Sitges Film Festival
Sitges, Catalonia, Spain
Festival at a Glance
Festival Website
Contact Email
Event Dates
October 8–18, 2026
Submission Fee
Features (general categories, Official Fantàstic, Brigadoon, Sitges Family, Coming Soon): Early (Feb 23–Jun 18, 2026) €80, Final (Jun 19–Jul 17, 2026) €90 Shorts (general categories, Official Fantàstic, Brigadoon, Sitges Family): Early €60, Final €70
Festival Type
International competitive fantastic genre film festival (fantasy, horror, sci-fi, thriller, black comedy, animation/anime, action-adventure); world’s #1 fantastic film event with longstanding history since 1968, featuring premieres, retrospectives, industry market, and awards qualifying for Oscars in shorts categories
Suitable For
Genre filmmakers (features/shorts in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, etc., especially for Spanish/European premieres); enthusiasts of fantastic cinema seeking innovative and provocative works; industry pros for networking, distribution, and Q&As
Estimated Participants
~170,000–180,000 (based on 2025: 178,171 total participants including parallel activities; 130,322 viewers)
Location
Sitges, Barcelona, Spain (main venue: Auditori at Melià Sitges Hotel; other cinemas and sites across town)
Festival Location
Acceptance Difficulty
Easy
Moderate
Very Competitive
Festival Guide
OverView
Film Submission Details
Participators
Technical Specs
Requirements
Genres
Travel Perks
Past Winners
Success Story
Festival Overview
The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya) is a dynamic annual event dedicated to celebrating fantastic cinema, held in the coastal town of Sitges near Barcelona, Spain. Established in 1968, it has grown into the world’s leading platform for discovering and promoting genre films, with a strong emphasis on horror, fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, animation, and emerging filmmakers from around the globe.
As an international event focused primarily on fantastic genres, the festival offers a genuine journey through the cinema of yesterday and today. It showcases exclusive premieres of highly anticipated genre works, hidden gems, films previously unreleased in Spain, international premieres, retrospectives, tributes, focus programs on specific themes or creators (such as WomanInFan for women in the industry), and educational initiatives like Ventana Cinéfila for young audiences, serving as a vibrant showcase for innovative projects from both renowned directors and new talents.
Who Is sitges film festival Best For?
The Sitges Film Festival (Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia) stands out as a key reference for discovering fantastic cinema, blending accessible public engagement with a strong focus on emerging talents, innovative storytelling, and cross-cultural exchanges within the genre world. Held annually in the coastal town of Sitges near Barcelona, Spain, it caters to a wide spectrum of participants from passionate cinephiles and curious newcomers to industry professionals and international filmmakers but shines brightest for young and emerging filmmakers, dedicated fantastic cinema enthusiasts, and the general public seeking an approachable, emotionally immersive festival experience without the exclusivity of larger events like Cannes.
✅ Good Fit If
- Your film is an independent or auteur-driven fantastic genre feature, short, documentary, or animation with artistic merit, innovative storytelling, or themes exploring horror, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, black comedy, action-adventure, or personal freedoms.
- You are aiming for a Spanish premiere (required for most sections), and your film has not screened at major Spanish festivals or been commercially released in Spain.
- Your project has strong narrative, social, or investigative relevance, and is produced in 2025/2026 (features min 60 min, shorts max 30 min).
❌ Not a Good Fit If
- Your film is primarily commercial, non-genre driven without independent appeal (while blockbusters can premiere if fantastic, competition favors indies).
- The film is already widely released or broadcast in Spain or has screened at major Spanish events.
- You are looking for easy acceptance (highly competitive, with only select films chosen annually).
Who Might Not Be a Good Fit?
Low-budget projects without strong narrative or artistic identity.
Films already available online, on TV, or theatrically released in France/Europe.
Commercial studio-driven projects without a non-U.S. productions (must be European-made or co-produced).
key festival Facts
Founded:
1968
Location:
Sitges, Spain
Festival Type:
International / Fantastic Genre Films / Public Open
Frequency:
Annual (October)
Submission Platform:
https://festhome.com/festival/sitges-festival-internacional-de-cinema-fantastic-de-catalunya
Premiere Status:
Spanish premiere required (especially for competition); not commercially released in Spain, not screened at major Spanish festivals, and preferably European or world premiere for key sections (focus on films previously unreleased in Spain/Europe, with priority to international premieres).
