G-Fest
G-FEST is an annual convention devoted to the daikaiju film genre and sponsored by Daikaiju Enterprises, Ltd., and G-FAN magazine. It regularly features panels, contests, and theatrically screened films of interest to fans of Japanese monsters such as Godzilla, The Ultra Series, and Gamera. G-FEST is presently held in Rosemont, Illinois, at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare. The last convention took place July 15–17, 2011.
Actors, directors, special effects technicians who worked on daikaiju 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 daikaiju genre.
Three of the most popular features of G-FEST are the Dealers Room where dealers sell toys, posters, books and movie memorabilia, the Costume Contest where participants of all ages make and model their monster character costumes, and the Model Show & Competition.
G-FEST was founded by G-FAN magazine editor and publisher J. D. Lees, a Canadian high school teacher, and the late John Rocco Roberto. Persons assisting Lees in organizing G-Fest over the years have included Jeff Horne, Brett Homenick, Stan Hyde, Dawn McKechnie, Yutaka Ichimura, Paul Gavins, Randy Geisey, Lenell Bridges, and others. Actor Robert Scott Field regularly attends G-FEST as a celebrity guest and translator.
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, Guy Mariner Tucker (late author of "Age of the Gods: A History of Japanese Fantasy Film")
- Radisson Hotel, Arlington Heights, Illinois
G-Fest (G-Con) '97
G-Fest '98
- Guests: William Stout, Mike Fredericks, Yoshikazu Ishii, Gene Rizzardi
- Wyndham Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
G-Fest '99
- Date: July 23–25, 1999
- Guests: Noriaki Yuasa, Shusuke Kaneko, Wataru Mimura, Hiroshi Kashiwabara, Robert Scott Field, Volker Engel, Forrest J. Ackerman, Peter Fernandez, Corrine Orr, Hisataka Kitaoka (now Ryuki Kitaoka), Norman England, August Ragone, Don Glut
- Movies: Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (US Premiere), Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace (US Premiere)
- Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Forrest J. Ackerman
- Burbank Hilton, Burbank, California
G-Fest 2000
- Date: Oct 14-16, 2000
- Guests: Sadamasa Arikawa, Noriaki Yuasa, Koichi Kawakita, Haruo Nakajima, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Megumi Odaka, Kieta Amemiya, Yuji Sakai, Mach Fumiake, Hisataka Kitaoka (now Ryuki Kitaoka), Robert Scott Field, August Ragone
G-Fest '01
G-Fest '02
G-Fest X
G-Fest XI
G-Fest XII
G-Fest XIII
G-Fest XIV
- Date: July 6–8, 2007
- Guests: Rhodes Reason, Shelley Sweeney, Carl Craig, Robert Scott Field, Don Glut and Reiko Yamada
- Saturday Afternoon Concert Performed by: Rieko Wada, Tomomi Matsumura, Shetoshi Yamada, Marcus Dunleavy
- Movies: King Kong Escapes, King Kong vs. Godzilla
- Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Don Glut
- Crowne Plaza O'Hare International, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XV
- Date: July 4–6, 2008
- Guests: Haruo Nakajima, Don Frye, August Ragone, Robert Scott Field, Don Glut, Jörg Buttgereit
- Movies: Matango, Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla vs. Gigan, Godzilla vs. Biollante, Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon, and Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
- Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Haruo Nakajima
- Crowne Plaza O'Hare International, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XVI
- Date: July 3–5, 2009
- Guests: Kenji Sahara, Robert Scott Field, August Ragone, David Kalat
- Movies: Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, The Mysterians, Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit!, Mothra vs. Godzilla
- Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Kenji Sahara
- Crowne Plaza O'Hare International, Rosemont, Illinois
G-FEST XVII
- Date: July 9–11, 2010
- Guests: Akira Takarada, August Ragone (cancelled), Bob Eggleton, Robert Scott Field, William M. Tsutsui, David Kalat, Damon Foster
- Movies: Son of Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla 2000, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, Godzilla
- Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Akira Takarada
- Rosemont Hotel at O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-FEST XVIII
- Date: July 15–17, 2011
- Guests: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Shinji Higuchi, Hiroshi Sagae, August Ragone, Robert Scott Field
- Movies: Gamera: Super Monster, Mothra, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Gamera 2: Advent of Legion, Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna & Ultraman Gaia: Battle in Hyperspace, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
- Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Shinji Higuchi
- Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
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