Sitges News

Julia Ducournau’s Alpha to Open Sitges 2025 Festival

The 58th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival will be inaugurated by Alpha, directed by Julia Ducournau—making her the third woman ever to open the festival. This intense body-horror drama explores themes of disease, adolescence, and climate collapse. The festival runs from October 9 to 19, 2025, and promises a strong focus on horror-comedy, Japanese horror, animation, and films directed by women.
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Sitges Film Festival Sets the Tone: Horror + Comedy

In May 2025, festival organizers unveiled the official poster and programming direction: a playful blend of horror and humor. The motif re-imagines classic horror motifs with comic twists, harking back to Re-Animator on its 40th anniversary, while featuring international animation and genre cinema.
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Sitges to Honour Cinematic Legends at Sitges 2025

At a July press conference, the festival revealed its honorees: director Peter Chan, producer Gale Anne Hurd, actor Dominique Pinon, and actor Hugo Stiglitz. Sitges continues to cement its global standing by celebrating genre cinema icons across cultures.
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Collaboration With PRISA Media Elevates Sitges Coverage

EL PAÍS and Cadena SER (PRISA Media) have formalized partnerships for Sitges 2025. EL PAÍS will provide daily festival reports, while Cadena SER will host a live episode of La Ventana on October 10, featuring cultural commentary from Pepa Blanes and Carlos Boyero.
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Endimaris LGBTIQ+ Film Festival Returns to Sitges

The Endimaris Festival de Cine LGTBIQ+ Sitges continues to grow, showcasing queer cinema through shorts, features, and industry panels. This year’s edition expanded its Script Labs, aiming to support emerging LGTBIQ+ filmmakers.
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Catalonia in the News

Wildfire Forces Evacuations in Tarragona Province

A major wildfire near Pauls (Tarragona) scorched nearly 3,000 hectares, forced 18,000 residents into lockdown, and prompted mass evacuations. Emergency services battled the flames under extreme wind conditions. Over 30% of Ports Natural Park was burned.
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Tourist Tax Hike Postponed Until After Summer 2025

Catalonia has delayed the rollout of a new, higher tourist tax—from €6–11 to up to €15/day—until October 2025, after local pushback. Officials say the tax will help fund affordable housing and ease tourism pressure.
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Supreme Court Orders Return of Sijena Murals

Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that 12th-century murals displayed in a Catalan museum must be returned to the Sijena monastery in Aragon. Catalan authorities argue moving the fragile artwork could cause irreversible damage, proposing instead a panel of experts.
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Spain in the News

Seaweed Invasion Threatens Spanish Beaches

Tourists in coastal regions of Spain are facing a natural nuisance: Rugulopterix okamurae, an invasive seaweed from East Asia, is washing ashore in massive quantities. The rotting algae is not only unpleasant to look at but emits a powerful odor, threatening beach tourism in regions like Murcia and Valencia.
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Bull Monument Proposal Sparks Cultural Outcry

A proposed 300-meter bull statue near Burgos, supported by right-wing political groups, has ignited debate across Spain. Critics argue it glorifies a divisive tradition and promotes animal cruelty, while backers see it as a celebration of Spanish identity.
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