Ovidio G. Assonitis, and American director Fred Dekker, all will be recognized with the Time Machine Award (Premi Màquina del Temps). Additionally, Italian actor Fabio Testi will received the Nosferatu Award (Premio Nosferatu) while French director Christophe Gans will be honored with the Premio Méliès Career, presented by the Méliès International Festivals Federation. On 24 September, it was announced that American actor Giancarlo Esposito will also be honored wit the Time Machine Award, while Spanish director Mar Targarona will be recognized with the WomanInFan Award.
Juries
The juries consists of the following members:
Main competition
- Fred Dekker, American screenwriter and film director.
- Stephen Thrower, English musician and author.
- Carlota Pereda, Spanish director and screenwriter.
- Christophe Gans, French director, producer and screenwriter.
- Lisa Dreyer, director of Fantastic Fest.
Noves Visions
- José Enrique Monterde, Spanish journalist and film critic.
- Rebecca de Pas, Spanish festival programmer.
- Olivia Cooper-Hadjian, French film critic and festival curator.
Anima't
- Bill Kopp, American animator, writer and voice actor.
- Verónica Buide, Spanish consultant, producer and president of Mujeres en la Industria de la Animación (MIA).
- Juanjo Sáez, Spanish cartoonist and illustrator.
Blood Window / Òrbita
- Roxana Ramos, Argentine film producer.
- Douglas Buck, American director and film editor.
- Nahikari Ipiña, Spanish film producer.
Méliès d'Argent
- Álex Mendíbil, Spanish screenwriter and researcher.
- Marysia Nikitiuk, Ukrainian director, screenwriter and fiction writer.
- Victoria McCollum, Northern Irish researcher.
Brigadoon
- Nerea Torrijos, Spanish costume designer.
- Ivan Villamel, Spanish film producer.
- Mariona Borrull Zapata, Spanish journalist and film critic.
Crítica / Méliès d'Or
- Josep M. Bunyol, Spanish film critic.
- Paola Franco, Spanish film critic.
- Sergi Sánchez, Spanish film critic.
SGAE Nova Autoria
- Jaume Balagueró, Spanish director and screenwriter.
- Aina Clotet, Spanish actress and director.
- Francesc Gener Rius, Spanish film composer.
Sections
The films selected for each section are as follows:
Official selection
In competition
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the official competition section:
- Highlighted title indicates Best Feature Film winner.
Out of competition
The following films were selected to be screened out of the competition section:
Órbita
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Órbita section, for films that "stand out for their unique approach and their audience appeal":
- Highlighted title indicates Órbita winner.
Anima't
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Anima't section, for animated films:
- Highlighted title indicates Anima't winner.
Noves Visions
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Noves Visions section, for films "with fantastic genre themes, committed to experimentation, new languages and formats, and the hybridization of genres":
- Highlighted title indicates Noves Visions winner.
Shorts
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Shorts section:
Panorama
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Panorama section, for films previously screened at non-Spanish film festivals:
Serial Sitges
The following series were selected to be screened as a part of the Serial Sitges section:
Nova Autoria
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Nova Autoria section, for short films made by students from Catalan universities and film schools:
- Highlighted title indicates Nova Autoria Best Direction-Production winner.
Sitges Documenta
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Sitges Documenta section:
Midnight X-Treme
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Midnight X-Treme section, for indie and extreme horror films:
Brigadoon
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Brigadoon section, for "independently produced feature films, documentaries and short films with horror and fantastic genre themes":
Sitges Classics
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Sitges Classics section:
Sitges Family
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Sitges Family section, dedicated to film literacy for young people:
Retrospective
The following films were selected to be screened as a part of the Retrospective section, intended to celebrate Tod Browning's 1932 horror film Freaks:
Notes
Awards
The following awards were presented at the 57th Edition:
Official competition
- Best Feature Film: The Devil's Bath by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala
- Special Jury Award: Exhuma by Jang Jae-hyun
- Best Direction: Soi Cheang for Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
- Best Actress: Kristine Froseth for Desert Road
- Best Actor: John Lithgow & Geoffrey Rush for The Rule of Jenny Pen
- Best Screenplay: Aaron Schimberg for A Different Man
- Best Special, Visual or Makeup Effects: Digital District & Machina Infinitum for Else
- Best Music: Die Hewen for Fréwaka
- Best Cinematography: Giovanni Ribisi for Strange Darling
Noves Visions
- Best Film: A Desert by Joshua Erkman
- Best Direction: Grazia Tricarico by Body Odyssey
- Best Short Film: Say Wuff! by Fabian Podeszwa
Méliès d'Argent
- Méliès d'Argent Award for the Best Fantastic Genre Feature Film: Animale by Emma Benestan
- Méliès d'Argent Award for the Best European Fantastic Genre Short Film: Meat Puppet by Eros V
Anima't
- Best Animated Feature Film: Memoir of a Snail by Adam Elliot
- Best Animated Short Film: Free the Chickens by Matúš Vizár
Òrbita
- Best Feature Film: Zero by Jean Luc Herbulot
Critic's Jury
- José Luis Guarner Critics' Award for Best Film in the SOFC: The Devil's Bath by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala
- Citizen Kane Award for Best New Director: Thibault Emin for Else
- Best Short Film in the SOFC: Chew by Félix Dobaire
Brigadoon
- Brigadoon Paul Naschy Award for the Best Short Film: Céntrico by Luso Martínez
SGAE Nova Autoria
- Best Direction-Production: Blava Terra by Marine Auclair & Daru/n by Benjamin Hindrichs
- Best Screenplay: Benjamin Hindrichs for Daru/n
- Best Original Music: Yuliya Protasova for De-Sastre
Carnet Jove Jury
- Best Feature Film in the SOFC: The Devil's Bath by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala
- Best Sitges Documenta Film: Grand Theft Hamlet by Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane
People' Choice Award
- Grand People's Choice Award for Best Feature Film in the SOFC: Strange Darling by JT Mollner
- Panorama Fantàstic People's Choice Award: Handsome Guys by Nam Dong-hyeop
- Sitges Collection People's Choice Award: Dead Talents Society by John Hsu
- Focus Asia People's Choice Award: Dead Talents Society by John Hsu
- Midnight X-Treme People's Choice Award: Die Alone by Lowell Dean
Other awards
- Blood Window Award for Best Feature Film: Mi Bestia by Camila Beltrán
Special awards
- Honorary Grand Prize: Geoffrey Rush
- Time Machine Award: Alexandre Aja, Nick Frost, Mike Flanagan, Corey Feldman, Heather Langenkamp, Ovidio G. Assonitis, Fred Dekker, Giancarlo Esposito
- Nosferatu Award: Fabio Testi
- Méliès Career Award: Christophe Gans
- WomanInFan Award: Mar Targarona
References
External links
- Official website
