Sitges Film Festival 2026 Winners Include Sanguine

The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival has announced its 2026 winners, with French horror film Sanguine receiving the festival's prestigious Best Feature Film award.

Directed by Marion Le Corroller, the production took the top prize in the Official Fantastic Competition at the festival's 59th edition, which concluded in Spain on 18 October.

The awards also recognised Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar for Ghost in the Cell, while acting honours went to Jasmine Trinca and Benoît Magimel. The results celebrate a diverse international selection of films exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction and unconventional storytelling.

Sanguine wins Best Feature Film

Sanguine received the Best Feature Film award in the festival's Official Fantastic Competition, marking a significant achievement for director Marion Le Corroller.

The French production uses body horror and disturbing imagery to explore the physical and psychological experiences of its characters. Its selection as the festival's top film places it among the latest productions recognised by Sitges for their contribution to fantastic cinema.

The award also highlights the continuing popularity of body horror within international genre filmmaking, with directors using physical transformation and unsettling imagery to explore wider emotional and social themes.

The film's recognition provides an opportunity for audiences outside France to discover the production as it continues its international festival journey.

Ghost in the Cell wins Best Director

Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar received the Best Director award for Ghost in the Cell, a supernatural horror film set inside a prison.

The film combines dark humour with supernatural events, creating a story in which prisoners find themselves confronting dangers beyond the familiar difficulties of life behind bars. Anwar is already recognised internationally for his work on Satan's Slaves, Impetigore and other Indonesian genre productions.

His success at Sitges adds another international award to a career that has helped bring Indonesian horror cinema to wider audiences.

Ghost in the Cell also received the Young Jury's Best Feature Film award in the Official Fantastic Competition, giving the production recognition from two separate judging panels.

Which actors won awards?

Jasmine Trinca received the Best Actress award for her performance in The Spiral, directed by Paolo Strippoli.

The Italian actress has appeared in numerous European productions and was recognised at Sitges for her contribution to the horror film.

Benoît Magimel received Best Actor for Historias de la noche, also known as The Birthday Party. The French actor's award adds to an established career spanning dramas, thrillers and international cinema.

The acting categories formed part of the festival's Official Fantastic Competition, which also recognised achievements in writing, cinematography and visual effects.

More awards for international filmmakers

The Special Jury Award went to Drag, directed by Greg Yagolnitzer and Raviv Ullman, while Buddy received Best Screenplay for Casper Kelly and Jamie King.

The cinematography award went to Raphaël Vandenbussche for Océano Titánico, while Colony was recognised for its special, visual and makeup effects.

Australian filmmaker Adrian Chiarella received the Citizen Kane Award for Best New Director for Leviticus, highlighting another emerging talent within international genre cinema. Elsewhere, We Are Aliens by Kohei Kadowaki received the award for Best Animated Feature Film, while The Flesh Dress by Joachim Hérissé won Best Animated Short Film.

These categories demonstrate the range of productions recognised during the festival, with awards extending beyond conventional live-action horror.

Which films won the audience awards?

Audience voting also played an important role in the festival's results, with several productions receiving recognition from cinema-goers.

Wildwood, directed by Travis Knight, received the Grand People's Choice Award for Best Feature Film in the Official Fantastic Competition.

The animated fantasy adventure is based on the novel by Colin Meloy and was recognised by audiences attending the festival. Spanish production 5 minutos más, directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera, also received an audience award, while The Fox by Dario Russo was recognised in another programme category.

The audience awards provide an additional perspective on the festival's films, reflecting the preferences of viewers alongside the decisions made by professional juries.

Where can UK audiences watch the winning films?

The Sitges festival has now concluded, but several of its award-winning films may continue appearing at international festivals before securing wider cinema or streaming distribution.

Further information is available through the Sitges Film Festival, where audiences can discover the films and filmmakers recognised during the 2026 event.