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FedCon

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Federation Convention
StatusActive
GenreScience Fiction/Multi-media Fandom
Location(s)Bonn/Düsseldorf
CountryGermany
Inaugurated1992
AttendanceApprox. 5000
Organized byFedCon GmbH
Websitehttp://www.fedcon.de/
FedCon 2009

FedCon (short for Federation Convention) is a science fiction convention, also including a bit of fantasy, in Germany. It focuses on Star Trek. FedCon is the biggest Star Trek convention in Europe.[1][2]

History

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It has been held each spring since 1992. In 2005, it was held in Bonn—as several years before—but in 2006, it took place in Fulda, while it returned to Bonn in 2007. FedCon is attended by sci-fi fans from 25-30 different countries around the world and is frequently hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Marc B. Lee of Orlando, Florida. FedCon used to be a 3-day convention, but due to its 20th anniversary, it moved to Düsseldorf Maritim hotel and became a 4-day convention. In 2010, it was hosted by Ed Wasser, 2011 until 2013 by Garrett Wang, and since 2014, Nessi Wann-Petry is hosting the show.

Created by Dirk Bartholomae of Augsburg, Germany, FedCon has shown its fans a different brand of conventioneering by providing stage entertainment with professional stunt teams, musical acts and performances by its actor guests.

FedCon GmbH, its corporate label, is also responsible for the Ring*Con Lord of the Rings convention.

Contrary to many science fiction events originating in the 1960s and 1980s, which were orientated on sci-fi literature, FedCon focuses on movies and television. It started as a pure Star Trek convention and spread its spectrum over the years.

Guests

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Starting with Walter Koenig, first guests were actors from the various Star Trek series, but later also included actors and co-workers from other series like Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, Buffy, Farscape, Andromeda, Stargate and Xena: Warrior Princess. Other special guests attending the FedCon include authors, voice artists, scientists and astronauts.

FedCon USA

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FedCon is not to be confused with FedCon USA, a similar convention in Dallas, United States, in June 2008 which licensed the name but closed mid-convention due to poor attendance. FedCon claims that it disassociated itself with FedCon USA in January 2008.[3]

Activities

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Activities and events at the convention typically include (but are not limited to):

  • Panel discussions with actors and other guests.
  • Autographing sessions
  • Photographing sessions with the actors
  • Speeches or other presentations by scientists and experts about a specific topic, like the Klingon language.
  • Socialising in the evening convention-party, where some stars might also appear.
  • Costuming - both formal competition, and casual hall costumes.
  • Dealers' room - a large hall full of people selling books, movies, jewellery, costumes (often including weapons), games, comic books, etc.
  • Art show - presenting paintings, drawings, sculpture and other work, primarily on science fiction and fantasy themes
  • Live performances, e.g. Klingon Rock Music or a fight show.
  • Watching science fiction movies, television shows, etc.
  • Possibility for local fangroups and role-playing groups to represent themselves

Special Facts

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In the year 2011, FedCon achieved the world record of the most people in a Star Trek costume, having counted 691 people. They had achieved the record in the previous year with 507 persons, but it was soon beaten by a convention in Las Vegas with 571 costumed people. In September 2011, this record has been beaten again at a convention in Las Vegas with 1,040 fans.[4]

Previous FedCons

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FedCon year location guests
FedCon I 1–3 May 1992 Turmhotel Augsburg Walter Koenig
FedCon II 1–3 April 1994 Arabella Hotel Munich George TakeiRobin CurtisRichard Arnold
FedCon III 30 June – 2 July 1995 Sheraton Hotel Munich Jonathan FrakesBrent SpinerEric StillwellLolita FatjoRichard Arnold
FedCon IV 10–12 May 1996 Maritim Hotel Bonn Walter KoenigDenise CrosbyArmin ShimermanGarrett WangRobert PicardoRichard Arnold, Lolita FatjoMarc B. Lee
FedCon V 9–11 May 1997 Maritim Hotel Bonn William ShatnerRoxann DawsonNana VisitorEthan PhillipsChase MastersonMira FurlanMarc B. Lee
FedCon VI 17–19 April 1998 Maritim Hotel Bonn Kate MulgrewRobert BeltranTim RussMax GrodénchikNichelle NicholsRichard ArnoldMarc B. Lee
FedCon VII 30 April – 2 May 1999 Maritim Hotel Bonn Leonard NimoyRobert Duncan McNeillJeri RyanGates McFaddenJohn de LancieBruce BoxleitnerRobin Atkin DownesRichard ArnoldMarc B. Lee
FedCon VIII 19–21 May 2000 Maritim Hotel Bonn Richard ArnoldLolita FatjoRichard HerdRené AuberjonoisMarina SirtisMichael DornJerry DoyleRichard BiggsBrent SpinerAlice KrigeRobin Atkin Downes – – Denise CrosbyTim RussChase MastersonMarc B. Lee
FedCon IX 6–8 April 2001 Maritim Hotel Bonn LeVar BurtonColm MeaneyAlexander SiddigJennifer LienClaudia ChristianRichard BiggsRobert LeeshockVon FloresTed RaimiMarjorie MonaghanAlexandra Tydings – Manu Intiraymi – Stewart MossRichard ArnoldMarc B. Lee
FedCon X 10–12 May 2002 Maritim Hotel Bonn Walter KoenigAvery BrooksNicole de BoerRobert BeltranRobert Duncan McNeillGarrett WangDominic KeatingDirk BenedictHerb Jefferson Jr.BarBara Luna – Manu Intiraymi – Carolyn SeymourErin GrayRichard ArnoldJudson ScottRichard HatchPeter WilliamsMarc B. Lee
FedCon XI 2–4 May 2003 Maritim Hotel Bonn Vaughn ArmstrongNana VisitorLinda ParkJohn BillingsleyEthan PhillipsMarina SirtisCirroc LoftonAnthony HeadRay ParkLeni ParkerJason CarterGil GerardRobert LeeshockTony AmendolaTracy ScogginsMarc B. Lee
FedCon XII 21–23 May 2004 Maritim Hotel Bonn Nichelle NicholsTim RussRobert PicardoConnor TrinneerAnthony MontgomeryGrace Lee WhitneyRobert O'ReillyJ. G. HertzlerMusetta VanderVirginia HeyEd WasserJulie BenzTom LenkAmber BensonLolita FatjoLarry NemecekRichard ArnoldMarc B. LeeRobert Vogel
FedCon XIII – The lost convention There was no FedCon XIII. FedCon XII 2004 was followed by FedCon XIV in 2005.
FedCon XIV 6–8 May 2005 Maritim Hotel Bonn Jolene BlalockDominic KeatingAndrew RobinsonStephen FurstGary GrahamCorin NemecClare KramerJ. G. HertzlerBobbi Sue LutherRick SearfossJames HoranMonika SchnarreMichael David WardLeonard NimoyBrent SpinerKevin SorboRobert VogelLeonard McLeodHubert ZittMarc B. Lee
FedCon XV – The Undiscovered Country 19–21 May 2006 Hotel Esperanto Fulda Patrick KilpatrickWalter KoenigGeorge TakeiGates McFaddenRobert BeltranConnor TrinneerNicole de BoerCirroc LoftonMira FurlanGigi EdgleyChristian KaneMenina FortunatoMarc SingerClaudia ChristianDean HaglundGary JonesClare KramerAndy HallettTim BrazealAlexandra VeltenDr. Rainer NagelHubert ZittRichard ArnoldMarc B. LeeRobert Vogel
FedCon XVI – Droned Heart 8–10 June 2007 Maritim Hotel Bonn Kate MulgrewJonathan FrakesAvery BrooksJewel StaitePaul McGillionGarrett WangArmin ShimermanLaura BertramOrli ShoshanRobert O'ReillyJ. G. HertzlerSuzie PlaksonCirroc LoftonAnthony MontgomeryHubert ZittAlexandra VeltenDr. Rainer NagelRobert VogelMarc B. Lee
FedCon XVII – The Lost World 18–20 April 2008 Maritim Hotel Bonn Brent SpinerMarina SirtisLeVar BurtonJamie BamberMary McDonnellBruce BoxleitnerMichael ShanksKevin SorboMichelle ForbesNicki ClyneLeah CairnsJulie Caitlin BrownPeter JurasikSteve BacicRené AuberjonoisJohn de LancieW. Morgan SheppardRobert VogelRichard ArnoldMarc B. Lee
