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.
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"G-Con '95 Report". G-Fan. Volume 1, Number 18, (November–December 1995). pp. 54-61. First organized convention.Ryfle, Steve. (1995-08-17). "Godzilla Lives! At 41, the Giant Radioactive Dinosaur is Still Big Business ". Chicago Tribune. 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 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, August Ragone, Norman England, Hisataka Kitaoka (now Ryuki Kitaoka), Don Glut Films: Gamera 3: The Revenge of Iris (US premiere), Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace 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, Keita Amemiya, Yuji Sakai, Hisataka Kitaoka (now Ryuki Kitaoka), August Ragone, Mach Fumiake, Robert Scott Field, Films: Godzilla (1954), Moon Over Tao (1997), Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, Son of Godzilla, Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey, Ring (1998), Rebirth of Mothra III, Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Koichi Kawakita Hollywood Roosevelt, Los Angeles, California
G-Fest '01 Date: July 13–15, 2001 Guests: Shinichi Wakasa, Greg Shoemaker, Bob Eggleton, Robert Scott Field Films: Godzilla (1954), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Greg Shoemaker Radisson Hotel, Arlington Heights, Illinois
G-Fest '02 Date: July 12–14, 2002 Guests: Koichi Kawakita, Hurricane Ryu, Robert Scott Field Films: Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Stan G. Hyde Radisson Hotel, Arlington Heights, Illinois
G-Fest X Date: July 18–20, 2003 Guests: Noriaki Yuasa, Carl Craig, Yoshikazu Ishii, Robert Scott Field Films: Battle in Outer Space, Gamera 3: The Revenge of Iris, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Noriaki Yuasa Radisson Hotel, Arlington Heights, Illinois
G-Fest XI Date: July 9–11, 2004 Guests: Teruyoshi Nakano, Robert Scott Field, Brian Thomas Films: Monster Zero, Terror of Mechagodzilla, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Teruyoshi Nakano Holiday Inn O'Hare International, Rosemont, Illinois
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 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 Films: 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 Films: 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 Films: Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, The Mysterians, Mothra vs. Godzilla, The Monster X Strikes Back/Attack the G8 Summit 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, Bob Eggleton, Robert Scott Field, William M. Tsutsui, David Kalat, Damon Foster Films: Son of Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla 2000, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, Godzilla vs the Sea Monster, Godzilla (1954) 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, Robert Scott Field, August Ragone Films: Gamera: Super Monster, Mothra, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna & Ultraman Gaia: Battle in Hyperspace, Gamera 2: Advent of Legion Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Shinji Higuchi Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XIX Date: July 13–15, 2012 Guests: Akira Takarada, Satoshi Furuya, Robert Scott Field, Svengoolie Films: King Kong (1933), The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Gorgo, Gamera, Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Bin "Satoshi" Furuya Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XX Date: July 12–14, 2013 Guests: Tsutomu Kitagawa, Shinichi Wakasa, Shizuo Nakajima, Robert Scott Field, Frank H Woodward, Cleve Hall Films: 20 Million Miles to Earth, Gamera 3: The Revenge of Iris, Gamera vs. Gyaos, The X From Outer Space, Pacific Rim (Midnight showing), Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Shinichi Wakasa Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XXI Date: July 11–13, 2014 Guests: Koichi Kawakita, Tomoko Ai, Katsuhiko Sasaki, Hiroshi Sagae, Don Frye, Robert Scott Field, Shinpei Hayashiya Films: King Kong (1976), King Kong Lives, Gamera vs. Barugon, Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967), Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Bob Eggleton G-FAN Hall of Fame inductees: Tim Bean, John DeSentis and Chris Oglio Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XXII Date: July 10–12, 2015 Guests: Masaaki Tezuka, Noboru Kaneko, August Ragone, Robert Scott Field, Kow Otani Films: Them!, The Deadly Mantis, Gamera vs. Jiger, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, Godzilla vs. Biollante, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Masaaki Tezuka G-FAN Hall of Fame inductees: August Ragone, Matt Frank, and Tom Tvrdik Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XXIII Date: July 15–17, 2016 Guests: Akira Takarada, Linda Miller, Satoshi Furuya, Hiroko Sakurai, Robert Scott Field, August Ragone, Yoshikazu Ishii, Hiroshi Sagae, Carl Craig, Sojiro Uchino, Tony Isabella, C. Martin Croker Films: King Kong Escapes, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967), Gamera vs. Viras, The Green Slime, Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Hiroko Sakurai G-FAN Hall of Fame Award inductees: Damon Foster, Ed Godziszewski, and John Roberto (posthumously) Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XXIV Date: July 14–16, 2017 Guests: Michiru Ōshima, Yuji Kaida, Shinji Higuchi, Ryuki Kitaoka, Kazuhiro Nakagawa, Kiyotaka Taguchi, Robert Scott Field, Tony Isabella Films: King Kong vs. Godzilla, D-War, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island, Shin Godzilla Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Michiru Ōshima G-FAN Lifetime Achievement Award presented to: Shinji Higuchi G-FAN Hall of Fame Award inductees: Jeff Horne, Sean Linkenback, and Kyle Yount Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
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 Date: July 12–14, 2019 Guests: Akira Takarada, Shusuke Kaneko, Peggy Neal, Yoshikazu Ishii, Sonoe Nakajima Films: All Monsters Attack, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, The X from Outer Space, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), Invasion of Astro-Monster, Linking Love (2017) Mangled Skyscraper Award presented to: Shusuke Kaneko G-FAN Lifetime Achievement Award presented to: Akira Takarada G-FAN Hall of Fame Award inductees: Sonoe Nakajima, the Baioa Family, Martin Arlt Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XXVII Date: July 15-17, 2022 Guests: Hiroyuki Kawase, Tomoko Ai Films: Godzilla vs. Hedorah, Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla (1954), Godzilla vs the Sea Monster, Godzilla vs. Kong, Terror of Mechagodzilla G-FAN Hall of Fame Award inductees: Steve Ryfle, Diane Dougherty, Hiroshi Sagae Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XXVIII Date: July 14-16, 2023 Guests: Yumiko Shaku, Don Frye, Linda Jo Miller, T.J. Storm Films: Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla (1998), Godzilla Raids Again, Shin Ultraman, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, Godzilla (2014) G-FAN Hall of Fame Award inductees: Andre Steele, Bill Gudmundson, Allan DeBus Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois
G-Fest XXIX Date: July 12-14, 2024 Guests: Rie Ōta, Allan Henry, Toshio Miike, Takuji Yamada, James Groman, Jeffrey Angles, Kiyotaka Taguchi