Sitges signs Casey Affleck y Heather Graham and ticket sales soar

19% more tickets sold in the first few days: that's how the Sitges Festival is starting this year, and it's no coincidence. The arrival of names like Casey Affleck and Heather Graham has turbocharged the anticipation, and the box office reflects it.

Casey Affleck, Ben Affleck's brother but with a career of his own, lands in the official section to present Company, a film in which he not only acts, but also directs and is credited as the screenwriter. Heather Graham, meanwhile, brings What Happened to Doris? to the Panorama section, adding more star power to an edition that isn't settling for the usual.

The festival, which will be held from 8 to 18 October, isn't short on heavyweight guests. The list also includes figures like Peter Jackson, Robert Eggers, Danny DeVito, Kevin Bacon and Michael Ironside. It's a true parade of fantasy and horror film icons, turning Sitges into the epicentre of the genre for ten days.

The event doesn't just attract film buffs; it also sets trends in the Catalan cultural calendar. It's not the first time an event has had this effect: initiatives like the opening of the Imagina’t children's centre in la Marina, which we've already highlighted, show how the city responds when the offering is attractive and different.

With ticket sales soaring and a programme that mixes big names with lesser-known projects, Sitges is cementing its place as the festival that knows how to reinvent itself without losing its essence. If the trend continues, it will be hard to find a free seat in the Garraf cinemas this October.