Starcon
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (March 2016) |
| Starcon | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre |
|
| Venue | “Expoforum” Convention and Exhibition Centre (2016) |
| Location(s) | Saint Petersburg |
| Country | Russia |
| Inaugurated | 1999 |
| Organized by | Geekers |
| Website | www |
Starcon is a science and pop culture festival which takes place annually in Saint Petersburg. It is the oldest and largest festival of its kind in the CIS and Baltic region of Eastern Europe and Asia.[1]
Format[edit]
The festival consists of three main zones:
- Main stage, where people can see show programs and cosplay competitions.
- Exhibition area, which includes stands themed around various movies, video games, comics, and other forms of media. Participants in these stands also wear costumes and organize competitions, quests, and activities.
- Science zone, which includes an exhibition and a conference, where people can attend lectures.
History[edit]
Before 2013[edit]
The first Starcon was held in Moscow in 1999 as a Star Wars valfesti. This form continued from 1999 to 2010, gathering about 100-300 people. In 2011, Starcon expanded its scope to include all science fiction media.
In 2012, the festival was passed off to Igor Pylaev and a team of volunteer organizers. Since then, there have been a few changes.
- The festival moved to Saint Petersburg.
- The scope of the event was expanded. Starcon became a festival dedicated to science fiction in pop culture.
- The scientific section was added.
2013[edit]
In 2013, Starcon changed location and took place at the Garden City Expocentre, becoming the first event in such a format in Russia. The first release of the Adventure Time comics[2] in the Russian language, and the premier of the first Russian zombie movie “Meteletsa: Winter of the Dead”,[3] were presented at Starcon.
2014[edit]
In 2014, Starcon again changed location to Lenexpo Exhibition Complex. The festival also added a movie section for the first time.
2015[edit]
In 2015, Starcon again took place in Lenexpo Exhibition Complex, but for the first time it lasted three days and took all three pavilions. The total festival area included 20,000 square meters, and the number of attendees was over 40,000.[4]
Movie section[edit]
- Special screenings
- The premiere of Fantastic Four from Twentieth Century Fox
Special guests[edit]
- Elena Serova - Cosmonaut, Hero of the Russian Federation
- Mark Serov - Cosmonaut
- Writers Dmitry Puchkov and Maria Semyonova
Festivals[edit]
| Date | City | Place | Number of participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2002 | Moscow | — | — |
| 2003 | Moscow | HC “Mayak” | Over 100 |
| 2004 | Saint-Petersburg | DUM | Over 150 |
| 2005–2011 | Moscow | HK “VVC” | Over 350 |
| 2012 | Saint-Petersburg | KDZ “ Moskovskiy" | |
| 2013 | Saint-Petersburg | GARDEN CITY Expocentre | |
| 2014 | Saint-Petersburg | Lenexpo Exhibition Complex | |
| 2015 | Saint-Petersburg | Lenexpo Exhibition Complex |
Starcon 2016[edit]
In 2016, Starcon was held from July 8-10 in EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre, utilizing 40,000 m2 (430,000 sq ft).[5]
References[edit]
- ^ "Фоторепортаж. Фоторепортаж: Поклонники фантастики на фестивале "Старкон" в Петербурге". The Village. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- ^ "«СТАРКОН 2015»: Как это было". Filmz.ru. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- ^ "Фанаты Star Wars и Star Trek соберутся на конвент Старкон в Петербурге". РИА Новости. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- ^ "Новости LOVE Radio: «Старкон 2015»". www.loveradio.ru. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- ^ "Старкон". starcon.pro. Retrieved 2016-03-28.