Won't somebody speak up for the worms? Isn't there anyone to defend the humble centipede? How long must innocent spiders, simply doing you a favor by snacking on more harmful insects, be persecuted?

That was the thought process behind the founding of the Insect Fear Film Festival, started in 1984 by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Entomology Graduate Student Association. Entomology, for those who don't know, is the scientific study of insects. Insects may be one of the more maligned species in horror movies, especially during the "big bug" era of films where giant insects chewed and stomped their way through small towns.

Inspired by an Asian-American Society on campus that sponsored a Godzilla festival, the Insect Fear Film Festival (or IFFF) set out to entertain as well as educate. Attendees can meet (and handle) insects, participate in an art contest, and learn about ways that these movies differ from the (often far more peaceful) reality of these insects. However, the main draw is the film screenings, centered around a yearly theme: for example, in 2025, the "Tarantula" theme saw a showing of 1990's Arachnophobia.

Watch Svengoolie on MeTV!

Saturdays at 8 PM

*available in most MeTV markets

For the 20th anniversary of IFFF, the festival decided to do something special: they decided to honor Bert I. Gordon — sometimes known as Mr. BIG both for his initials and for his frequent oversized creatures in his movies — as a celebrated guest of honor for his impact on the "big bug" genre. Films shown included the Bert I. Gordon-helmed films Beginning of the End (giant grasshoppers), Earth vs. the Spider (giant spider), and Empire of the Ants (giant ants).

In addition, Gordon was presented with a plaque and a certificate of appreciation for his legacy.