Over the last few years, we've held an event in the Art Show area where fans can meet and greet professional artists and authors. Our main speakers, professionals and guests of honor have noted that this event is very fulfilling and enjoyable. The fans get to interact with professionals to discuss recent work. The hotel offers a pay bar service during the event. The hours of the event are 9 PM to 11 PM on Friday. Please join us.

Mini Fan Film Festival

Here’s a call for entries for the first ever Philcon Mini Fan Video Fest! All genres are invited to participate in our first Video Festival! Take clips of your favorite film, of any genre, and splice it together with your favorite song! Our top three choices will be given a featured showing on Saturday night! The following formats are acceptable: QuickTime 6 or earlier, AVI, DVD, or VHS. The top ten videos will be shown throughout film programming at Philcon. All entries must be 5 minutes or less, and be roughly PG in content. Please send your entries to:

Philcon Video
3552 Witte St.
Philadelphia, PA 19149
email: film2005@philcon.org

All entries must be received by November 1st. Festival Participants will be notified via phone and/or e-mail by November 15th.

Masquerade

Once again, the Philcon Masquerade will be held on Saturday evening in the Franklin Hall, with judging according to International Costumer’s Guild guidelines. The Masquerade Director this year is Sandy Swank, president of the local ICG chapter, the Lunatic Phrynge.

There will be workmanship judging in the Masquerade Green Room for costumers who want the fine detail work to be examined up-close-and-personal, as well as the performance judging by a panel of Expert Judges. Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Historical entries are encouraged, but please remember that there is no open mike; music, dialogue, voice over, etc. must be on tape, or clearly written for the MC to read during the performance. Performance duration may be no longer than one (1) minute, unless special permission is obtained in advance from the Masquerade Director.

Philcon encourages the wearing of hall costumes (street legal and conforming to weapons policy, please!) and will have several roaming judges handing out award ribbons in the public areas of the conference. We will also feature costuming programming covering topics of interest for all levels of costumers, from Novice to Master.

Masquerade registration will be open on Friday from 6PM to 9PM, and on Saturday from 10AM to 4PM. All contestants must submit their registration forms by 4PM in order to participate. For more information, contact:

Sandy Swank
246 W Upsal St., Apt. F-303
Philadelphia PA 19119
email: masquerade2005@philcon.org

Please remember to review our weapons policy.

Writing Workshop

A chance to get your work read and critiqued by professional writers and editors. Submit one story, maximum 6000 words, 10 copies in standard manuscript format. Stories must be received 2 weeks before the convention. The workshop session will be held Saturday afternoon. It is open to any member of Philcon, at no additional cost. Send stories to:

Darrell Schweitzer
6644 Rutland St.
Philadelphia PA 19149-2128
email: writerworkshop2005@philcon.org

Student Writing Contest

The Philcon Student Writers Contest is open to all Philcon members in grades 5-12. There are separate competitions for grades 5-8 and 9-12. Cash prizes will be awarded for fi rst and second place in each competition. A copy of the rules and the application form can be obtained here: Writing Contest Rules.

email Lew Wolkoff: stories2005@philcon.org