That special touch that makes fantasy cinema so unique: this is our new campaign for the 59th edition of the Sitges Film Festival

That special touch that makes fantasy cinema so unique: this is our new campaign for the 59th edition of the Sitges Film Festival

There are festivals that do not just screen movies, but manage to bring together a community ready to celebrate cinema from a completely different place. For the 59th edition of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, we have developed a campaign that pays homage to the festival’s love for the fantasy genre, giving its great icon center stage for the first time.
 

The challenge: elevating great cinema with a touch of Sitges

 
The Sitges audience is not just looking for good stories; they are looking for that uncommon, rare, and genuine ingredient that makes fantasy cinema a global benchmark. The challenge was to capture that passion for great cinema and demonstrate that, when the essence of Sitges is added to it, the experience becomes even better.
 

The strategy: integrating the icon into major cinematic genres

 
To connect with the audience, the proposal travels through two of the most iconic genres in film history: the grand period drama and World War I war cinema. The key to the narrative lies in treating these scenes with the highest technical execution and dramatic rigor, but naturally introducing Sitges’ iconic gorilla as just another character within the plot. He embodies precisely that unique touch that makes the fantasy genre so exciting.

In one of the festival’s highest-visibility moments of the year, the creative decision was to reinforce what its audience instantly recognizes: a distinct identity, capable of making great cinema something unequivocally Sitges.

The audiovisual campaign features two spots directed by filmmaker Imanol and produced together with Lee Films, successfully recreating passages of high dramatic value faithfully.
 

A careful visual narrative and a tribute to Carrie

 
This audiovisual proposal will coexist with the festival’s identity unveiled at the Fantastic Pavilion during the Marché du Film in Cannes, which honors the 50th anniversary of Carrie. With photography signed by Anne Roig and a portrait inspired by prom nights, the graphic image fuses celebration and blood into a single visual concept.

To carry out this project, we relied on a top-tier team:

• Direction and production: director Imanol Ruiz de Lara together with the production company Lee Films have faithfully recreated the tone and technical execution of historical and dramatic productions.
• Graphic photography: the translation to the official image of the festival was carried out by photographer Anne Roig.
• Creative direction: a team led by Rafa Antón, Rafa Gil Fuentes, and Darío Busto.

The impact: presence on screens and in theaters

 
The campaign is being disseminated on social media, television, movie theaters (Cinesa and Verdi), and at the festival’s own screenings, taking place from October 8 to 18, 2026.

Because when it matters most, reinforcing a brand is not about saying more, but about understanding what makes it unique and turning it into an idea that its community recognizes as its own.

Enjoy the spots here: