2023

Xan 4, 2026

51st Edition

In 2023, Vilagarcía crossed the threshold into the afterlife, turning its 51st edition into an immersive experience where the boundary between the living and the dead completely dissolved. The city was transformed into a supernatural setting where a tribute to the classic The Phantom of the Opera by Lon Chaney coexisted with a gastronomic and cinematic homage to the late William Friedkin; a “chilling dinner” at A Peixería where diners enjoyed a menu inspired by The Exorcist while the Santa Compaña and hordes of zombies took over the streets. Between scares, the spirit of adventure came from a monumental exhibition dedicated to Indiana Jones, whose iconic replicas attracted thousands of curious visitors, balancing gothic horror with the nostalgia of adventure cinema. Alongside this were the presence of the Ecto-1, the iconic vehicle of the Ghostbusters, and KITT, the Pontiac Trans-Am from Knight Rider.

The guest lineup reaffirmed the festival’s international status, bringing true masters of the genre to the Rías Baixas. Director Neil Marshall, acclaimed for The Descent, led a stellar roster alongside Italian filmmaker Lamberto Bava and the legendary Catriona MacColl, an unforgettable face of European horror under Lucio Fulci. It was an edition in which the festival not only looked to the screen, but also took the spectacle to the streets with parades featuring the Addams Family and terrifying clowns, once again demonstrating its ability to reinvent itself and make audiences an active part of the fantasy.

The poster illustration was created by Flavio Greco.

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