Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival
The Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival (MIFFF) was a three day international genre film festival held annually in Seattle, Washington. MIFFF was the premiere Pacific Northwest event devoted to action, animation, fantasy, horror and science fiction cinema from around the globe. The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) Cinema at McCaw Hall hosted MIFFF which resided on the campus of Seattle Center.
== Overview ==The Founding Fathers of MIFFF are Eric Morgret, Isaac Alexander, Rick Tillman, Gabe de los Angeles & Dan Doody. The festival was first conceived at a gathering in June 2008, which led to the first event taking place in September 2009. The event was created to offer exposure to films that traditionally are overlooked by the mainstream festival circuit from genres including action, animation, fantasy, horror, and science fiction. The vision drew inspiration from other genre film festivals around the globe such as Fantasia Festival in Montreal, Fantastic Fest in Austin, and the first genre film festival, the Sitges Film Festival in Catalonia.  MIFFF was registered shortly thereafter as a Washington State non-profit and acts as the parent organization of the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival. The festival featured a diverse selection of cult genre cinema from around the globe – with the possibility of artists presenting the works themselves.
== Current and upcoming festivals ==
=== 2011 ===
The third annual MIFFF was held September 16–18, 2011 at the SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington. The festival showcased five feature films and 49 short films from around the world.
==== Feature films presented ====
Absentia
Boy Wonder
The Melancholy Fantastic
Midnight Son
The Selling
==== Short films presented ====
==== Awards ====
Best Feature (Audience Award): Boy Wonder
Best Feature (Jury Award): Absentia
Best Animation Short (Audience & Jury Award): Nullarbor
Best Fantasy Short (Audience Award): Employe du Mois
Best Fantasy Short (Jury Award): Arthur
Best Horror Short (Audience & Jury Award): Brutal Relax
Best Sci-Fi Short (Audience Award): Mongrel's Creed
Best Sci-Fi Short (Jury Award): Status
== Past festivals ==
=== 2010 ===
The second annual MIFFF was held September 17–19, 2010 at the SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington.
The festival showcased 4 feature films and 41 short films from around the world.
==== Feature films presented ====
Blood River
Mørke Sjeler (Dark Souls)
The Presence
Srpski Film (A Serbian Film)
==== Short films presented ====
==== Awards ====
Best Feature: The Presence
Best Action Short: Street Angel
Best Animation Short: A Complex Villainelle
Best Fantasy Short: Manual Practico del Amigo Imaginario (abreviado)
Best Horror Short: The Familiar
Best Sci-Fi Short: Babylon 2084
=== 2009 ===
The first MIFFF was held September 18–20, 2009 at the SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington.
The festival showcased 6 feature films and 33 short films from around the world.
==== Feature films presented ====
The Ends Of The Earth
Pig Hunt
The Revenant
Strigoi - (West Coast Premier)
TimeTravel_0
Until The Light Takes Us
==== Short films presented ====
==== Awards ====
Best Feature: Strigoi
Best Sci-Fi Short: Kirkie
Best Horror Short: Death in Charge
Best Fantasy Short: Hart
Best Animation Short: Enter the Sandbox
== Official Festival Posters ==
== Other genre film festivals ==

== External links ==
Official website
Official MIFFF Twitter Feed
Official MIFFF Facebook
Official MIFFF Flickr Feed
SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall