56th Sitges Film Festival explained

56th Sitges Film Festival
Opening:Sister Death
Location:Sitges, Catalonia, Spain
Awards:Best Feature Film: When Evil Lurks
Date:5–15 October 2023
Main:Sitges Film Festival
Previous:2022
Next:2024

The 56th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia took place from 5 October to 15, 2023, in Sitges, Catalonia, Spain. The supernatural horror film Sister Death, directed by Paco Plaza, opened the festival.[1] Argentine horror film When Evil Lurks by Demián Rugna won the Best Feature Film Award.[2]

Background

The official artwork for the festival was unveiled on 24 May 2023. Photographed by Nacho Alegre, it was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 film The Birds, conmemorating the 60th anniversary of the film.[3] On 12 September, the festival announced both the recipients for the special awards and the complete lineup.[4] German-American producer Jan Harlan and American director and visual effects supervisor Phil Tippett wil received the Honorary Grand Prize while Spanish director J. A. Bayona, Japanese director Hideo Nakata and American director Lee Unkrich, all will be honored with the Time Machine Award (Premi Màquina del Temps).[5]

Juries

The juries consists of the following members:[6]

Main competition

Noves Visions / Anima't

Blood Window / Òrbita

Méliès d'Argent

Brigadoon

Crítica / Méliès d'Or

SGAE Nova Autoria

Sections

The films selected for each section are as follows:[7]

Official selection

In competition

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
Acid Acide France
Best Wishes to All みなに幸あれ Yuta Shimotsu Japan
Club Zero Austria, United Kingdom
Conann France, Luxembourg, Belgium
When Evil Lurks Cuando acecha la maldad Argentina
Divinity United States
The Animal Kingdom Le Règne animal France
In Flames Canada, Pakistan
It Lives Inside Bishal Dutta United States
Kubi 首 Japan
The Wait La espera Spain
Bitten La Morsure Romain de Saint-Blanquat France
Late Night with the Devil Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes Australia
Red Rooms Les chambres rouges Canada
Flies Moscas Spain, Argentina
Omen Congo, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, South Africa
Riddle of Fire Weston Razooli United States
Robot Dreams Spain, France
Killing Romance 킬링 로맨스 South Korea
Salem France
Sleep 잠 Jason Yu South Korea
Sorcery Brujería Christopher Murray Chile, Mexico, Germany
Stopmotion United Kingdom
The Seeding United States
The Universal Theory Die Theorie von Allem Germany
There's Something in the Barn Magnus Martens Norway
Tiger Stripes Amanda Nell Eu Malaysia, Taiwan, France, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia
Infested Vermines Sébastien Vaniček France
Vincent Must Die Vincent doit mourir Stéphan Castaing France
Wake Up France
White Plastic Sky Műanyag égbolt Tibor Bánóczki, Sarolta Szabó Hungary, Slovakia
Highlighted title indicates Best Feature Film winner.

Out of competition

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
Special Screenings
Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out Jake Van Wagoner United States
Amelia's Children Portugal
Awareness United States, Spain
Blood United States
The Boy and the Heron 君たちはどう生きるか Japan
The Chapel La ermita Spain
Society of the Snow La sociedad de la nieve Spain
Poor Things United Kingdom
Sister Death Hermana Muerte Spain
The Toxic Avenger United States
UFO Sweden Sweden
Midnight Special
God Is a Bullet United States
The Deep Dark Gueules noires France

