G-Fest

G-Fest, often typeset as G-FEST, is an annual convention devoted to the Godzilla film franchise and other kaiju (literally strange beast, also the name of the genre of Japanese giant monster movies) franchises such as Gamera and the Ultra Series. G-Fest is staged by Daikaiju Enterprises, Ltd., and G-Fan magazine. It regularly features panels, contests, and theatrically screened films of interest to fans of Japanese monsters.

G-Fest
StatusActive
GenreScience fiction, kaiju and tokusatsu fiction
FrequencyAnnual
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1994 (1994)
Websitehttp://www.g-fan.com/

Actors, directors, special effects technicians, and other famous people who worked on Godzilla, Ultraman, Gamera, and other kaiju movies in Japan are frequent guests at G-Fest. Often, the major guest is honored with the coveted "Mangled Skyscraper Award" for their lasting contributions to the kaiju genre.

G-Fest was founded in 1994 by J. D. Lees, publisher of G-Fan magazine and the G-Fan website, and the late John Rocco Roberto.

G-Fest features a Dealer's Room, a costume parade, a model show and competition, and a fan film competition. Other popular activities are film screenings (held at the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, Illinois) video game tournaments, children's activities, and autograph sessions. G-Fest also raises money for charitable causes.

In May 2020, Daikaiju Enterprises, Ltd. made the decision to cancel G-Fest for the first time in its 27-year history due to restrictions on large gatherings imposed by Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its initial 27th annual convention was to be moved to the future date of July 2021, but was cancelled again, due to the continuing effect of COVID-19.

Conventions
G-Fest (Friends of G-Fan) '94
  • First public meeting of contributors to G-Fan, Howard Johnson Hotel, O'Hare Airport, Illinois
G-Fest (G-Con) '95
  • Date: August 18–20, 1995[1]
  • First organized convention.[2] The first two days were closed to the public until news reports spread then was open to the public on the last day (3rd)
  • Radisson Hotel, Arlington Heights, Illinois
G-Fest (G-Con) '96
  • Guests: Kenpachiro Satsuma, Haruo Nakajima
  • Radisson Hotel, Arlington Heights, Illinois
G-Fest (G-Con) '97
  • Guests: Don Glut, Marc Cerasini, Bob Eggleton, Stuart Galbraith IV, David Kalat, Steve Ryfle
  • Wyndham Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
G-Fest '98
  • Guests: William Stout, Mike Fredericks, Yoshikazu Ishii, Gene Rizzardi
  • Wyndham Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
G-Fest '99
G-Fest 2000
G-Fest '01
G-Fest '02
G-Fest X
G-Fest XI
G-Fest XII
  • Date: July 8–10, 2005
  • Guests: Yoshimitsu Banno, Yoshikazu Ishii, Carl Craig, Robert Scott Field, Robert Conte
  • Films: The H-Man, Godzilla vs. Hedorah, Godzilla: Final Wars
  • Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Yoshikazu Ishii
  • Crowne Plaza O'Hare International, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XIII
  • Date: July 7–9, 2006
  • Guests: Kazuki Ōmori, Yoshikazu Ishii, Robert Scott Field, Robert Conte
  • Films: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Negadon: The Monster from Mars, Gamera the Brave
  • Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Robert Scott Field
  • Crowne Plaza O'Hare International, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XIV
G-Fest XV
G-Fest XVI
G-Fest XVII
G-Fest XVIII
G-Fest XIX
G-Fest XX
G-Fest XXI
G-Fest XXII
G-Fest XXIII
G-Fest XXIV
G-Fest XXV
  • Date: July 13–15, 2018
  • Guests: Megumi Odaka, Keizo Murase, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Don Frye, Gene Rizzardi
  • Films: The Valley of Gwangi, Dinosaurus!, The Mighty Peking Man, Pacific Rim Uprising, Rampage, Godzilla vs. Mothra
  • Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Megumi Odaka, Keizo Murase, Kenpachiro Satsuma
  • G-FAN Hall of Fame Award inductees: Skip Peel, David Nunes, Paul Gavins
  • Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XXVI
G-Fest XXVII
G-Fest XXVIII
G-Fest XXIX
  • Date: July 12-14, 2024
  • Guests: Takuji Yamada, Rie Ōta, Ayako Fujitani
  • Films: TBA
  • G-FAN Hall of Fame Award inductees: TBA
  • Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois

Notes
  1. "G-Con '95 Report". G-Fan. Volume 1, Number 18, (November–December 1995). pp. 54-61.
  2. Ryfle, Steve. (1995-08-17). "Godzilla Lives! At 41, the Giant Radioactive Dinosaur is Still Big Business". Chicago Tribune.
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