Film Submission Details
Based on previous editions (e.g., for the 2025 edition held November 7–16, 2025, submissions were open with a deadline around August 10, 2025; selection typically closes end of August or mid-September), they typically open several months in advance often in spring/summer of the festival year with deadlines in late summer (July/August) for the November festival. There is no registration fee. Submissions are free, and there is no entry fee.
(Note: The festival selects primarily long fiction features under 12 months old, mainly European-produced/co-produced, requiring French premiere status, unreleased commercially in France (no TV/streaming), and not screened at other major French festivals. Check the official site for the latest call when it opens, usually via the “Participer au festival” or “Submit a film” section.)
Submission Notes:
Based on previous editions (e.g., for the 2025 edition held October 3–13, 2025, submissions were open with a deadline around July 15, 2025), they typically open several months in advance often in February of the festival year with deadlines in late summer (July) for the October festival. For 2026, submissions open on February 23, 2026, at 12 noon (CET) and close on July 17, 2026, at 12 noon (CET).
There is a registration fee. Submissions are not free, and there is an entry fee.
(Note: The festival selects primarily long fiction features under 12 months old, mainly European-produced/co-produced, requiring Spanish premiere status, unreleased commercially in Spain (no TV/streaming), and not screened at other major Spanish festivals. Check the official site for the latest call when it opens, usually via the “Participate in the festival” or “Submit a film” section.)
General Requirements:
- Films must be produced in 2025 or 2026.
- Must not have been commercially released in Spain (no theatrical, Blu-ray/DVD, TV, VOD/streaming, or online platforms).
- Must not have screened at other major Spanish festivals or events.
- Priority given to Spanish premieres; European or world premieres preferred for competitive sections.
- Films cannot be previously posted online (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo) for general, Brigadoon, or Sitges Family categories.
- All nationalities are eligible, but productions must be unreleased in Europe for key competitive sections.
- Works in progress (WIPs) are accepted if clearly indicated (check box or note in parentheses after title); however, the Selection Committee views submissions only once—no resubmissions of finished versions.
- Multiple films from the same submitter are allowed, but each requires a separate submission and fee.
- Resubmissions of previously unselected films are permitted but require a new fee and are unlikely to be selected.
- Withdrawals do not qualify for refunds.
Genres & Program Sections
Fantastic cinema / genre films (described as “World’s #1 Fantastic Film Festival”; focus on fantastic, Ibero-American fantastic genre filmmaking)
Success Stories
The festival has launched careers and generated awards buzz for films like Possessor Uncut, Lamb, and The Ugly Stepsister, many of which went on to premiere at Cannes, Sundance, or win international awards.
Recent highlights include Emilie Blichfeldt’s The Ugly Stepsister winning Best Feature Film in 2025 and Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice taking Best Director in 2025. It has honored icons like Guillermo del Toro and hosted stars like Rose Byrne, enhancing global visibility for fantastic cinema.
Awards & Recognition :
Best Film (Official Fantàstic In-Competition Selection): Awarded by the international jury to the best feature film in the Official Fantastic Competition, recognizing outstanding artistic merit and innovation. Endowed with a trophy; additional perks may include distribution visibility in Spain and Europe.
Special Jury Prize (Official Fantàstic In-Competition Selection): Awarded by the jury for special achievement in the Official Fantastic Competition. Endowed with a trophy.
Best Director (Official Fantàstic In-Competition Selection): Awarded by the jury for best direction. Endowed with a trophy.
Best Male Performance (Official Fantàstic In-Competition Selection): Awarded by the jury for best male performance. Endowed with a trophy.
Best Female Performance (Official Fantàstic In-Competition Selection): Awarded by the jury for best female performance. Endowed with a trophy.
Best Screenplay (Official Fantàstic In-Competition Selection): Awarded by the jury for best screenplay. Endowed with a trophy.
Best Cinematography (Official Fantàstic In-Competition Selection): Awarded by the jury for best photography. Endowed with a trophy.
Travel Perks :
Flight/Hotel Coverage:
The Sitges Film Festival typically covers accommodation (and sometimes travel expenses) for selected filmmakers, directors, and key guests, such as those with films in competition, special sections, or invited for tributes. This coverage is usually provided for the duration of the festival (often several days during the 10-day event). However, coverage may be limited to a specific number of nights or representatives per film, and it does not always cover all expenses or full travel for everyone.
Per Diems:
The festival often provides a per diem to help cover meals and incidental expenses for invited participants during their stay at the festival.
Official Invitation Letters:
Official invitation letters are available upon request to assist filmmakers and international guests with visa applications and entry requirements.