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.
Variety has called the Melies d'Or "Europe's top plaudit for horror pictures". ==Member festivals==