THE MÉLIÈS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS FEDERATION

The addition of Curtas Festival do Imaxinario of Vilagarcía de Arousa to the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF) in 2025 represents a strategic milestone and a recognition of its remarkable trajectory. As the oldest film festival in Galicia, with over half a century of history, its entry into this prestigious network definitively places it among the elite of genre festivals worldwide.

This integration not only validates the quality and relevance of the International Fantastic Film Festival of Galicia on the international stage but also turns it into a crucial hub for the promotion of European fantastic cinema. By being part of the federation, Curtas acquires the ability to nominate short films for the Méliès d’Argent, directly connecting the Galician and European talent it showcases with the most important award circuit on the continent.

For the festival, this means a qualitative leap in prestige, attracting more powerful productions, more renowned guests, and international media coverage. For the audience and filmmakers, it means that Vilagarcía becomes an official venue for the European fantastic circuit, a seal of quality shared with the major events dedicated to the genre and an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of Galician fantastic audiovisual works.

WHAT IS THE MÉLIÈS FEDERATION?

The Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF), founded in 1987, is a network that brings together the most important and prestigious fantastic film festivals in Europe, with affiliated members also in Asia and America.

Its main objective is to promote and support the production and circulation of European genre cinema (fantasy, science fiction, horror) worldwide. The federation acts as a fundamental cultural and economic engine for the fantastic film industry, creating a solid circuit that gives visibility to films that would otherwise face difficulties crossing borders.

Being a member of the MIFF is considered a seal of excellence and a recognition of a festival’s importance within the genre film ecosystem.

HOW DOES THE FEDERATION WORK?

The federation’s operations are primarily organized through its prestigious award cycle: the Méliès d’Argent (Silver) and the Méliès d’Or (Gold).

  1. The Méliès d’Argent (Silver) Cycle
    Member festivals of the federation, such as Curtas, organize within their programming an official competition exclusively dedicated to European fantastic genre feature films and short films. The jury of each festival awards the Méliès d’Argent to the best film in each category.
  2. The Méliès d’Or (Gold) Cycle
    All Méliès d’Argent winners from the various member festivals throughout the year are automatically nominated for the grand annual prize: the Méliès d’Or.
  3. The Annual Ceremony
    Once a year, the federation holds its gala ceremony at one of its “affiliated” festivals (currently held at the Sitges Film Festival). A special jury, composed of relevant figures from the industry, watches all the nominees (the Silver winners) and chooses the final winner of the Méliès d’Or for Best European Feature Film and Best European Short Film of the year. Our director, Luis M. Rosales, had the honor of being part of that jury in 2015.

In addition to this award cycle, the federation also presents the Méliès Career Award to honor key figures who have made exceptional contributions to fantastic cinema.

THE FEDERATION IN FIGURES

The Federation’s global reach has made it a key economic and cultural player in the worldwide fantastic film landscape. It boosts the visibility and prestige of fantastic cinema before the industry and the public, and encourages its distribution and production.

These are some of the most relevant data that illustrate the importance of the MIFF:

  • Founded: 1987.
  • Members: 35 festivals.
  • Reach: Presence across Europe, with strong links to Asia, North America, and South America.
  • Annual Audience: Over 800,000 spectators.
  • Films Screened: Over 1,800 genre films per year.
  • Awards: 32 Méliès d’Argent awards for feature films and short films each year, and the Méliès d’Or award for the best European fantastic film (feature and short).

THE FEDERATION’S FESTIVALS

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF) and what does Curtas' membership in this network mean?

The MIFF is the most important genre film festival network in the world, composed of 35 festivals in 21 countries reaching over 800,000 spectators annually. For Curtas Festival do Imaxinario, being a competitive member since 2025 means establishing itself as an official venue of the European fantastic circuit, a seal of excellence that guarantees the international quality and relevance of the festival in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

How does the official competition for the Méliès d'Argent award work at the Curtas festival?

As a competitive member, Curtas organizes within its program an official competition exclusively dedicated to European fantastic genre short films. A professional jury composed of relevant industry figures evaluates the selected works and awards the Méliès d’Argent (Silver) to the best work, recognizing its quality and artistic creativity before the international market and critics. 

What is the relationship between the award granted at Curtas and the Méliès d'Or presented in Sitges?

Winning the Méliès d’Argent in Vilagarcía de Arousa grants the short film an automatic nomination for the Méliès d’Or, the highest accolade for fantastic cinema on the continent. The final winner among all “Silver” recipients from the federation’s various festivals is chosen by a special jury and announced annually at the official ceremony held at the Sitges Film Festival.

What industrial visibility benefits does the Méliès circuit offer to the selected directors?

The Méliès seal acts as a powerful industrial validator that boosts the visibility of directors before sales agents and global distributors, promoting the circulation of works across four continents. This integration allows emerging talent selected at Curtas to access a unique projection platform, connecting national audiovisual works with the most demanding milestones of the European film industry.

Discover Curtas Festival do Imaxinario on the official website of the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF)