DeepCon (also Deepcon) is an Italian science fiction, fantasy and horror fan convention, covering multiple (ideally all) entertainment forms and media (e.g.: film, television, literature, comics, music, computer), mixed with a dose of actual, real-world science.
History
The last two decades of the twentieth century were a relatively difficult time for science fiction in Italy, regardless of medium. Thus DeepCon was conceived to promote its visibility and viability as a genre, as well as a general SF fan convention.
Collaborations were sought with television stations, distributors and authoring firms, both for promotion and for panels explaining the behind-the-scenes work needed in order to air or sell a TV show or a movie. By the same token, TV and film actors and crew were present at all of the past DeepCons: actors, make-up artists, pre-production and post-production crew, scriptwriters, and so on.
Literature was not neglected, either. For several years, the convention's organizing committee was entrusted by WorldSF Italia with running (a convention for professionals) within DeepCon. Since then, publishers, translators, international artists and writers participate and roam the venue.
As a highlight, parent Italian fan club Deep Space One was awarded for 2009 by European Science Fiction Society the privilege of organizing Eurocon (a Europe-level convention), with guests from all over the continent.
By that time, the SF focus of the convention had already broadened to include fantasy and horror as well.
Since most attendees and even some guests had a strong interest in actual science, efforts were made to officially include scientific and quasi-scientific topics in the program: aeronautics, astronautics, astronomy, astrophysics, computer science, archaeology, the paranormal (both for and against). Members of ASI, NASA, Northrop, CICAP were guests multiple times.
Deepcon 21, originally planned for March 2020, had to be delayed, then canceled in compliance with nation-wide countermeasures against COVID-19. It was then rescheduled as DeepCon 21 + Eurocon 2021 + Italcon 47 for July 2021.
Typical features
Entertainment-related panels
Real world-related panels
Art exhibitions
Dealers' room
Mingling all convention long, often with the guests, too
Charity auction
EatCon (food- and drink-related attendee-driven sub-event) Gala dinner Costume contest Autograph signing sessions Sunbathing (rare, due to the unfavorable season) Spa (charged separately) Unplanned, impromptu extras
Typical topics
Anime
Babylon 5
Battlestar Galactica
Birth of a character
Birth of an actor
Black holes and Einstein-Rosen bridges
CGI
Cartoons
Comics writing
Definition of "horror" Different lifestyles in different parts of our planet (and other planets) The Dragonriders of Pern Farscape The History of computing How to make yourselves up like you just lost a fight with the Hulk The ISS James Bolivar "Slippery Jim" DiGriz, the Stainless Steel Rat Literary translation Manga Nathan Never Space probe design Star Trek Star Wars Stargate UFO Nicolas Eymerich Video translation, language localisation, lip-synching and dubbing Wikipedia