The Kyiv Comic Con was conceived in 2014 by a group of enthusiasts who felt that Ukraine lacked a large pop culture convention. Although anime and sci-fi/fantasy-themed conventions are common in Ukraine and other former Soviet countries, before the Kyiv Comic Con there weren’t any events in Ukraine that encompassed all aspects of modern pop culture.
The inaugural Kyiv Comic Con was held in June 2015 at Ukrainian House, an international exhibition and convention center in downtown Kyiv. The venue has five floors with conference halls and exhibition spaces with a capacity varying from 50 to 3,500, but the Kyiv Comic Con typically occupies only the ground and first floor.
The first convention was a huge success, which was somewhat unexpected even for the organizers. Very quickly, the Kyiv Comic Con became Ukrainian’s leading event dedicated to all things pop culture.
According to the convention’s team, the Kyiv Comic Con aims to become a major meeting point for creators, publishers, producers and pop culture fans. A big part of the program is devoted to Ukrainian comics, films and books, as well as to Ukrainian translations of foreign fiction and comics because the Kyiv Comic Con strives to promote local talent and help talented creators find new audiences and make new business connections with publishers or distributors.
The program of Kyiv Comic Con encompasses comics, movies, video games, cosplay & live action role-playing games (LARP), tabletop games, literature (primarily fantasy and sci-fi), anime and manga, and science & IT. It includes a wide array of events and activities for visitors of all ages and backgrounds, including lectures, film screenings, presentations, panels, video and tabletop game tournaments, workshops, quizzes, a cosplay parade and competition, special activities for children, an Artists Alley, and more. Of course, there’s also a shopping area where festival-goers can buy various merchandise.
Photo: Andrei Maximov | diff.com.ua