FedCon XVIII – The Golden Future 1–3 May 2009 Maritim Hotel Bonn Edward James OlmosSummer GlauNichelle NicholsColin FergusonJordan HinsonChristopher JudgeJames CallisMichael HoganJohn BillingsleyRobert PicardoNana VisitorConnor TrinneerDominic KeatingMark SheppardMarc AlaimoJeffrey CombsMax GrodénchikErin GrayRichard HatchJonathan WoodwardHubert ZittAlexandra VeltenDr. Rainer NagelRichard ArnoldMark HildebrandThomas HöhlRobert VogelDavid MessinaMarc B. Lee
FedCon XIX – Beyond Imagination 30 April – 2 May 2010 Maritim Hotel Bonn Joe FlaniganLuciana CarroJames MarstersDavid HewlettTerry FarrellMichael DornGareth David-LloydAaron DouglasKandyse McClureTahmoh PenikettGordon Michael WoolvettMartha HackettCliff SimonChase MastersonTsuneo SandaDavid Messina – Manu Intiraymi – Suzie PlaksonRobert VogelFranco UrruJames CawleyEd Wasser
FedCon XX – The Sci-Fi Experience 28 April – 1 May 2011 Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf Richard Dean AndersonScott Bakula - Robert Duncan McNeillLance HenriksenWil WheatonPaul McGillionMarina SirtisJeremy BullochDaniel LoganNicole de BoerSean MaherBonnie PiesseDirk BenedictTony AmendolaKate HewlettArlene MartelKate VernonCarel StruyckenHubert ZittLieven LitaerGarrett Wang
FedCon XXI – The Sci-Fi Experience 17. - 20. May 2012 Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf Richard Dean AndersonWilliam Shatner - Jonathan FrakesGates McFaddenJoe FlaniganWalter Koenig - J. G. Hertzler - Robert O'Reilly - Nicholas Brendon - Felicia Day - Casper Van Dien - Kai Owen - Keith Szarabajka - Erick Avari - Teryl Rothery - Kavan Smith - Matthew Bennett - Jenette Goldstein - Ricco Ross - Carrie Henn - Virginia Hey - Eddie Paskey - Garrett Wang
FedCon XXII – The Sci-Fi Experience 9. – 12. May 2013 Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf John Barrowman - Robert Beltran - Claudia Black - Ben Browder - Tracee Cocco - Casper Van Dien - Gigi Edgley - Colin Ferguson - Matt Frewer - J.G. Hertzler - Dina Meyer - Anthony Montgomery - Patrick Muldoon - Eve Myles - Jasika Nicole - Robert O'Reilly - Linda Park - Ethan Phillips - Mark Allen Shepherd - Andrea Thompson - Garrett Wang - Patti Yasutake
FedCon XXIII – The Sci-Fi Experience 29 May. - 01. June 2014 Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf Jay Acovone - Richard Dean Anderson - Nicole de Boer - Susanne Braun - Holly Marie Combs - Tony Curran - Roxann Dawson - Shannen Doherty - Aron Eisenberg - Max Grodénchik - Natasha Henstridge - Barry Jenner - Nalini Krishan - Bai Ling - Diana Muldaur - Nichelle Nichols - Michael Shanks - Alexander Siddig - Amanda Tapping - Nana Visitor - Garrett Wang - David Warner
FedCon XXIV – The Sci-Fi Experience 21. - 24. May 2015 Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf Rob Archer - Jonathan Del Arco - Carmen Argenziano - Colin Baker - Grant Bowler - James Callis - Aaron Douglas - Jerry Doyle - Eva Habermann - Tricia Helfer - David Hewlett - Manu Intiraymi - Bai Ling - Paul McGann - David Nykl - Edward James Olmos - Tim Russ - Jeri Ryan - Sean Young
FedCon XXV – The Sci-Fi Experience 13. - 16. May 2016 Maritim Hotel Bonn Chase Masterson - Connor Trinneer - Dominic Keating - Ethan Phillips - George Takei - Hallie Todd - James Morrison - Julie Benz - Karl Urban - Manu Intiraymi - Marina Sirtis - Rekha Sharma - Robert Beltran - Robert Maschio - Robin Curtis - Terry Farrell - Tucker Smallwood - Walter Koenig - William Shatner -
FedCon XXVI – The Sci-Fi Experience 2. - 5. June 2017 Maritim Hotel Bonn Chase Masterson - Marina Sirtis - Gates McFadden - Michael Dorn - John de Lancie - LeVar BurtonColm Meaney - Denise Crosby - Casper Van Dien - David Hasselhoff - Jenna Coleman - Matt Smith - Bern Collaco - Sasha Roiz - Mark Dacascos - Hubert Zitt - Christian Humberg

