AthensCon, the biggest comics & pop culture convention in Greece, talks to us about Cosplay, the event and its work!
GOING OVER THE TOP !
For thousands of people, it’s the highlight of the year! Every December it attracts the attention of all fans of modern pop culture! Comics, series, movies, anime, manga, games, videogames, books, collectibles, and generally anything else our soul desires, can be found there!
Among them, our favorite activity, Cosplay too, with AthensCon in Athens gathering the largest number of Cosplays in Greece every year during its two-day run, and serving as their largest gathering spot, reaching a record number of 734 Cosplays in its last event, at Athenscon 2019!
Starting on November 14, 2015 it now counts 5 annual two-day events which take place in December, with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic! Every year more than 20.000 visitors flood the Tae Kwon Do Stadium, filling the corridors between 200 exhibitors and artists!
More than 10 famous international guests related to the pop culture scene are present at every event, giving people the unique opportunity to meet them up close for the first time ( find them at the end of the article )! Among them, well known Cosplayers from abroad!
Multiple panels, presentations, exhibitions, signings and much more, provide an extensive schedule, not giving the audience a chance to get bored even for a moment, and bringing to life an experience in Greece, as close as possible to similar huge comics & pop culture conventions abroad!
Its repertoire includes some “firsts” related to Cosplay in Greece!
The 1st international guest Cosplayer in Athens and the 1st Cosplay Panel in Athens and Greece, at AthensCon 2015!
The 1st wrestling match with Cosplays in Athens and Greece at AthensCon 2016!
The establishment of the 501st Legion Hellenic Outpost, by Star Wars Hellenic Academy, at AthensCon 2018!
Let’s talk in detail about everything, with AthensCon‘s organizer Andreas Pefanis!
Find AthensCon on the following media! Page - Facebook - Group - Youtube - Instagram - Twitter - TikTok Check out the organizer's profile and events, with all their info and thousands of photos & videos, on our website, HERE!
MAKING THE DREAM REALITY !
1) Tell us a few words about AthensCon, its history and contents! When and how did it start? What themes is it about? Are those themes based on the organizers’ personal interests, and if so, when did you start taking an interest in each of them, before your first event?
AthensCon is the first real big convention in the country that has direct influences from Comic Cons and conventions abroad that promote modern hobbies and people’s daily activities. It’s a celebration that embraces all kinds of pop culture and hobbies that derive from it. Pop culture comes from society and arts, touching people who deal with it in a unique way. Each of us chooses to fill his life the way one likes. Comics, movies, videogames, board games, all of them give us emotions that make everyday life more enjoyable.
All members of the organizing team love the above hobbies. Many of us have turned this love into our main professional activity. That way, we live and breathe comics, movies and games.
Personally, my love for comics was born during a distant summer when I was just 7 years old. Somewhere on a beach while we were on a family vacation. Because my mother liked to read “Arlekins” ( short books about ideal love stories ) she bought me a comic to read on the beach in hope that I would stay busy. Little did she know that she started the cogs that would create my professional life.
Collecting figures and other objects came through my desire to have a representative piece of the stories and movies I liked.
As for movies and the board games, I think there isn’t any child that hasn’t gone through a phase of its life where it enjoyed them.
International Guest Cosplayers of AthensCon
Nad Cosplay – Tine Marie Riis – Sophie Riis – Narga & Aoki – Calypsen Cosplay – Tabitha Lyons
2) What led you to proceed with organizing AthensCon? How long and what exactly did it take until the first event was possible? What can one find there and how do you think it differs from other events of similar type or theme?
The thing that urged me to organize my first event was the complete lack of something similar in our country. This is how Athens ComicFest was born in 2003. From the moment the idea for the event came up until its implementation, only 6 months had passed. Unfortunately, the time period ComicFest took place did not allow for its further realization, because my dreams and ideas were beyond my financial means, since at that time sponsorships were few and far between. AthensCon is the evolution of ComicFest, the way I imagined it could have been if it had continued. It took around 11 years of patience for its realization, until the right conditions were created, and then just one year of planning.
First, the difference with other events was initially its size and ambitions. We give all our energy and all our resources as openly and generously as we can to make the event each year even bigger. Every year we bring even bigger names as our guests. We come up with even bigger ideas and activities that will give our visitors more emotions and pleasure while inside our premises.
Exhibitors & Artists at AthensCon 2019 – Photo by Cosplayers//GR
3) What was the biggest, but also the most difficult AthensCon you have done so far? What defines them as such?
Each year had its own difficulty. Every new idea needs something different to make it happen. You always have to face something new. You will need to learn something new to deal with a new necessity. The bigger an event gets, the more effort and time it takes.
