Méliès Competition
The Federation annually awards a Méliès d’or prize for the best European fantastic feature film and short film. An award which is renowned in Europe and abroad, the Méliès generates visibility for films, its producers and directors. It’s an award that stands for quality, creativity, and imagination.
The Méliès d’or award stands for quality, creativity and imagination
Named after the pioneer of fantastic film in the silent film era, the Méliès Awards are given to the best European fantastic feature and short film at our member festivals. Since its inception in 1995, the Méliès has been awarded to films from all parts of Europe, reflecting the cultural wealth and variety of European fantastic cinema. The first Méliès d’or was awarded in 1996
The Méliès is a cycle of competitions that takes place throughout the year. Eight festivals across Europe present a Méliès d’argent to the best European feature film and the best European short film. Another eleven festivals award a Méliès d’argent for short film only.
Out of these Méliès d’argent feature film winners and short film winners, a jury chooses a Méliès d’or, for the best European fantastic film of the year. The Méliès d’or is presented annually at the Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya in Sitges (Spain).
Feature Film 2023
Méliès d’or Winner
Lola (Ireland, UK, 2022) directed by Andrew Legge
Short Film 2023
Méliès d’or Winner
Gnomes (2022) by Ruwan Suresh Heggelman
Career Méliès 2023
The 2023 Career Méliès was presented to the spanish screenwriter Jorge Guerricaechevarría, for his outstanding contribution to the fantastic genre.
Since 2018, the Federation presents a Career Méliès for outstanding contributions to European fantastic cinema. Recipients were Álex de la Iglesia in 2018, Asia Argento in 2019, Paco Plaza in 2020, Lucile Hadzihalilovic in 2021, Claudio Simonetti in 2022.