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