Huge Tie Fighter replica from Star Wars and volunteers of AthensCon 2019 – Photo by AthensCon
4) How much effort, time and money does it usually take to set up AthensCon? What is the usual preparation plan that you follow?
A lot of effort, all your time and as much money as you can give.
The plan is simple. Think of an idea and implement it within the time limits provided.
Cosplay Panel by international guest Cosplayer Nad Cosplay at AthensCon 2019 – Presented by Bullet Witch Cosplay – Photo by Cosplayers//GR
5) How did you feel during the first AthensCon and how after its end? Describe this experience to us.
Lots of fatigue and anxiety about whether we managed to give to the people what we thought they wanted. When it was over I just wanted to rest …. The real feelings of joy came later when we quietly sat down and thought about what we had achieved and how we could do the next one.
The traditional Star Wars Hellenic Academy Parade at AthensCon 2019 – Photo by Star Wars Hellenic Academy
6) What’s your opinion, in proportion to Greece’s size, about the size and level of the audience of the scene towards which AthensCon is addressed?
Worldwide statistics are similar. Only 0.4% reads comics. But I think we have the ability to “teach” people about them so that they will get to know them. We have achieved this because the growing number of visitors each year shows that we are reaching more and more people all the time.
International Guest Actor Adrian Paul at AthensCon 2019 – Photo by Cosplayers//GR
7) Are you satisfied with the people’s response to AthensCon during all these years, as well as with the number of Cosplays attending?
Every year we are satisfied with the number of our visitors and Cosplayers, but we always want to attract more next time.
Video of 650 of 734 Cosplays and general footage from AthensCon 2019 – The biggest Greek Cosplay video – Video by Cosplayers//GR
8) When and why did you decide to include Cosplay in AthensCon’s themes? What more do you think does the presence of Cosplays provide to AthensCon?
Cosplay has always been part of the events we organized. Whether it was ComicFest, 24 Hours Comics Day or AthensCon, Cosplay was part of us.
Cosplay offers color and joy whether you are wearing a costume or see someone else wearing it. It brings the characters you admire to life in front of you.
Hall of Armors at AthensCon 2018 – Iron Man suits by cosplay team Cosplay Corp‘s Alexander Beis – Photo by Cosplayers//GR
9) What can one find related to Cosplay at AthensCon? Are there any specific activities and events related to it? Do you think they are sufficient or is there something more that you would like to provide regarding Cosplay? Do you think that Cosplay as a theme will continue to be a key part of AthensCon for a long time?
As AthensCon we decided to take a neutral approach towards Cosplay in general. We want it and embrace it but we do not want to offer a means for any possible drama and malicious comments that can said. Whether they are aimed at the event, a related activity or a Cosplayer specifically. So far we have hosted micro Cosplay competitions, have done an Cosplayer creations exhibition ( Hall of Armors by Cosplay Corp‘s Alexander Beis το 2018 ). We bring Cosplayers from abroad as guests who host their own workshops and panels. Surely more things could be done but always within the borders of our neutral approach.
Video of live ZMAK Pro-Wrestling matches with Cosplays at AthensCon 2016 – Video by ZMAK Pro-Wrestling
10) Is there a long term goal or personal dream you want to achieve through AthensCon?
To continue to provide more and more unique moments for our guests which will be remembered by them for their whole life.
International Guests Alley at AthensCon 2019 – Photo by Cosplayers//GR
11) Is there any important or funny experience that happened during AthensCon that you will never forget?
Every moment in our convention is important to us. Way too many funny moments, especially with visitors who have seen an article somewhere and interpret it as they wish, thinking that they will see something other than what we host.
International Guest Cosplayers Tine Marie Riis & Sophie Riis at AthensCon 2018 – Photo by Cosplayers//GR
12) What is the first thing you would tell to someone who seriously considers visiting AthensCon for the first time? And what can he expect to see there in the future?
To not think about it at all and visit us. All our visitors, old and new, will see new and bigger things that are going to please them.
Marvel 80th Anniversary Exhibition at AthensCon 2019 – Illustrated Exhibition by Greek Artists – Photo by Cosplayers//GR
INTERNATIONAL GUESTS OF ATHENSCON !
EVENTS BY ATHENSCON ! INFO, PHOTOS & VIDEOS !
Cosplayers//GR, the Greek Cosplay community ( 2007 – today ), the only big non-profit neutral and independent Greek Cosplay community network, dedicated to providing -all- existing news about the community, coverage, recording and promotion of all Cosplayers, Cosplay events and anything associated with Cosplay in Greece.
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