Since 2022, Sitges Film Festival, one of the world’s foremost horror and fantasy film festivals, has been hosting a special event titled Woman in Fan to celebrate women filmmakers in the fantasy and horror genre. The festival’s title deliberately uses the word ‘woman’ in singular form to celebrate the individuality of these women filmmakers and not lump them together under the umbrella category of “women filmmakers.” This means that the pieces that compete and are featured in Woman in Fan would be able to compete in general categories as well.
The festival’s title was also a choice made to reflect on the sentence “A girl walks alone at night…”, a line which often opens horror and fantasy media. To mirror today’s patriarchal society, these forms of media would often feature women as meek victims who fall prey to serial killers and all sorts of monsters. Hence the festival decided to use the singularity of the word ‘woman’ as a mirror to ‘a girl’ and employ it instead to show how women and girls can be powerful and brilliant in their own right. These are some of the reasons why Woman in Fan by Sitges Film Festival is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Gender Equality.
Branching out of the Sitges Fanlab Residency, Woman in Fan also features an open call to discover rising talents. This year’s winners are Marina Badía with Lamb of Me, Day Garcia with La Pausa and Arianne Hinz with Marionettes. Aside from the open call, they also host an annual conference titled Horror Girls to share best practices between women filmmakers, network and most important of all a safe space for women filmmakers in the fantasy and horror genre. This year’s line-up of panelists also include Kate Seigel (V/H/S: Beyond and The Haunting of Hill House) and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance and Revenge).
Woman in Fan by Sitges Film Festival celebrates the individuality and creativity of women in the fantasy and horror film genres, challenging traditional portrayals of women as victims in these media. By showcasing the talents of rising and established women filmmakers, the event not only provides visibility and opportunities but also fosters a safe and supportive community. Through its panels, open calls, and unique residency program, Woman in Fan plays a vital role in advancing gender equality in the horror and fantasy film industry.
Find out more about Woman in Fan by Sitges Film Festival on their website www.womaninfan.com or Instagram @womaninfan.