Joseph Díaz: Last News

Pablo Sandoval The Sitges Film Festival, the biggest genre film event in Europe, has unveiled its Sitges Fanpitch and WomanInFan winners as the Catalan fest, one hour’s drive south of Barcelona, rapidly ramps up its industry program. Sitges Fanpitch feature film winners were “Bloody Mary,” “Rain Catcher” and “Krampusnacht.”  “Super-Over” (“Superada”) scooped the Sitges Fanpitch Scripted Series award. Spanish director Joseph Díaz “Bloody Mary” nabbed the Blood Window – Spanish Screamings plaudit for a tale of female empowerment as heroine Mary is beaten to death by a cult leader, only to be possessed by the vengeful spirit of ancestor Helena, burnt at the stake for witchcraft.

Marta Balaga Cannes Blood Window Showcase is readying to send a shiver down Cannes’ spine, presenting eight upcoming films – in pre and post-production – on Friday. “Since 2014, our idea has always been to give greater visibility to the projects that have gone through Blood Window at Ventana Sur,” says the head of the program Javier. C. Fernández, calling the event “a celebration for the Latin American genre film community.” Presented titles will include “When Evil Lurks” by Demián Rugna, “Mitra, Turn off the Light to See” by Diego Bellochio, Diego Kartaszewicz’s “Buzzing,” Joseph Diaz’s “Bloody Mary,” “The Collector,” directed by Facundo Escudero Salinas and “Chuzalongo” by Diego Ortuño. 

Sitges Fanpitch, an anticipated pitching event for sci-fi, fantastic and horror features and series. Sitges Fanpitch runs Oct. 10-13 at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, a Mecca for fandom worldwide.   The pitching session comes as genre is building for independents as one of the two pillars of a residual theatrical film business and sci-fi and fantasy remain a top original production choice on Netflix and other platforms.