Méliès International Festivals Federation
Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF), formerly 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 MIFF annually awards the Méliès d'Or (Golden Méliès) for  the best European fantastic feature film and short film, and the Federation Award for Best Asian Film. History. The MIFF was founded in 1987 on the initiative of five film festivals: the Fantafestival in Rome, Fantasporto in Porto, the Paris International Festival of Fantastic and Science-Fiction Film, the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival and the Sitges Film Festival. The MIFF 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"). "Variety" has called the Melies d'Or "Europe's top plaudit for horror pictures".