Festival was launched in 2005 on 100th anniversary of Slovenian cinematography in Ljutomer, where first Slovenian motion pictures were made by Dr. Karol Grossmann. Since its very beginnings, the first international festival dedicated to genre cinema in the region, featured a selection of unconventional movies and numerous film guests. With the regular addition of local specialty - wine, Grossmann Festival soon became one of the most interesting film events in this part of Europe and one of the biggest cultural events in Slovenia.

We focus on fantastic, frightening, fierce and transgressive movies that reach beyond ordinary genre conventions. Our aim is to return danger and boldness into modern-day cinema, which in its mediocrity, political correctness and desperate desire for mass appeal loses more and more of its former reputation, influence, creativity and consequently its audience. Among these efforts we present cult films and its authors and seek cult films-to-be in modern cinema.

Grossmann festival is dedicated to this not so loud, but much more dangerous and funny side of cinema, that pulls no punches, wallows in excess, political incorrectness that goes all the way and beyond. But, in order to fully understand it, one must take time, enjoy the adrenaline ride and equip their most extreme sense of humor. And this can be so much easier with a glass of good wine...

Among our numerous guests in previous years, the spoils of our festival were enjoyed by such legends as Christopher Lee, Roger Corman, Franco Nero, Ruggero Deodato, Menahem Golan, Jan Harlan, Brian Yuzna, Enzo G. Castellari, Udo Kier, Jose Mojica Marins, Lloyd Kaufman, Uwe Boll, Jörg Buttgereit, Sergio Stiveletti, Slobodan Sijan, Goran Markovic, Djordje Kadijevic…

Each year our accompanying program also features numerous wine tastings, art exhibitions, live concerts, workshops, panels, book presentations, Subculture Market and traditional monster parties. And of course FREE CAMPING for all our visitors!

Since 2010, Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival is an adherent member of the MÉLIÈS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS FEDERATION - formerly European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation (http://www.melies.org). In 2013 US-based MovieMaker Magazine has listed Grossmann Festival among the “TOP 5 COOLEST HORROR/SCI-FI FILM FESTIVALS IN THE WORLD” and in 2018, 2021 and 2023 the same magazine listed Grossmann among "30 Bloody Best Genre Fests in the World" and "World's Top 50 Genre Festivals", "25 Coolest Film Festivals In the World" respectively!

Awards & Prizes

Vicious cat - feature films
Slak's Vicious cat - short films
Méliès d’Argent - European short films for the competition in EFFFF (www.melies.org)
Noisy cat - music documentaries

Rules & Terms

OFFICIAL RULES

1. Year of production may not be before 2023.

2. Selection of submissions will be performed by festival commission. Selected movies will be screened at the festival. Winners will be chosen by a special expert jury.

3. Only genre live-action and animated movies will be considered for selection in VICIOUS CAT category for feature films and SLAK's VICIOUS CAT & MÉLIÈS D'ARGENT for short films.

Only documentaries about music genres and/or artists will be considered for the selection in NOISY CAT category.

4. All movies must include English subtitles.

5. Submission must include short biography and filmography of author.

6. Submission must include at least two photos from the movie and poster artwork. Short trailers or excerpts from movies (not longer than 20 seconds) are also welcomed. Submitted materials will be used exclusively for promotional purposes of the festival.

7. Movies in selection are copied for the festival archive. The organizer reserves the right to screen them for promotional purposes of the festival and its program. Movies and excerpts of movies will not be used for any commercial purposes.

8. By completing this entry form you confirm to agree with the rules stated above.

24 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ryan Couldrey

    Truly humbled to have won best short at a festival of Grossmann's calibre. These folks don't mess around and run a top tier fest worthy of being in the Melies Federation!

    July 2025
    Helpful
  • Gregor Bauman

    Can you complain about a festival that awards you an award? Well, even beyond that, beautiful days under the hot Ljutomer sun, fantastic socializing with artists who don't count awards, but weigh content. That's what rock'n'roll is all about. One of the few festivals that hasn't gone bad and commercialized during its a little bit over twenty years and has stuck to the original idea of independent and underground film.

    July 2025
    Helpful
  • Michael Stasko

    Many thanks again for having "Vampire Zombies...from Space!" play at this year's festival!

    July 2025
    Helpful
  • Mitja Manček

    Great festival atmosphere: films, wine, concerts, festival team & other guests. Visiting this festival creates an unforgetable experience... ...unless you drink too much.

    July 2025
    Helpful
  • Rebekah Louisa Smith

    Our experience of Grossmann was WONDERFUL - my clients film THE PEARL COMB won the Melies D'Argent which has opened many doors for the client and the film. We love you Grossmann!

    July 2025
    Helpful