Shorts

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
Abominations Mike Fontaine United States
Ahora vuelvo Lucas Paulino, Gabe Ibáñez Spain
Bloody Fury Jordan Inconstant France
Callus Ciarán Hickey Ireland
Escape Attempt Alex Topaller, Daniel Shapiro United States, Portugal
Eyestring Javier Devitt United States, Argentina
Fishmonger Neil Ferron United States
Hito Stephen Lopez Philippines
Honk Charles de Lauzirika United States
I'm Not a Robot Victoria Warmerdam Netherlands, Belgium
Intercanvi Alberto Evangelio Spain
Paragon Colin Treneff United States
Pesudo Miquel Díaz Pont Spain
Stop Dead Emily Greenwood United Kingdom
Storm Lena Tsodykovskaya United States
Sugar Rag Jai Love United States, Australia
The Many Worlds of George Goodman Gregg Bishop United States
The Shore Eron Sheean Netherlands, Australia
Anima't
A Night with Moosina Wang Shen Zhi Ye Shiu-Cheng Tsai Taiwan
Astoria Franch Dion France
Bye Bear Jan Bitzer Germany
De Imperio Alessandro Novelli Portugal, Spain
Drijf Levi Stoops Belgium
Eeva Morten Tšinakov, Lucija Mrzljak Estonia, Croatia
Flite United Kingdom
Garden of Remembrance Naoko Yamada Japan
Ghost of the Dark Path Fish Wang Taiwan
La última historia Vicente Molina Spain
Nezumikozō Jirokichi Japan, France
No Room at the Inn United States
Radio-Pilotis Sonia Gerbeaud France, Portugal
Sweet Like Lemons Jenny Jokela United Kingdom, Finland
The Great Arc Camille Authouart France
The Smile Netherlands, Belgium
To Bird or Not to Bird Martín Romero Spain
Special Sessions
ALEXX196 & la plage de sable rose Loïc Hobi France, Switzerland
Dark Cell Jean-Michel Tari France
La ley del más fuerte Raul Monge Spain
Los cómplices Alberto Evangelio Spain
Milk & Cookies Giancarlo Fernandez United Kingdom
Paradero 893 Marc Martínez Pijoan Spain
Tooth Jillian Corsie United States
Venus Jolan Nihilo, Mickaël Dusa France

Órbita

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
Black Flies United States
Concrete Utopia 콘크리트 유토피아 South Korea
Diabolik - Ginko all'attacco! Italy
범죄도시3 Lee Sang-yong South Korea
Jackdaw Jamie Childs United Kingdom
Jericho Ridge Kosovo, United Kingdom
The Extortion La extorsión Argentina
The Night Owl 올빼미 Ahn Tae-jin South Korea
Lumberjack the Monster 怪物の木こり Japan
Mad Fate 命案 Hong Kong
Night of the Hunted France
Property Propriedade Daniel Bandeira Brazil
Smugglers 밀수 South Korea
The Childe 귀공자 South Korea
The Last Stop in Yuma County Francis Galluppi United States
Where the Wind Blows 風再起時 China, Hong Kong
Highlighted title indicates Òrbita winner.

Panorama

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
  1. Manhole
Japan
Appendage Anna Zlokovic United States
Blackout United States
Brooklyn 45 United States
Nick Kozakis Australia
Hood Witch Saïd Belktibia France
Last Straw Alan Scott Neal United States
Let It Ghost Hoi Wong Hong Kong
Nina of the Wolves Nina dei lupi Italy
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls United States
Project Silence 탈출: Project Silence Kim Tae-gon South Korea
Rabia Mexico
Restore Point Bod obnovy Robert Hloz Czech Republic
Superposition Karoline Lyngbye Denmark
The Forbidden Play 禁じられた遊び Japan
The Sacrifice Game Jenn Wexler United States
You'll Never Find Me Josiah Allen, Indianna Bell Australia
Special Screenings
Cuando los amos duermen Santiago Alvarado Spain
Immersion 忌怪島 Japan
The Primevals United States
Tokyo Revengers 2: Bloody Halloween Part 1 東京リベンジャーズ2 血のハロウィン編 運命 Japan
Tokyo Revengers 2: Bloody Halloween Part 2 東京リベンジャーズ2 血のハロウィン編 決戦 Japan

