Forthcoming major science fiction convention and SF film (movie) listing for the year.
Covers international and national SF level conventions only.
SF Film launches refer only approximately to European/UK release dates and are subject to studio change.
Although covering many countries, this convention diary lists only the major national and international SF conventions relating to the genre's literary and cinematic forms. For a more complete list of book conventions (including smaller regional ones especially in the US) then consult the Locus listing. For details of TV related SF conventions in the UK then consult SFX magazine in the UK, and for conventions in countries with a significant Russian-speaking population see MIR Fantasy magazine in Russia.
For registration details see the convention's own website linked to each of the below entries.
Jump to 2013 Films Jump to 2013 - '14 Conventions
2013
March 2013
DORTCON 2013 (9th - 10th March '13) Dortmund, Germany. Only held every other year, this is one of Germany's principal conventions.
DEEPCON 2013 (14th - 17th March '13) Fiuggi, Italy. This is arguably the closest Italy has to a natcon. Though it is billed as a convention that covers science-fiction, horror, and fantasy, it tends to have more a television sci-fi focus. GoH: Nana (Kira Neris in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) Visitor.
BRITISH NATIONAL CONVENTION - EIGHT-SQUAREDCON (29th March - 1st April '13), Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford. Guests of Honour: Walter J. Williams, Freda Warrington, Anne Sudworth, and Edward James. News of last year's event is here.
April 2013
EUROCON 2013 -- 35th EUROPEAN SF CONVENTION (11th - 14th April '13.) Kiev, Ukraine. Venue: Kiev Expo Plaza.. (Last Kiev-venued Eurocon in 2006 is reviewed here.) A report of last year's Eurocon is here.
CONFLUX NATCON 2013 -- 52ND AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONVENTION (25th - 28th April '13.) Canberra, Australia.
SCI-FI LONDON 12 (27th April - 6th May '13), Stratford Picturehouse, London. No GoHs but three parallel streams of films with the focus on new art-house SF releases from around the world including a number of UK premieres, some European premiers and the occasional World premiere. (Many films do not get a general cinema release so for many SFL is the big screen viewing opportunity even though many of the films go on to become cult DVD releases after a couple of years.) You book for each film (not the whole event) though bulk film tickets are available. The programme also includes talks and a few panels and a 48 hour short film competition challenge. SFL also sees the Arthur C. Clarke (book) Awards presented. With over 4,000 attending one or more films, this is Britain's largest regular SF event (outside of decadal UK-venued Worldcons).
June 2013
WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2013 (13th - 16th June '13.) New Orleans, USA. Guests of Honour: John Joseph Adams (editor), Ramsey Campbell (British author) , as well as authors Caitlín R. Kiernan and Jonathan Maberry. Jeff Strand Toastmaster for the 2013 Bram Stoker Awards Banquet.
July 2013
FINCON 2013 - FINLAND'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (5th - 7th July '13.) The Cable Factory, Helsinki, Kaapelitehdas, Finland. GoH's: Peter (Blindsight) Watts, Aliette (Obsidian and Blood trilogy) de Bodard, and J. Pekka (391 and Nedut) Mäkelä (who is also the translator of many novels into Finnish including Blindsight). The Finnish academic fantasy and science fiction seminar Finfar 2013 will be held in conjunction with Finncon. There will be at least one track of English language programming through the whole convention. Expected size: 4000–6000 attendees. Governmental agency and local government support means free attendance.
AU CONTRAIRE 2013 - NEW ZEALAND'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (12th - 14th July '13) Quality Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand. Guest of Honour: Jennifer Fallon. Fan GoH: Anna Klein. A report of last year's event is here.
August 2013
NINE WORLDS (9th - 11th August '13) Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow, London, Great Britain. This is not the national SF convention but is an attempt for something larger, more like SF Utopiales. (Don't be put off by Nine Worlds using the term 'sci-fi' in their promotional material, looking at their website it seems as if they mean 'Science Fiction' or 'SF' though there is a good dollop of sci-fi too. They themselves say, "That said, we're not really a sci-fi con either"). Large number of guests (read progamme participants as per DragonCon) of which just a few particularly noteworthy include: Charles Stross, Paul Cornell, Ben Aaronvitch, Jaine Fenn, Cory Doctorow, and Kim Newman. Science is covered by biologist Jack Cohen FIBiol and mathematician Ian Stewart FRS. For further details see our summer season newspage and their website (click on the title link).
39th FRENCH NATIONAL CONVENTION (22nd - 25th August '13) Aubenas in the south of France.
2013 POLCON - POLAND'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (29th Aug - 1st Sept '13 ) Warsaw, Poland.
2013 WORLDCON - LONESTARCON 3 (29th Aug - 2nd Sept '13 ) San Antonio, Texas. GoHs: Ellen Datlow, James Gunn, Willie Siros, Norman Spinrad and Darrell K. Sweet, together with Toastmaster: Paul Cornell, and Special Guests: Leslie Fish and Joe R. Lansdale. News of last year's Worldcon is here.
September 2013
NORCON 27 - NORWAY'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (Date to be confirmed at time of posting) Oslo, Norway.
CAN-CON - 33rd CANADIAN NATIONAL CONVENTION (Date to be confirmed at time of posting) Ottowa, Canada.
FANTASTCON - DENMARK'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (7th -8th Sept '13) Copenhagen, Denmark. GoH: Tricia Sullivan.
FESTIVAL OF FANTASTIC FILMS 2013 (20th - 22nd Sept '13) Days Hotel, Manchester, Britain. International independent as well as amateur film competitions, recent inde as well as vintage SF, horror and fantasy film programme streams. Typically four or five director and actor GoHs. (Last year's fest review here.)
The Fest is not just about film screenings. This short vid provides a flavour of the social and other aspects of one of Britain's more intimate and long-running genre film fests.
October 2013
OCTOCON 2013 - IRELAND'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (12th - 13th Oct '13), Dublin, Ireland. GoHs: Richard K. Morgan and Gail Simone. It features the Golden Blaster short SF/F/H film fest.
FANTASTIKA 2013 - SWEDEN'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (18th - 20th Oct '13), Sickla, close to the centre of Stockholm, Sweden. Author GoHs: Jo Walton (author of the Hugo and Nebula winning Among Others), Lavie Tidhar and Karin Tibeck. Fan Guest of Honour is Johan Anglemark. Also participating will be the British author John (To Hold Infinity, Absorption and Transmission) Meaney.
MUCON 2013 - GERMANY'S NATIONAL CONVENTION (25th - 27th Oct '13), at the 'Bürgerhaus' in Garching near Munich, Germany. GoHs: To be announced.
WORLD FANTASYCON 2013 (31st Oct - 3rd Nov '13) Metropole Hotel, Brighton, Great Britain. GoHs: Richard (I Am Legend) Matheson and China (Embassytown) Miéville and artist Alan Lee (more to be announced). NOTE: There will be limit to the number of places so early registration is advised as there will be a firm cut-off.
November 2013
ZILANTKON - 23rd INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF FANTASY AND ROLE PLAYING GAMES (1st - 4th Nov '13) Kazan, Russia. GoH to be announced at the time of posting. A report on last year's event is here.
UTOPIALES - 14th INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FICTION FESTIVAL (7th - 12th Nov '13 -- provisional dates only at the time of posting this page) Nantes, France. Arguably Europe's largest SF gathering of the year. It also sees a number of awards presented: last year's reported here.
2014
April 2014
BRITISH NATIONAL CONVENTION - SATELLITE 4 (18th - 21st April '14), Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow. Guests of Honour: John ( To Hold Infinity and Transmission) Meaney, Juliet E. (Irons in the Fire) McKenna, Jim (Imago) Burns, Terry (Making Money among much else) Pratchett, Alice and Steve Lawson.
July 2014
40th FRENCH NATIONAL CONVENTION (17th - 21st July '13) Amiens, France. This year it is being organised with the Jules Verne Society that is associated to Galaxies SF magazine.
