craig-parker.net > Stage & Screen > Public Appearances > Istrocon 2003 > Review by Milos
By Milos Lacika
19.September 2003
ISTROCON, the international festival of fantasy, science fiction, modern technologies and new life style was organized by the Fantázia Association, the Brloh bookstore and Demensa, a group of scifi/fantasy fans. It was held on 12th - 14th September 2003.
This international meeting for fans of fantasy literature, film, art, comics, internet and computer entertainment is usually visited not only by interesting Slovak and Czech guests, but also by guests from many different countries. Istrocon was started in 1986, but it was during the last four years that it turned into the biggest international convention on this subject in the Central Europe.
This year was the 4th Istrocon, and was held in SUZA, which is the building of Department of foreign affairs of Slovak republic. There are several places, where fans can go in Istrocon:
- Main deck: the big cinema, capacity about 300 people. Main attractions are here. Like scifi movies and the guest panels.
- Mangovna: a place for manga fans where there are manga movies and manga specials.
- STORM: a place with PC and Playstations. There are always tournaments on actual PC games
- Tea room: place for quiet and private meetings
- Omega 13: video room for playing fan videos
- Holodeck: another video place and also SF&F lectures
- Brlozisko: SF&F bookstore with the biggest selection of books, comics, etc.
The festival lasts 3 days and started in main deck with movie K-Pax, followed by the official ceremonial of opening the festival. After this ceremony was first Craig Parker show. Simultaneously in other sections there were tournaments in Warcraft and Counter strike, lectures and videos. At the evening everybody met in the bar where the party goes to late into the night.
On Saturday there were another Craig Parker panel and autograph session, which was a great success. There were several hundred people there. At the evening awards were held for the best books, writers and movies from Slovak fans of SF&F. Everything ended in bar once again where we discussed many scifi and non-scifi themes, in a great atmosphere.
The last day of con was Sunday, with the last panel for Craig Parker. In my opinion it was the best of all.
What can I say to end of this short story? Istrocon is the best con in Slovakia. I can meet many of my friends there. There is always a lot of fun and interesting things to do, and it leaves me with great memories.