Anima't

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
Deep Sea 深海 Tian Xiaopeng China
Four Souls of Coyote Kojot négy lelke Áron Gauder Hungary
Tender Metalheads Heavies tendres Joan Tomàs, Carlos Pérez-Reche, Juanjo Sáez Spain
Komada – A Whisky Family 駒田蒸留所へようこそ Masayuki Yoshihara Japan
Lonely Castle in the Mirror かがみの孤城 Keiichi Hara, Takakazu Nagamoto Japan
Mars Express Jérémie Périn France
Sand Land Toshihisa Yokoshima Japan
Tony, Shelly and the Magic Light Tonda, Slávka a kouzelné světlo Filip Pošivač Hungary, Solavkia
Special Screenings
Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower 火の鳥 #エデンの花 Shōjirō Nishimi Japan
The Feast of Anrita アムリタの饗宴 Saku Sakamoto Japan
Highlighted title indicates Best Animated Feature Film winner.

Noves Visions

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
All You Need is Death Ireland
Embryo Larva Butterfly Kyros Papavassiliou Greece, Cyprus
For Night Will Come En Attendant la Nuit Céline Rouzet France
Halfway Home Madarász Isti Hungary
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant Canada
Hundreds of Beavers Mike Cheslik United States
In My Mother's Skin Kenneth Dagatan Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan
La última noche de Sandra M. Borja de la Vega Spain
Luka Jessica Woodworth Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Armenia
Mimì: Prince of Darkness Mimì - Il principe delle tenebre Brando De Sica Italy
Mondays: See You "This" Week! Ryo Takebayashi Japan
Monolith Australia
Moon Garden Ryan Stevens Harris United States
Motel Melati Mike Wiluan, Billy Christian Indonesia, Singapore
My Animal Canada
Pandemonium Quarxx France
Raging Grace United Kingdom
River Junta Yamaguchi Japan
Cobweb 거미집 South Korea
The Funeral Orçun Behram Turkey
The Invisible Fight Estonia, Lithuania, Greece, Finland
The Last Ashes Läif a Séil Luxembourg, Belgium
The Uncle David Kapac, Andrija Mardesic Serbia, Croatia
The Vourdalak Le Vourdalak Adrien Beau France
Where the Devil Roams Zelda Adams, John Adams, Toby Poser United States
Petit Format
A Kind of Girl Who Knows Blanche Seyoung Lee South Korea
Collection of Extremely Short Stories Pedro Villaça Brazil
Cultes David Padilla France
Days of Spring Arianne Hinz Netherlands
Gable Theo Taplitz United States
Half-Dream Jan Grabowski Poland
Mothers and Monsters Canada
Pruning United States
Retrodreaming Alisa Berger Germany, Japan
Spoor Statten Roeg, Sunita Soliar United Kingdom, Mexico
The Old Young Crow Liam Lopinto Japan, United States
Zero at the Bone Erin Grant United States
Petit Format - Special Sessions
Mamántula Ion de Sosa Germany, Spain
Print the Legend Victor Matellano Spain
We Are Animals Thijs Bouman Netherlands
Highlighted title indicates Noves Visions winner.

Series

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
30 Coins 30 monedas Spain
El otro lado Javier Ruiz Caldera, Alberto de Toro Spain
Luz en la oscuridad: Daniela, dulce y bella Spain
Romancero Tomás Peña Spain, United States

Nova Autoria

TitleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)University/School
California Albert Mariné Spain Escola de Cinema de Reus
El último recuerdo Javier Sáez Spain International University of Catalonia
Fuego amigo Asha Ruiz Spain Catalonia Film School
Lifetime Ariadna Puigdemasa Spain Escola de Disseny i Arts Visuals LCI Barcelona
Los Frustrado Martí Rovira Cortada Spain Tecnocampus, Escola Superior Politècnica
Not Yet Pau Ballesté Aguirre, Maria Bros Carreras, Jorge Librero Cano Spain Autonomous University of Barcelona
O que me parta un rayo Karen Joaquín Spain Escola de Cinema de Barcelona
Tenemos patria Mikel Garrido Linares Spain Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya
The Sun Thief Joan Cerdà Monterio, Maria Agustina Montaña Spain L'IDEM Barcelona, Creative Arts School
Tiet Iris Dalmau Spain FX ANIMATION Barcelona 3D & Film School