August 2014
LONCON 3 - The 2014 SF WORLDCON (14h - 18th Aug '14) has won the UK bid for London (also see below SHAMROKON the following weekend elsewhere in the British Isles). With an expected 5,000+ to attend and over a dozen parallel programme streams covering SF books, films and science, plus a large dealers hall and art show, there will be something for everyone at the Worldcon. This event will take place at the new ExCel conference centre in London's docklands next to the financial centre so you can discuss end-of-civilisation scenarios in the bar at the convention and then go outside to see the architects of the global financial meltdown for real. +++ Oh, and the Guests of Honour are: Iain Banks (author of the 'Culture' space opera novels), John Clute (SF encyclopaedist), Chris Foss (SF book cover artist), Malcolm Edwards (SF book editor and publishing supremo), Robin Hobb (fantasy author and non-European GoH) and Bryan Talbot (graphic novel artist and writer). Plus Fan GoH: Jeanne Gomoll. It should go without saying that there is plenty to do and see in London. And the convention venue is state-of-the-art.
SHAMROKON - 2014 SF EUROCON (22nd - 24th Aug' 14) Burlington Hotel, Dublin. GoH US writer Seanan McGuire and Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick. This is Ireland's national convention but not in its usual October slot as it will also serve as a convivial relaxacon the following weekend after the London 2014 Worldcon.
Concatenation supports the London in 2014 Worldcon.
We understand it to be a capital adventure, what ho...
See the 2014 promotional video below of a science fictional London...
Awesome, isn’t it.
Concatenation congratulates the win for the London 2014 bid and
that Sci-Fi London's director is to run the 2014 Worldcon's film programme.
See also the short promotional video below
Finally, Concatenation backs the New Zealand in 2020 Worldcon bid.
A great place to see the Magellanic Clouds, have a xenobiology trip
and do science fiction, all the while (purportedly)
watching water go down the plug hole the other way...
In other words, 'heaven' for those into science and SF.
Want a feel for whether any of the above events might be for you? Check out our reviews of past SF conventions.
Note: This list features UK/Western European dates as at January 2013 so these may change.
Also release dates in other parts of the World may vary by a few months.
2013
January 2013
Haunted (II)
Written and directed by Steven Smith. Stars:
Jon-Paul Gates, Steven M. Smith and Vivien Creegor.
Nightmare on Oxford Street
Comedy horror.
February 2013
Warm Bodies
Comedy horror. After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world. Directed and written by Jonathan Levine. Trailer here.
Barbarian
An evil wizard takes a Princess as prize in his tournament; a battle to the death between barbarians immune to his magic, so that his adversaries might destroy each other. Directed, written and starring Robin Morningstar.
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters
This German-US co-production sees Hansel and Gretel become a formidable team of bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world. This film's release British Isle release has been held back for a year. Trailer here.
Dark Skies
SF horror. As the Barret family's peaceful suburban life is rocked by an escalating series of disturbing events, they come to learn that a terrifying and deadly force is after them. Trailer here.
March 2013
After the World Ended
An astronaut crashes in the middle of nowhere. A young woman searches for her family in an abandoned urban wasteland. A prisoner prepares for a space programme that will make him the first human being on Mars.
Survivors
When a biotechnology facility began advertising for volunteers to take part in a series of pioneering medical experiments, no one expected a dangerous infectious outbreak. Survivors is the story of three people caught up in the disruption and destruction as the facility began to lose control. Its experiments turned loose after a series of damaging leaks from inside. The story unfolds over two timelines, allowing us to witness both the destruction and the aftermath of disaster.
Space Precinct Legacy
Non-fiction Sf, this is a documentary of the Gerry Anderson's last live action series. Gerry sadly died at the end of last year.
Mirror Mirror: The Untold Adventures of Snow White
Comedy fantasy, loosely based on the Grimm brothers fairy tale.
