The Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival (SEFFF) is relatively young: its history began in 2006, when the organization Les Films du Spectre organized the Hammer Film Festival dedicated to the work of Hammer Film Productions, a British film company known for its Gothic horror films produced between the mid-1950s and the 1970s. The event was such a success that the next year Les Films du Spectre organized the Spectre Film Festival, focused on science fiction films made from 1950s to 1980s.
In 2008, the festival was given its current name and joined the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation as an adherent member. Its program expanded to include two film competitions, a European feature film competition and a European short film competition. The SEFFF's first international jury included Italian filmmaker Lamberto Bava, English actress Caroline Munro, and French actor Philippe Nahon. In 2010, the festival moved to affiliated membership in the Federation.
The main award of the SEFFF is the Golden Octopus. It is presented in two categories: Best International Fantastic Film and Best International Short Fantastic Film. European films can compete for the prestigious Meliès d’Argent Award presented by the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation. Meliès d’Argent winners are eligible for the Meliès d’Or Award given to the best European fantastic film festival of the year. Other awards at the SEFFF include the Audience Award, the Special Mention, and other special awards.
Alongside competition screenings and the award ceremony, the program of the festival includes the opening and closing ceremonies featuring a European movie premiere, workshops conducted by renowned filmmakers, lectures, special screenings (retrospectives, open-air screenings, etc), a zombie walk followed by a zombie ball, a Night of the Z Movies, the Village Fantastique, and more.
In 2020, the festival was held in a new format (Fantastic Weekends) over three weekends because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: strasbourgfestival.com
