Past G-FEST Conventions

G-FEST XXVIII (2023)

Organized by Payton and J.D. Lees. Special guests were Yumiko Shaku, T.J. Storm, Linda Miller, and Don Frye. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to T.J. Storm. Destroy All Monsters; Godzilla (1998); Godzilla Raids Again; King Kong Escapes; Godzilla x Mechagodzilla and Godzilla (2014) screened. Held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.

G-FEST XXVII (2022)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Hiroyuki Kawase and Tomoko Ai. Godzilla vs. Hedorah; Godzilla vs. Megalon; Godzilla (1954); Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster; Godzilla vs. Kong; and Terror of Mechagodzilla screened. Held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.

G-FEST XXVI (2019)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Akira Takarada, Shusuke Kaneko, Peggy Neal, Yoshikazu Ishii, Takuji Yamada, Sonoe Nakajima, Philo Barnhart, and Tony Isabella. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Shusuke Kaneko. Godzilla’s Revenge; Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster; The X From Outer Space; Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack; Godzilla: King of the Monsters; and Monster Zero screened. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XXV (2018)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Megumi Odaka, Keizo Murase, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Don Frye, Robert Scott Field, and Gene Rizzardi. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Megumi Odaka, Keizo Murase, and Kenpachiro Satsuma. The Valley of Gwangi, Dinosaurus!, The Mighty Peking Man, Pacific Rim: Uprising, Rampage, and Godzilla vs. Mothra screened. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XXIV (2017)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Michiru Ōshima, Yuji Kaida, Shinji Higuchi, Ryuki Kitaoka, Kazuhiro Nakagawa, Kiyotaka Taguchi, Robert Scott Field, and Tony Isabella. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Michiru Ōshima. King Kong vs. Godzilla, Dragon Wars: D-War, Godzilla x Megaguirus, Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island, and Shin Godzilla screened. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XXIII (2016)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Akira Takarada, Linda Miller, Bin Furuya, Hiroko Sakurai, Robert Scott Field, Yoshikazu Ishii, Hiroshi Sagae, August Ragone, Sojiro Uchino, and Tony Isabella. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Hiroko Sakurai. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Gamera vs. Viras, Yongary, Monster from the Deep, The Green Slime, King Kong Escapes, and Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend screened. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XXII (2015)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Masaaki Tezuka, Noboru Kaneko, Ko Otani, Robert Scott Field, and August Ragone. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Masaaki Tezuka. Them!, The Deadly Mantis, Gamera vs. Jiger, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, Godzilla vs. Biollante, and Godzilla x Megaguirus screened. Special event—Symphonic Fury! The Music of Japanese Monsters live symphonic concert played. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XXI (2014)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Koichi Kawakita, Tomoko Ai, Katsuhiko Sasaki, Hiroshi Sagae, Shinpei Hayashiya, Don Frye, Bob Eggleton, and Robert Scott Field. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Bob Eggleton. King Kong, King Kong Lives, Gamera vs. Barugon, Yongary, Monster from the Deep, Godzilla vs. Destroyah, and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah screened. Special event—Ifukube 100: A Legacy of Monster Music live symphonic concert played. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XX (2013)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Shinichi Wakasa, Tsutomu Kitagawa, Shizuo Nakajima, Robert Scott Field, Frank H. Woodward, and Cleve Hall. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Shinichi Wakasa. 20 Million Miles to Earth, Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys, Gamera vs. Gyaos, The X From Outer Space, Pacific Rim, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, and Godzilla x Megaguirus screened. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XIX (2012)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Akira Takarada, Bin Furuya, Robert Scott Field, and Svengoolie. 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. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

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. 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. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

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. 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, Godzilla ’54, and Death Kappa (Main Hall) screened. Held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, with the Awards Luncheon held at the Rosemont Hotel at O’Hare.

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. 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. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

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. 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. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

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. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Donald F. Glut. King Kong Escapes and King Kong vs. Godzilla screened. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XIII (2006)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Kazuki Omori, Robert Scott Field, Yoshikazu Ishii and Robert Conte. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Robert Scott Field. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and Negadon: The Monster From Mars screened, Gamera the Brave premiered. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XII (2005)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Yoshimitsu Banno, Yoshikazu Ishii, Robert Scott Field, Carl Craig and Robert Conte. 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. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.

G-FEST XI (2004)

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

G-FEST X (2003)

Organized by J.D. Lees. Special guests were Noriaki Yuasa, Carl Craig, Yoshikazu Ishii and Robert Scott Field. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Noriaki Yuasa. Battle in Outer Space and Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys screened; Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack premiered. Gamera Gallery display room featured. Held at the Radisson Hotel Arlington Heights.

G-FEST ’02

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

G-FEST ’01

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

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, Shusuke Kaneko, Megumi Odaka, Kieta Amemiya, Yuji Sakai, Robert Scott Field, Sadamasa Arikawa, Jerri Ito, Mach Fumiake and others. The Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Koichi Kawakita. Godzilla ’54, Godzilla vs. Destroyah, Son of Godzilla, and Mothra 3 screened. Held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

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. The first Mangled Skyscraper Award was presented to Forry Ackerman. Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys premiered. Held at the Burbank Hilton.

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.