cancelled: Brent Spiner - Jonathan Frakes - Tia Carrere

FedCon XXVII – The Sci-Fi Experience 18. - 21. May 2018 Maritim Hotel Bonn Jason Isaacs - Brent Spiner - Jonathan Frakes - Robert Picardo - John de Lancie - Edward James OlmosMary McDonnell - Tricia Helfer - James Callis - Grace Park - Michael Trucco - Rekha Sharma - Tahmoh Penikett - Katee Sackhoff - Alessandro Juliani - Aaron Douglas - Michael Hogan - Kandyse McClure - Daphne Zuniga - Zach Galligan - Cliff Simon - Brian Muir - Hubert Zitt - Robert Vogel - Christian Humberg - Anika Klüver - Lori Dungey

cancelled: Karl Urban - Jamie Bamber

FedCon XXVIII – The Sci-Fi Experience 7. - 10. June 2019 Maritim Hotel Bonn Kevin Sorbo - Bruce Boxleitner - Corin Nemec - Robert Duncan McNeill - Mira Furlan - Aaron Ashmore - Luke Macfarlane - Anson Mount - Shazad Latif - Wilson Cruz - Cas Anvar - Dominique Tipper - Frankie Adams - Shohreh Aghdashloo - Ethan Peck - Ken Leung - Wes Chatham - Steven Strait - Anthony Daniels - Benjamin Stöwe - Lori Dungey - Hubert Zitt - Christian Humberg - Lieven Litaer
FedCon XXIX – The Sci-Fi Experience 22. - 24. October 2021 Maritim Hotel Bonn Sonequa Martin-GreenAnthony RappEmily CouttsDavid AjalaPatrick Kwok-ChoonSara MitichIsa BrionesJoe FlaniganTorri HigginsonPaul McGillionRachel LuttrellJewel StaiteDavid NyklClaudia ChristianBenjamin StöweHubert Zitt

cancelled: Zachary QuintoBlu del Barrio

FedCon XXX – The Sci-Fi Experience 3. - 5. June 2022 Maritim Hotel Bonn Simon Pegg - Christopher Eccleston - Evan Evagora - Ian Alexander - Julian Glover - Richard Brake - Michael Carter - Eric Walker - Michelle Hurd - Vaughn Armstrong - Casey Biggs - Max Grodénchik - Nana Visitor - Jonathan Frakes - Brent Spiner - John Barrowman - Sebastian Stoppe - Robert Vogel - Phillip P. PetersonHubert Zitt

cancelled: Blu del Barrio - Annie Wersching - Ethan Phillips - John de Lancie - Guy Henry - Marina Sirtis - Mary Wiseman

FedCon XXXI – The Sci-Fi Experience 26. - 28. May 2023 Maritim Hotel Bonn Amanda TappingAnna-Louise PlowmanBen BrowderChristina ChongConnor TrinneerDominic KeatingGeorge TakeiGigi EdgleyJacqueline KimJoe FlaniganJohn de LancieJudson ScottLori DungeyMarina SirtisMichael ShanksPatrick CurrieRichard Dean AndersonRichard PoeSimone BaillyTerry FarrellTeryl RotheryTony AmendolaSebastian StoppeHubert Zitt
FedCon XXXII – The Sci-Fi Experience 10. - 12. May 2024 Maritim Hotel Bonn Alan van SprangEmily CouttsMary WisemanAnthony RappRobert PicardoLori DungeyPenny Johnson JeraldJ. LeeMark JacksonNicole de BoerAnte DekovicPeter MaconAdrianne PalickiMichael DornAndré Dae KimMelissa NaviaLiz KloczowskiAnson MountTodd StashwickSebastian StoppeHubert Zitt

References

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  1. ^ "A Beginner's Guide to Star Trek Conventions". foXnoMad. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  2. ^ "FedCon Comes to U.S." CBS Studios Inc. 2007-10-23. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  3. ^ Trek Today, accessed June 16, 2008
  4. ^ New World Record Set at Las Vegas Star Trek Convention, written August 14, 2011
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