European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation (EFFFF), established in 1987, is a network of 22 genre film festivals from 16 countries based Brussels, Belgium, and dedicated to promoting and supporting European cinema, particularly films in the fantasy, horror and science fiction genres. 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.
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.
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).
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". The following films have received the award:
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
2012: Vanishing Waves, directed by Kristina Buozyte; Lithuania
2013: In the name of the son, directed by Vincent Lannoo; France, Belgium
2014: Alleluia, directed by Fabrice Du Welz; France, Belgium
2015: Goodnight Mommy, directed by Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala; Austria
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
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
Fantastic Fest, Austin, Texas
Fantasia Festival, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival, Bucheon, South Korea
Screamfest Horror Film Festival, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
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
