The Sitges festival is much more than a film competition. Anyone who wants to star in their own film, must not miss this edition of the festival for the Cursed Filming. A tunnel of terror that runs through an old, abandoned film studio. Consisting of numerous dark rooms, visitors will have the (real) feeling that someone is following them. The impression of being inside a horror film is palpable, and the adrenaline flows as the audience becomes the protagonist of their own cinematic nightmare. A nightmare that they can then view on the big screen, when the participants sit in a room to watch the recording of the visit.
In the King Kong area, the nuns of Paco Plaza, straight out of Hermana muerte, invite you to spend a few minutes in Father Miguel’s confessional. “There are many sinners here in Sitges”, warns one of the sisters, “so we have brought our confessional, where Father Miguel can listen to them”. What happens once inside is a mystery, no one dares to speak after leaving the confessional. But the screams heard from outside intrigue both the director’s most loyal followers and those who have never even seen the film.
In addition to the immersive activities offered by the festival, fans can explore a world of cinematic treasures and collectibles at the fanshops. From Star Wars action figures to exact replicas of Marty McFly’s DeLorean keys in Back to the Future, these businesses are a collector’s paradise. One of the most visited places is Retrolala. Guarded by Chewbacca and a giant gremlin, this store houses gems from the 1970s onwards. An original furby toy, vintage porcelain dolls and classic movie posters. The most colorful? An embalmed fox. “We have it for decoration, but it is also for sale”, says Alexis, the seller.
Two exhibitions complete the festival’s schedule of activities. The surprising and chilling, in Creators of monsters: George A. Romero between creatures and offspring, a tribute to the director of Night of the Living Dead and other horror classics made by plastic artists Elsa Neri and Lady Laudano. For the most nostalgic, Animation! travel through history. From the first days with El cigronet valent to Pablo Berger’s latest feature film, Robot dreams.
