SFGodzillafest is an annual film festival AND convention held in San Francisco, CA. Celebrating all things King of the Monsters! Put on by Bay Area Film Events, the film festival is usually held in July and the convention in September.
In 2025, Godzillafest will be returning to the Balboa July 18-20, for a three-day film festival. The 2025 convention event will be held September 20-21 at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, located just 3 miles away from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge for those that want to do some sightseeing. Alongside these guest announcements, tickets are on sale now via Bay Area Film Events.
Godzillafest 2025 Special Guests
Tomoko Ai
Tomoko Ai is a Japanese actress. She rose to Kaiju stardom by portraying the iconic and beloved Katsura Mafune in 1975’s Terror of Mechagodzilla, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. She is also known to Tokusatsu fans for her recurring role as Haruko Matsuki in Ultraman Leo, a role she played from episodes 26 through 40 after initially making an uncredited cameo earlier in the series as a different character. In the distant future, Ai-san is set to return to acting in the upcoming Kaiju: Island of Fire film alongside numerous other Kaiju cinema alumni.
Hurricane Ryu
Hariken Ryu, also known as “Hurricane Ryu,” is a stuntman, director and comic book author. Best known to Kaiju fans for his roles in the Heisei Godzilla series, Ryu-san portrayed Ghidorah 1991, Battra Larva, Baby Godzilla ’93, and Godzilla Jr. in Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah. His comic book portfolio includes work such as Monster Warrior Godzilla, a manga that re-imagines Godzilla as a more anthropomorphic wandering ronin, and Blade of Gigantis.
TJ Storm
TJ Storm is a stuntman, motion capture artist, and dancer. To Kaiju fans, he is the latest incarnation of Godzilla, having provided motion capture for the Big G in 2014’s Godzilla and 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters. TJ embodies this role with pride, having co-founded the Haruo Nakajima Action Actor Scholarship for the next generation of talent to have incredible opportunities.