Past G-FEST Conventions

G-FEST XIX (2012)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Akira Takarada, Bin Furuya, Robert Scott Field, and Svengoolie. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Bin Furuya. King Kong, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, Gorgo, Gammera the Invincible, Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, and Godzilla vs. Destroyah screened. Explore the details in the G-FEST XIX Archive.

G-FEST XVIII (2011)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Shinji Higuchi, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Hiroshi Sagae, and Robert Scott Field. Special presenter was August Ragone. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Shinji Higuchi. Gamera: Super Monster, Mothra, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace, and Gamera 2: Advent of Legion screened. Explore the details in the G-FEST XVIII Archive.

G-FEST XVII (2010)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Akira Takarada, and Robert Scott Field. Special presenters were Dr. William M. Tsutsui, and David Kalat. Special guest panelist was artist, Bob Eggleton. Held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, with the Awards Luncheon held at the Rosemont Hotel at O’Hare. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Akira Takarada. Son of Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla 2000, Godzilla X Megaguirus, Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster, Gojira, and Death Kappa (Main Hall) screened. Explore the details in the G-FEST XVII Archive.

G-FEST XVI (2009)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Kenji Sahara, and Robert Scott Field. Special presenters were August Ragone, and David Kalat. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Kenji Sahara. Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, The Mysterians, Godzilla vs. The Thing, and Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit! screened. Explore the details in the G-FEST XVI Archive.

G-FEST XV (2008)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Haruo Nakajima, Don Frye, August Ragone, Jörg Buttgereit, Donald F. Glut, and Robert Scott Field. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Haruo Nakajima. Matango, Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla vs. Gigan, and Yamato Takeru were screened as part of a special double, double-bill film fest. Godzilla vs. Biollante premiered, Godzilla X Mechagodzilla screened. Explore the details in the G-FEST XV Archive.

G-FEST XIV (2007)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Rhodes Reason, Shelley Sweeney, Robert Scott Field, Carl Craig, Donald F. Glut and Reiko Yamada. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Donald F. Glut. King Kong Escapes and King Kong vs. Godzilla screened. Explore the details in the G-FEST XIV Archive.

G-FEST XIII (2006)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Kazuki Omori, Robert Scott Field, Yoshikazu Ishii and Robert Conte. Held at the Crowne Plaza O’Hare International. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Robert Scott Field. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and Negadon – The Monster From Mars screened, Gamera – Little Braves premiered. Explore the details in the G-FEST XIII Archive.

G-FEST XII (2005)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Yoshimitsu Banno, Yoshikazu Ishii, Robert Scott Field, Carl Craig and Robert Conte. Held at the Crowne Plaza O’Hare International. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Yoshikazu Ishii. The H-Man and Godzilla vs. Hedorah screened, Godzilla: Final Wars premiered. Godzilla Gallery display room featured. Explore the details in the G-FEST XII Archive.

G-FEST XI (2004)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Teruyoshi Nakano, Robert Scott Field and Brian Thomas. Held at the Holiday Inn O’Hare International. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Teruyoshi Nakano. Godzilla vs. Monster Zero and Terror of Mechagodzilla screened, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. premiered. Godzilla Gallery display room featured.

G-FEST X (2003)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Noriaki Yuasa, Carl Craig, Yoshikazu Ishii and Robert Scott Field. Held at the Radisson Hotel Arlington Heights. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Noriaki Yuasa. Battle in Outer Space and Gamera 3 screened, GMK premiered. Gamera Gallery display room featured.

G-FEST ’02

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Koichi Kawakita, Hurricane Ryu and Robert Scott Field. Held at the Radisson Hotel Arlington Heights. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Stan G. Hyde. Godzilla vs. Destroyah and Gamera 2 screened, Godzilla x Megaguirus premiered.

G-FEST ’01

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Shinichi Wakasa, Bob Eggleton and Robert Scott Field. Held at the Radisson Hotel Arlington Heights. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Greg Shoemaker. Godzilla ’54, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2, and Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla screened.

G-FEST 2000

Organized by Bill Ferguson and Satoko Yoshimaru. The “Destroy All Monsters” of G-FESTs, featuring Koichi Kawakita, Ken Satsuma, Haruo Nakajima, Noriaki Yuasa, Megumi Odaka, Kieta Amemiya, Yuji Sakai, Robert Scott Field, Sadamasa Arikawa, Jerri Ito, Mach Fumiake and others. Held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Koichi Kawakita. Godzilla ’54, Godzilla vs Destroyah, Son of Godzilla, Mothra 3 screened.

G-FEST ’99

Organized by David Nguyen and J.D. Lees (on site). Featured participation by Sony Pictures. Special guests were Robert Scott Field, Volker Engel, Forry Ackerman, Noriaki Yuasa, Wataru Mimura, Hiroshi Kashiwabara. Held at the Burbank Hilton. The first Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Forry Ackerman. Gamera 3 premiered.

G-FEST ’98

Organized by J.D. Lees and Neal Cox. Special guests were William Stout, Mike Fredericks, Yoshikazu Ishii, and Gene Rizzardi. Held at the Wyndham Hotel.

G-FEST ’97

Organized by J.D. Lees and Neal Cox. Featured limited participation by Toho Co., Ltd. Special guests were Don Glut, Marc Cerasini, Bob Eggleton, Stuart Galbraith IV, David Kalat, and Steve Ryfle. Held at the Wyndham Hotel outside Chicago.

G-FEST ’96 (a.k.a. G-CON ’96)

Organized by John Roberto, open to the public, and featuring Ken Satsuma and Haruo Nakajima. Held at the Radisson Hotel Arlington Heights.

G-FEST ’95 (a.k.a. G-CON ’95)

Organized by J.D. Lees and John Roberto, a “private” convention (pre-registrants only) which was opened up on Sunday due to public demand. Held at the Radisson Hotel Arlington Heights.

G-FEST ’94 (a.k.a. Friends of G-FAN)

Twenty or so contributors to G-FAN met in a Howard Johnson Hotel near O’Hare airport, laying the foundation for future conventions.