The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, held in Sitges from October 8 to 18, has concluded its 59th edition with the announcement of its official winners. The event, one of the most significant international gatherings for fantasy and genre cinema, once again brought together directors, actors, and industry professionals for a week marked by premieres, honorary awards, and intense activity across its various competitive sections.
The announcement of the winners is particularly significant as it marks the close of one of Europe's premier festivals for horror, science fiction, and fantasy cinema, a genre that continues to gain ground in the audiovisual industry both in theaters and on streaming platforms.
Sanguine takes the Best Film award
The most important award in the Official Fantàstic Competition (SOFC) section, sponsored by Cupra, went to Sanguine, the French film directed by Marion Le Corroller. The jury for this category consisted of Giona Nazzaro, Valeria Vegas, Andy Starke, Alex Litvak, and Merry Colomer.
The Special Jury Prize went to Drag, directed by Greg Yagolnitzer and Raviv Ullman.
Best direction and acting awards
Indonesian director Joko Anwar won the Best Director Award, sponsored by Moritz, for his work on Ghost in the Cell, a title that also took home the Carnet Jove Jury Award for Best Film in the SOFC.
In the acting categories, Jasmine Trinca was recognized as Best Actress for The Spiral, while Benoît Magimel won the award for Best Actor, sponsored by Planet Horror, for Historias de la noche.
The Best Screenplay Award, sponsored by Caixabank, went to Buddy, written by Casper Kelly and Jamie King.
Technical and other SOFC recognitions
Among the technical awards, Raphaël Vandenbussche won Best Cinematography for Océano titánico, and the soundtrack for River, composed by Mondo Boys, won the award for Best Music.
The award for special effects, visual effects, or makeup went to Hong Jeong-ho for his work on Colony. In the short film category, Man Eating Pussy, by Emily Lawson, won the award sponsored by Fotogramas.
The Citizen Kane Award for Best New Director went to Adrian Chiarella for Leviticus.
Noves Visions, Òrbita, and Anima’t
In the Noves Visions section, whose jury was composed of Juan Daniel Fernández Molero, Jeff Goodwin, and Gabriela Martí, the Best Film was Hen, by Nico Scheepers.
The Best Director award was shared ex aequo between Fernando Martínez and Juan González (Burnin' Percebes) for La muerte de Drácula, and Cristian Ponce for Familia teme enfrentar una nueva noche de terror. The Best Short Film in the Petit Format category was also shared between Snakes in Lace, by Martina Pavlíková, and NOIZE, by Javier Rodríguez Pino.
In the Òrbita section, with a jury consisting of Pablo Guisa, Bob Murawski, and Natasha Durán, the Best Film was Gummy, by Javi Prada.
The Anima't animation section, evaluated by Hugh Welchman, Chelo Loureiro, and Mary Yanko, awarded Best Feature Film to We Are Aliens, by Kohei Kadowaki, and Best Short Film to The Flesh Dress, by Joachim Hérissé.
Golden and Silver Méliès
The Golden Méliès Award for Best Fantastic Genre Film, with a jury consisting of Fernando de Felipe, Mihai Chirilov, and Nicole McControversy, went to Feels Like Home, by Gábor Holtai. The Golden Méliès for Best Short Film went to The Old Lady and the Eternity, by Marc Martínez Jordán.
Meanwhile, the Silver Méliès for Best Film, decided by Fred Neuen, Shaun S. Sutton, and Inga Headland Seppala, went to The Spiral, by Paolo Strippoli, while the Best European Short Film was El moribundo, by Laura Guerricaechevarría.
Brigadoon, Sitges Documenta, and FIPRESCI
The Brigadoon Paul Naschy Award for Best Short Film, with a jury composed of Sabina Pujol, Silvia Superstar, and José Luis Salvador Estébenez, went to The Last Snow, by Rodolphe Bouquet-Populus.
In Sitges Documenta, the Best Film was »Dernsie» La vida increíble de Bruce Dern, directed by Mike Mendez.
The FIPRESCI José Luis Guarner Award, granted by the international critics' jury consisting of Raquel Abad, Eirik Bull, and Emanuele Di Nicola, went to The Incomer, by Louis Paxton.
SGAE Nova Autoria
In the SGAE Nova Autoria category, with a jury composed of Mikel Gurrea, Laia Aguilar, and Roque Baños, the awards went to Nausica Serra for Best Direction for Dissecció d'una incoherència en crisi; Amor comestible, by Diana Magallón, for Best Screenplay; and Pablo Garayoa and Lídia Grau for Amber Lights for Best Original Music.
Audience awards
The Grand Audience Award for Best Film in the SOFC, sponsored by La Vanguardia, went to Wildwood, by Travis Knight.
In the other sections, the audience chose 5 minutos más, by Javier Ruiz Caldera, in Sitges Collection; The Fox, by Dario Russo, in Panorama; Kung Fu Deadly, by Fergal Costello, in Midnight X-Treme; No salgas, by Victoria Linares, in Blood Window; and Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert, by Yuen Woo-ping, in Focus Asia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which film won the Best Film award at the Sitges Festival?
The award for Best Film in the Official Section went to Sanguine, directed by French filmmaker Marion Le Corroller.
Who won the Best Director award?
Indonesian director Joko Anwar received the Best Director Award for his film Ghost in the Cell.
Which actors won the acting awards in Sitges?
Jasmine Trinca won the award for Best Actress for The Spiral, and Benoît Magimel won the award for Best Actor for Historias de la noche.
When was the 59th edition of the Sitges Festival held?
The event took place between October 8 and 18 in the Catalan town of Sitges.
What is the Golden Méliès Award and who won it this year?
It is a European recognition for the best fantastic genre cinema. In this edition, the award for Best Film went to Feels Like Home, by Gábor Holtai.
Which film won the Grand Audience Award?
The audience voted for Wildwood, by Travis Knight, as the Best Film in the Official Section.
