Snapshots from the Sitges Film Festival

I just got back from Sitges after spending a week there for the film festival. There were a bunch of daily screenings to attend, but there was still plenty of time to hang out with friends and enjoy the sun. Sitges is such a fun town to visit during the film festival because so much is going on. It's one of those events where you can go back each year and never be bored.

The screenings took place over eight different cinemas, the main ones being the cinema at Hotel Melia, followed by Cinema Retiro and Cinema Prado. You can watch films 24/7 because they start at eight in the morning and continue all night long.

The majority of the screenings were presented in the company of the filmmakers and cast members. Some of the guests this year were Susan Sarandon, Guillermo del Toro, Udo Kier, Jaume Balaguero, Barbara Crampton, etc.

During the Sitges Film Festival, several movie exhibitions are being held all over the coastal town. This year, there was one inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and another one with fantastic art created by a Catalan artist community called Nou Gats de Sitges.

In between screenings, you can explore the town or enjoy the beach.

Did you know that when Japanese director Takashi Miike visited the Sitges Film Festival in 2015, he became inspired by this Spanish town and decided to use it as the primary filming location for his latest movie, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable?

The Sitges cemetery was one of these filming locations. It's small but gorgeous and is situated close to Hotel Melia where the majority of the screenings and meetings take place.

After all the exploring, you can hang out with this cute dog who belongs to one of the eateries next to the statue of Santiago de Rusinol.

In October, the entire town is decorated with horror movies in mind. There's no better way to get into the mood for Halloween.

But let's not forget the most essential part of Sitges: the cats. This little coastal town is home to hundreds of stray cats whose photos you can discover here. Sometimes, they even join you for a movie screening.

However, considering the many signposts, they don't seem to be as fond of vampires as the tourists.

Horror movies, sun, tapas, and cats. Sitges sounds like paradise, don't you agree?