Showmasters was founded in 2002 by two friends who wanted to create an experience where fans could meet their idols face-to-face. The company runs a number of events in various cities across the UK such as Bournemouth, Sheffield, Cardiff and Newcasle as well as abroad, including the London Comic Mart, the London Gamin Market, the official Sherlock conventions Sherlocked UK and Sherlocked USA, and more. The London Film & Comic Con is its biggest and most famous event with an attendance of over 95,000.
Like other multi-genre conventions, the London Film & Comic Con focuses on different aspects of modern pop culture such as comics, anime and manga, films, television, and gaming. The convention has a large dealers hall where attendees can buy various merchandise such as comic, movie and sci-fi related memorabilia, toys, outfits, comic books, art and crafts, and even original film props. The program also includes panels, autograph sessions and photo ops with celebrity guests, Small Press & Artists Alley, the Cosplay Masquerade, and more.
The London Film & Comic Con used to be held at Earls Court Exhibition Center. When the venue was demolished in 2014, the convention moved to Olympia London. During the event, the venue is divided into several themed zones such as the Cosplay Zone, the Comic Zone, the Video Gaming Zone, the Unplugged Gaming Zone, etc. Each zone offers excellent programming with exciting activities.
A lot of fans attend conventions specifically to meet their favorite actors and comic book authors. Over the years, the London Film & Comic Con has welcomed actors and actresses from cult films and television series such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and others. Notable guests at past events have included Simon Pegg (Star Trek), Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Patrick Stewart (Star Trek, X-Men), Gillian Anderson (The X-Files), Carrie Fisher (Star Wars), and many others.
Photo: ibtimes.co.uk
