Greetings, cool person!
Ah, May. The birds are beginning to chirp again. Green leaves are slowly but persistently sprouting from tree branches. Tax refunds are being deposited and promptly spent with reckless abandon. Endless fields of “CONGRATULATIONS GRAD!” signs wave in the delicate spring breeze as you drive down any given American suburban street. (If you’re a grad, congratulations!)
And, if you’re a Godzilla fan with a convention budget, you’re likely gearing up for the madness that is G-Fest.
As of this writing, the annual gathering of the kaiju nerds is just around the corner, and as usual, I’ll be a super busy bee at this year’s show! Every summer, the number of panels and events I’m invited to participate in grows, and this year (no joke), I was asked to join nearly 20 different panels. Flattering though that may be (and I sincerely thank everyone who wanted me to be a part of their presentations), doing that many panels would almost certainly put me in the ER. So, after some whittling, the final number comes to seven standard panels, one interview, a workshop, and a few surprises I can’t reveal just yet!
While locations and exact times have yet to be revealed, here’s where you can spot me at this year’s G-Fest:
- “G-Cinema” Author Daniel DiManna Interview: That’s right… not only am I participating in the usual lineup of film retrospectives and special interest discussions, but (and I’m still pinching myself), I’m actually being interviewed about my new book, “G-Cinema,” live on an opening day panel! Absolutely amazing. I couldn’t be more grateful.
- Shin Godzilla: 10 Years Later: Hard to believe this stone-cold classic is a decade old! Nick Crispino, John Schuermann, Helmi Abdat, Brendan Morley, and yours truly are teaming up to celebrate this milestone anniversary, complete with some never-before-seen photos from my visit to the film’s 2016 premier in Tokyo!
- Daimajin 60th Anniversary: Ready to get stoned? Elijah Thomas and I are teaming up to celebrate everyone’s favorite living statue on his big 60th birthday. We’ll be talking about the oft-ignored origins of the 1966 trilogy, the deeper cultural themes that hallmark the series, and a whole slew of post-Showa appearances, homages, unmade films, and much more!
- Kaiju Writers Unite: G-Fest’s annual writer Q&A is back, and this year, Ryan Collins, Donny Winter, Christofer Nigro, Nathan Marchand, and moi will be answering your questions about kaiju word-crafting. Come curious!
- Rebirth of Mothra 30th Anniversary: The first installment in this magical, childhood-favorite trilogy is now three decades old, and it deserves a long-overdue spotlight. I’m joining fellow ROM evangelists Donny Winter and Danielle Fey to give this film, and its two sequels, some love.
- Discussing Brush of the God: This summer, the landmark final film (and directorial debut) of revered monster maker Keizo Murase is coming to Blu-ray. Join SRS Cinema’s Ron Bonk, Elijah Thomas, and I as we tell the story behind this remarkable kaiju masterpiece, the singularly incredible man who made it, and the journey to create its definitive, bonus feature-packed home video release.
- Godzilla 1994: Before Tristar’s 1998 Godzilla hit theaters, the King of the Monsters nearly had a wilder, more faithful adaptation produced in the mid-nineties. Greg Noneman, Sam Iller, Nicholas Latimer, and I are diving deep into this unmade epic to discuss its production history and why it was never completed.
- War of the Gargantuas: The Frankenstein Brothers Turn 60: Last year, I had the distinct honor of celebrating the 60th anniversary of Frankenstein Conquers the World at G-Fest. This summer, we’re doing it again for the sequel! Kevin Horn, Brady Johnson, Jr., John Schuermann, and I will be giving this kaiju classic its due with lots of production history and fond memories.
- PLUS, the Writers’ Workshop is returning for another round of kaiju flash fiction crafting. If you’re a fellow writer who’s looking to hone your skills and have some creative fun, I hope you’ll join us!
As you can see, this is gonna be another packed year for me. I can’t wait to tackle all these panels (plus those extra surprises I mentioned), and as always, I’m incredibly excited to see you in person, too. (If you spot me, don’t hesitate to say hi and chat me up!)
The full G-Fest 2026 panel schedule (complete with confirmed days/times/locations) should be going live soon, so stay tuned to the G-Fest website and social media pages. In the meantime, thank you for being here, and for your amazing support in all my crazy kaiju endeavors. I hope to see you in July!
-Daniel
The Godzilla Novelization Project 