Sitges Documenta

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
A Disturbance in the Force Jeremy Coon, Steve Kozak United States
Dario Argento Panico Simone Scafidi United Kingdom
Dream Time Claudio Lattanzi Italy
Enter the Clones of Bruce David Gregory United States
Kaidan: Strange Stories of Japanese Ghosts Yves Montmayeur France
Kim's Video David Redmon, Ashley Sabin United States
Living with Chucky Kyra Elise Gardner United States
Loch Ness: They Created a Monster John MacLaverty United Kingdom
Mujeres sin censura Eva Vizcarra Spain
Otra película maldita Alberto Fasce, Mario Varela Argentina
The History of Metal and Horror Mike Schiff United States
Satan Wants You Canada
Sharksploitation Stephen Scarlata United States
Spooktacular Quinn Monahan United States
The Darkside of Society United States
The J-Horror Virus Sarah Appleton, Jasper Sharp Japan, United Kingdom
1 Million Zombies: The Story of Plaga Zombie Un millón de zombies: La historia de Plaga Zombie Nicanor Loreti, Camilo de Cabo Argentina
You Can Call Me Bill Alexandre O. Philippe United States

Midnight X-Treme

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
All You Need is Blood Cooper Roberts United States
Kill Nikhil Nagest Bhat India
Mad Cats Reiki Tsuno Japan
I'll Crush Y'all Os reviento Kike Narcea Spain
The Well Italy
The Wrath of Becky Matt Angel, Suzanne Coote United States
Triggered Richard V. Somes Philippines
We Are Zombies RKSS (François Simard, Anouk Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell) Canada
United Kingdom

Brigadoon

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
Feature Film Premieres
Auxilio Tamae Garateguy Argentina
Thorns Douglas Schulze United States
Maria , Nicanor Loreti Argentina
The Barn Part II United States
Documentaries
Mancunian Man: The Legendary Life of Cliff Twemlow United Kingdom
Dario Argento's Museum of Horrors Il museo degli orrori di Dario Argento Italy
Nosferatu Award Barbara Bouchet
The Red Queen Kills Seven Times (1972) La dama rossa uccide sette volte Italy
Amuck! (1972) Alla ricerca del piacere Italy
Caliber 9 (1972) Milano calibro 9 Italy
Black Belly of the Tarantula (1971) La tarantola dal ventre nero Italy
Special Screenings
Il Boss (1973) Italy
Somebody is Watching You (1988) Alguien te está mirando , Argentina
Plaga Zombie (1997) Pablo Parés, Hernán Sáez Argentina
Monster Heaven: Ghost Hero (1990) 妖怪天国・ゴーストヒーロー Japan
Cut and Run (1985) Inferno in diretta Italy
Take a Hard Ride (1975) La parola di un fuorilegge... è legge! Italy
Maria's Stomach (1990) マリアの胃袋 Japan
The Atlantis Interceptors (1983) I predatori di Atlantide Italy
Tintorera (1977) Mexico
Samurai Ninja Onimanji (2023) Japan
Great White (1981) L'ultimo squalo Italy
Door (1988) Italy
Hall of Frame: María Luisa Pino (2023) Guillermo López Aliaga, Fran Mateu Spain
The Reluctant Icon: A Tribute to Laura Gemser (2023) Kier-La Janisse United States, Canada
Blood-Sucking Tree (1992) 吸血木 Shunji Iwai, Masaharu Ota, Akira Yoneta Japan
The Swamp of the Ravens (1974) El pantano de los cuervos Manuel Caño Spain
Santo in the Vengeance of the Mummy (1971) Santo en la venganza de la momia Carlos Aured Spain
Oldboy (2003) 올드보이 South Korea
Santo Contra los Zombies (1961) Mexico
Humanoid Puppet (1992) Hidehiro Ito Japan

