Kaijuvision Radio is Going to G-Fest XXIV!

by Nathan Marchand

Brian and I will be attending G-Fest XXIV July 14-16 in Rosemont, Illinois at the Crowne Plaza Hotel O’Hare Chicago.  We won’t be in the dealers’ hall, though.  We’re technically going as regular ol’ attendees, but we’ll be talking up the podcast and getting to know everyone.  We’re not sure if we’ll have episodes posted by then, but we’re hoping to meet future listeners while we’re there.

What’s G-Fest? Well, as the convention’s website puts it:

G-FEST is the largest regular gathering of Godzilla and Japanese monster fans in the world.  Held each summer, it typically attracts more than 1,000 attendees, but has seen a gradual increase in attendance over the past few years.  G-FEST 2014 was the most successful convention to date, bringing in about 3,000 Japanese science fiction and fantasy film fans!

In other words, it’s a “comic-con” that’s strictly for kaiju fans.

This year’s guests include composer Michiru Ōshima, who scored several Millennial Godzilla films including Godzilla x Megaguirus; director and special effects director Shinji Higuchi, who most recently worked on Shin Godzilla; actor Ryuki Kitaoka, whose many acting credits include Godzilla: Final Wars; assistant director Kazuhiro Nakagawa, who also worked on Shin Godzilla, among other things; director Kiyotaka Taguchi, who directed the special effects on many Millennial Godzilla films; actor Robert Scott Field, who played Android M-11 on Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah; and comics industry veteran Tony Isabella.

Along with the many panels and events going on that weekend, there will special screenings of six kaiju films at the nearby Pickwick Theatre, though most of those will be July 13, the day before the convention kicks off. Watch the trailer below to see what films will be playing.

It’s safe to say that Brian and I will be taking as many opportunities to see these films in a theater since most of these we haven’t experienced that way.  Feel free to hit us up before, after, or between screenings!

I’ve been a regular con-goer for a five years now, but this will be Brian’s first time at such an event and the first time either of us have attended G-Fest, so we’re excited.

You can learn more about the convention on its website here.

See you there, G-Fans and kaiju lovers!