European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation
| Location | Brussels, Belgium |
|---|---|
| Language | International |
| Website | http://www.melies.org |
European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation (EFFFF), established in 1987, is a network of 22 genre film festivals from 16 countries[1] based Brussels, Belgium, and dedicated to promoting and supporting European cinema, particularly films in the fantasy, horror and science fiction genres.[2] Ernest Mathijs and Jamie Sexton describe it as "the biggest fan-based cult-network on the continent", comparable in scope to World Science Fiction Convention, San Diego Comic-Con International, and Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors, though less commercial.[3]
The EFFFF annually awards the Golden Méliès (Méliès d'or) for the best European fantastic feature film and short film, and the Federation Award for Best Asian Film.
History
The EFFFF was founded in 1987 on the initiative of five film festivals: the Fantafestival in Rome, Fantasporto in Porto, the Paris International Fantastic Films Festival, the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival and the Sitges Film Festival.
The EFFFF created its first awards in 1995, the Méliès d'argent (Silver Méliès) and the Méliès d'or (Golden Méliès), named in honour of Georges Méliès, the great French pioneer of fantastic cinema and special effects. The awards were intended to highlight the creativity and quality of European fantastic films, stimulate production and promote them worldwide. The first Méliès d'or ceremony was held by the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in 1996 and the prize was given to Álex de la Iglesia for The Day of the Beast (Spanish: El día de la Bestia).[4]
Méliès d'Or
Since 1996, the EFFFF has awarded the annual Méliès d'Or (Golden Méliès) for the Best European Fantastic Feature Film. Variety has called the Melies d'Or "Europe's top plaudit for horror pictures".[5] The following films have received the award:[6]
- 1996: The Day of the Beast, directed by Álex de la Iglesia; Spain
- 1997: Tren de Sombras, directed by José Luis Guerín; Argentina
- 1998: Photographing Fairies, directed by Nick Willing; United Kingdom
- 1999: The Nameless, directed by Jaume Balagueró; Spain
- 2000: Possessed, directed by Anders Rønnow Klarlund; Denmark
- 2001: Thomas in Love, directed by Pierre-Paul Renders; Belgium and France
- 2002: Fausto 5.0, directed by Àlex Ollé, Isidro Ortiz and Carlos Padrisa; Spain
- 2003: The Green Butchers, directed by Anders Thomas Jensen; Denmark
- 2004/2005: Code 46, directed by Michael Winterbottom; United Kingdom
- 2006: Adam's Apples, directed by Anders Thomas Jensen; Denmark
- 2007: Princess, directed by Anders Morgenthaler; Denmark and Germany
- 2008: Let the Right One In, directed by Tomas Alfredson; Sweden
- 2009: Martyrs, directed by Pascal Laugier; France and Canada
- 2010: Buried, directed by Rodrigo Cortés; Spain
- 2011: The Last Circus, directed by Alex de la Iglesia; Spain and France
Member festivals
Affiliated members
- Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film, Brussels, Belgium
- Festival de Cine de Sitges, Sitges, Spain
- Imagine Film Festival, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Lund International Fantastic Film Festival, Lund, Sweden
- Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival, Strasbourg, France
- Trieste Science+Fiction Festival, Trieste, Italy
Adherent members
- FrightFest, London, England
- International Week of Fantastic Film, Málaga, Spain
- San Sebastián Horror and Fantasy Film Festival, San Sebastián, Spain
- Grossmann film and wine festival, Ljutomer, Slovenia
- Molins de Rei Horror Film Festival, Molins de Rei, Spain
- Leeds International Film Festival, Leeds, England
- Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival, Bruges, Belgium
- Abertoir Horror Festival, Aberystwyth, Wales
- Haapsalu Horror & Fantasy Film Festival, Haapsalu, Estonia
- MOTELx - Lisbon International Horror Film Festival, Lisbon, Portugal
- Court Metrange Festival, Rennes, France
- Mórbido Fest, Puebla, Mexico
Supporting members
- Fantastic Fest, Austin, Texas
- Fantasia Festival, Montreal, Canada
- Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival, Bucheon, South Korea
- Screamfest Horror Film Festival, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Former members
- Espoo Ciné International Film Festival, Espoo, Finland
- Fantafestival, Rome, Italy
- Fantasporto, Porto, Portugal
- Dead by Dawn, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Horrorthon Film Festival, Dublin, Ireland
- Ravenna Nightmare Film Festival, Ravenna, Italy
- Utopiales - Festival International de Science-Fiction de Nantes, Nantes, France
- NatFilm Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Riga International Fantasy Film Festival, Riga, Latvia
References
- ↑ Interactive, E-turundusagentuur ADM. "The Federation | European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation". www.melies.org. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ↑ Sandwell, Ian (2012-07-12). "Screaming Room". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
- ↑ Mathijs, Ernest; Sexton, Jamie (2012). Cult Cinema. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781444396430.
- ↑ Willis, Andy; Triana-Toribio, Nuria; Buse, Peter (2012). The Cinema of Álex de la Iglesia. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7190-7137-9.
- ↑ Hopewell, John (2010-10-15). "Buried wins Europe's Melies d'Or". Variety. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
- ↑ "Méliès d'Or". melies.org. European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation. Retrieved 2011-01-21.