Sitges Classics

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
Acción mutante (1993) Spain
Don't Torture a Duckling (1972) Non si sevizia un paperino Italy
Caligula - The Ultimate Cut (1979) United States, Italy
Contempt (1963) Le Mépris France
Enter the Game of Death (1978) 十字手拳 Lee Tso-nam Hong Kong
The Raid (2011) Indonesia
Extra Terrestrial Visitors (1983) Los nuevos extraterrestres Spain
The Shining (1980) United States
The Exorcist (1973) United States
Lake Michigan Monster (2018) Ryland Brickson Cole Tews United States
Pet Sematary (1989) United States
Psychic Vision: Jaganrei (1988) Japan
King Kong (1933) United States
The Wicker Man (1973) United Kingdom
Black Sunday (1960) La maschera del demonio Italy
The Dragon Lives Again (1977) 李三腳威震地獄門 Law Kei Hong Kong
Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Italy
Siesta (1987) United States
Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director's Edition United States
Anima't
The Masters of Time (1982) Les Maîtres du temps France, Hungary, Switzerland
The Soldier's Tale (1984) United States
100 Years of Walt Disney Animation Studios: An Hommage to Its Short Films (2023) Various authors United States
Panic City
Don't Look Now (1973) A Venezia... un Dicembre rosso shocking United Kingdom
Hollywood 90028 (1973) Christina Hornisher United States
Pájaros de ciudad (1983) José María Sánchez Álvaro Spain, Italy
Naked Lunch (1991) Canada, United Kingdom
A House Without Boundaries (1972) La casa sin fronteras Spain
God Told Me To (1976) United States
The Last Days (2013) Los últimos días Álex Pastor, David Pastor Spain
Seven Chances
The Fourth Victim (1971) In fondo alla piscina Spain, Italy
La Venere d'Ille (1979) Italy
Los leprosos y el sexo (1970) Mexico
(1985) O-bi, o-ba: Koniec cywilizacji Poland
The Appointment (1980) Lindsey C. Vickers United Kingdom
The McPherson Tape (1989) Dean Alioto United States
Twilight (1990) Szürkület Hungary

Awards

The following awards were presented at the 56th Edition:[8]

Official competition

Noves Visions

Méliès d'Argent

Anima't

Òrbita

Critic's Jury

Brigadoon

SGAE Nova Autoria

Carnet Jove Jury

People' Choice Award

Other awards

Special awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Hermana muerte', la precuela de 'Verónica' de Paco Plaza, inaugurará el Festival de Sitges 2023 antes de su paso por Netflix. Fotogramas. Fran. Chico. 18 May 2023. 16 September 2023. es.
  2. Web site: Cuando acecha la maldad consigue el premio a la mejor película en el Festival de Cine de Sitges 2023. Sitges. 14 October 2023. 15 October 2023. es.
  3. Web site: The 56th edition unveils its image. Sitges Film Festival. 24 May 2023. 16 September 2023.
  4. Web site: Festival de Sitges 2023: J.A. Bayona, Yorgos Lanthimos y Hayao Miyazaki completan la programación. Fotogramas. Fran. Chico. 12 September 2023. 16 September 2023. es.
  5. Web site: El Festival de Sitges premiará a Bayona, Hideo Nakata y Jan Harlan. Europa Press. 12 September 2023. 16 September 2023. es.
  6. Web site: Jury 2023. Sitges Film Festival. 16 September 2023.
  7. Web site: The Festival's 56th Edition Kicks Off by Announcing its Complete Lineup. Sitges Film Festival. 12 September 2023. 17 September 2023.
  8. Web site: 56th Edition Award Winners. Sitges Film Festival. 15 October 2023.

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