On February 22, 1975, Northern California's very first Star Trek convention was held at Lincoln High School in San Francisco, CA. It was called "The Red Hour Festival." A huge success with the fans of the original TV series (1966-69), the smash event led to much larger conventions in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles. These "Space-Con" conventions left an indelible mark on the science-fiction fans and "Trekkers" who attended. In the end, conventions like Space-Con helped awaken Paramount from hibernation and led to the creation of the first installment of the major motion picture series "Star Trek" in 1979. This full-length documentary film is the story of how fandom revolutionized an industry.
An eye-opening look at the 'costume play' subculture known as cosplay. "My Other Me" chronicles a year in the life of three different cosplayers, following the subjects as they travel the convention circuit, balancing their home lives with their cosplay alter egos, revealing the profound effects the subculture has played in their lives.
A movie following a small selection of talented cos-players as they took part in May 2011 MCM Expo and showcased their costumes in the Masquerade.
A exploration of the fanaticism that surrounds the Apple brand, featuring interviews with Mac evangelists and members of the Mac community.
Leaving Mundania explores the colorful lives of "cosplayers" by delving beyond the common stereotypes of anime enthusiasts who express their fandom through costuming and roleplay. This film follows several cosplayers from the Greater Toronto Area as they prepare for their annual pilgrimage to Anime North, the largest anime fan convention in Canada. Through candid footage and in-depth interviews, Leaving Mundania offers an intimate view of participatory fan culture, revealing how cosplayers stand apart from the "mundanes" of the everyday world.
Organizer Michael Weist's perspective of what went down in TanaCon, YouTuber Tana Mongeau's much-talked-about alt-VidCon event that was abruptly canceled despite boasting of an enviable guest list with names like Shane Dawson and Bella Thorne.
Ten years in the making, KISS Loves You is a film that began back in 1994 when the band KISS was at a career low and KISS fans around the world were starting tribute bands, uniting at unofficial KISS Conventions and growing increasingly more nostalgic for the 70's era classic KISS line-up. The zeitgeist exhibited at these conventions was not lost on the band and in 1996 they responded, rising up like a grease painted phoenix into a new era of success. On the surface, KISS fans got exactly what they longed for, but for some the return of their idols brought unexpected consequences. KISS Loves You follows a few KISS fans along the way.
Otaku Unite! is a feature-length documentary on the history of Japanese animation fandom in the United States: from the importation of anime in the early 60s to the current boom in both the visibility and accessibility of its accompanying fandom.
From the producers of Dogtown & Z-Boys and Riding Giants comes "The Achievers: The Story Of The Lebowski Fans", the long-awaited documentary based on the fans of Joel and Ethan Cohen's THE BIG LEBOWSKI, the first cult film from the digital age.
The Smurfs were created in 1958 by the Belgian comic author Peyo (Pierre Culliford, 1928-1992) and they are one of Belgium's most recognized exports. From Brussels to Los Angeles, via Dubai, a journey into the tiny world of the famous little blue people, from the story of the creation of the original comic to the account of their huge global commercial exploitation.
Shot in Australia, USA, Italy, France, Germany, and Japan, Beyond the Wasteland follows the fans from around the world who go to extraordinary lengths in the name of Mad Max. Transporting us into the world of Mad Max, we explore the eccentric world of the fans, their costumes, and their machines as these oddball fans find their place amongst the Mad Max community. The documentary also follows original cast member, Bertrand Cadart as he continues his fight against stage IV leukemia and travels from his home on the Sunshine Coast to the “Wasteland,” the desert location of Mad Max 2 in Silverton, for the last time. Beyond the Wasteland not only celebrates life but the ability to change oneself through passion.
Actor/cult icon Bruce Campbell examines the world of fan conventions and what makes a fan into a fanatic.
Three thousand fans from fifty two countries. Three shows. One band. The story of the 2015 Marillion Weekend at Port Zélande, The Netherlands and a snapshot of a band 17 Albums and 35 years into an extraordinary career.
Featuring in-depth interviews and stunning live footage, ‘Unconventional’ takes you behind the scenes of one of the music industry’s most unique events. Filmed at Port Zélande and during the run up to the weekend itself, ‘Unconventional’ explores the band’s rehearsal process, the production of Marillion’s impressive show media and what’s involved in putting together such an unusual and complex event. This is not just a backstage view, it’s also an exploration of how Marillion has endured and prospered in an increasingly challenging industry, how the band feel about their music, their reinvention of the music business, their lives, and of the unique relationship that marillion has with its fans.
Documentary about horror fans
At 15 years old, Kyle Kuchta went to his first horror convention. Years later, he visits multiple cons to understand why these gatherings are so important to horror fans, vendors and celebrity guests.
In 1996, a Doctor Who TV movie was envisioned to lead the franchise into an exciting new future with a fresh direction but was met only by an outcry from disapproving fans. Now, follow the film’s screenwriter, Matthew Jacobs, as he is pulled back into the world of the Doctor Who fandom, where he unexpectedly finds himself a kindred part of this close-knit, yet vast, family of fans.
In his directorial debut, Tom Felton, who played the villainous Draco Malfoy in the hugely successful Harry Potter films, meets the world's most committed fans in a bid to understand what drives them.
An EPIX Original documentary directed by William Shatner, based on his hugely popular book, in which he examines the cultural phenomena of STAR TREK, its fan-following and his own role within it.
Follow Mark Torgl star of 1984's The Toxic Avenger who played "Melvin The Mopboy" and transforms into Toxie, as he attends the Monster Convention circuit for the first time. Discover the convention world through Torgl's eyes, and learn a deep dark secret that has kept Torgl in hiding for 30 years.
An internet personality takes a journey through the small, obscure, and downright bizarre conventions happening every weekend around the country as he tries to fit in and find the common link that unites these communities.