View of Sitges waterfront (Barcelona), Catalonia

The Sitges Film Festival: perfect for the keenest cinephiles

Barcelona

The Sitges Film Festival is one of the leading events in the world of film, held in a beautiful location – a small coastal town very close to Barcelona, just 40 kilometres from the Catalan capital. If you want to discover the very best of horror and fantasy film while enjoying the warmth of the sun on your skin as the sea rumbles in the background, this is the festival for you.

A great trajectory

This event has a long history, and has been held every year without interruption since 1968. Moreover, it was the world’s first fantasy film festival, as well as one of the most culturally relevant and long-standing events in Catalonia. Such is its importance that, each year, the festival is attended by figures from the highest echelons of both the international film world, such as Quentin Tarantino and Jodie Foster, and homegrown artists like Álex de la Iglesia. What’s more, the festival is held at two iconic venues: Sitges’ two historic cinemas, El Retiro and El Prado, a building dating back to 1920 which was originally home to the Sitges abattoir, and the Maricel Palace, one of the area’s most iconic structures, which hosts various exhibitions throughout the year and also offers magnificent views of the Mediterranean.

Top: Quentin Tarantino on the red carpet of the Sitges Film festival in Barcelona, Catalonia / Below: Prado Cinema in Sitges (Barcelona), Catalonia

But apart from watching great films and discovering some of the best of international cinema, Sitges has a lot more to offer. Between festival events, you can enjoy some magnificent beaches like Sant Sebastià, where you’ll find various promotional stands during the festival period; take a stroll along the broad esplanade; or lose yourself in the narrow streets teeming with shops and restaurants. 

Lastly, one of the Sitges Film Festival’s most eagerly-awaited events is the Zombie Walk. The event was created for the 41st edition of the festival, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of one of the horror genre’s cult classics: Night of the Living Dead by George A. Romero. This unusual event sees a zombie invasion descend upon Sitges, with hundreds of costumed horror fans marauding through the streets of the small coastal town dealing out frights and laughter. An authentic and unforgettable experience that you won’t want to miss.

How to attend the festival

If you’d like to attend the festival, you can book your tickets on the event’s official website or head straight to the ticket office at the Hotel Meliá Sitges auditorium or the Sitges Tourist Office. Be sure to get them before the end of the booking period indicated on the event’s website! As you can see, the Sitges International Festival offers up an infinite range of possibilities – whether you simply want to enjoy the sea and calm atmosphere between events or you’re eager to invade the town dressed as a zombie. Whichever option you prefer, this event is bound to offer something you’ll love: what we can guarantee is hour after hour of the very best of horror and fantasy films.

Top: Cau Ferrat Museum in Sitges (Barcelona), Catalonia / Below: View of the old town from San Sebastián beach in Sitges (Barcelona), Catalonia
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