The Host
A parasitic alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder. Instead of carrying out her race's mission of taking over the Earth, 'Wanda' (as she comes to be called) forms a bond with her host and sets out to aid other free humans.
Jack the Giant Slayer
A modern day fairy tale in which the long-standing peace between men and giants is threatened, as a young farmer leads an expedition into the giants' kingdom in hopes of rescuing a kidnapped princess. Director: Bryan Singer. Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy, Warwick Davis and Ian McShane.
John Dies at the End
A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion? Trailer here.
About Time
A British SF humorous drama. Aged 21, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel in time... The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim's father (Bill Nighy) tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can't change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life-so he decides to make his world a better place...by getting a girlfriend. Sadly, that turns out not to be as easy as you might think...
April 2013
Carrie
Re-make of the 1976 film based on the Stephen King story.
Devil's Tower
Dark horror directed by Owen Tooth with a fair share of gore.
Oblivion
One of the few remaining drone repairmen assigned to Earth, its surface devastated after decades of war with the alien Scavs, discovers a crashed spacecraft with contents that bring into question everything he believed about the war, and may even put the fate of mankind in his hands. Directed and written by Joseph Kosinski. Stars: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman and Andrea Riseborough. Trailer here.
Scary Movie 5
Latest in the comedy horror series.
The Woods of Daemar
British fantasy. When Eva finds herself trapped in evil demon Daemar's unforgiving world, she must rely on a total stranger to help her get out alive.
The Mask of the Red Death
Set in the present or near future, this is a modern, post-apocalyptic, steam punk styled version of Edgar Allan Poe's classic story.
Evil Dead
Re-make of the 1981 film. Mia, a young woman struggling with sobriety, heads to a remote cabin with her brother and a group of friends, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads to danger and horror.
May 2013
Lone Walker
British horror. Walkers in Dunwich Forest start disappearing. When clothing and personal items are found by locals, a search is formed and an old man tells of a folklore tale about a Manbear creature living in the forest.
N-Day
SF thriller and a British independent whose release has been held up for over a year! Hopefully there will be no more delays. The 'N' here stands for nanobots. When nano technology runs riot everything gets eaten up. However four divers are in a decompression chamber when the event happens. The air pressure inside the chamber is keeping the nanobots out. However as the pressure slowly decreases to equalise with the outside air, the nanobots will eventually get in.
Sinister Visions
A Danish fantasy thriller... And that is all we know for certain other than it is eagerly expected by European fans.
Star Trek: Into Darkness
After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. Director: J. J. Abrams. Trailer here.
Trauma
A man suffers a psychological breakdown when he is pursued by a possible supernatural presence. Is it real or just a figment of his own trauma?
Loonar Mission
British comedy. The story of the space race and how three astronauts perpetrated the biggest hoax in history.
June 2013
After Earth
After a crash landing, a father and son explore a planet humans left 1,000 years earlier. But it is not a safe place to be... Stars:
Will Smith, Jaden Smith and Isabelle Fuhrman. Trailer here.
When the Devil Rides Out
Fantasy horror. After a car accident a horror writer start's to see visions of the devil.
Man of Steel
Directed by Zack Snyder and written by David S. Goyer (so that's a good start). Trailer here.
World War Z
The long awaited (the release was delayed by a few months) action, horror and all out, high octane zombie war. Stars: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos and David Morse. Based on the Max Brooks novel. J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon V) did the screenplay adaptation. Trailer here.
This Is the End
While attending a party at James Franco's house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and others (apparently N. American celebrities which may or may not add to things depending if you are in the know) are faced with the apocalypse. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Eventually, they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption. Trailer here.
July 2013
Pacific Rim
When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots operated by humans fight off the menace. Yes, we had this sort of thing back in the 1980s and so it sounds aweful a second time around. However the saving grace may well be its director: Guillermo del Toro. Trailer here.
The Conjuring
A family encounters spirits in their New England farmhouse. Trailer here.
The Wolverine
Marvel superhero.
August 2013
The Lone Ranger
Native American spirit warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice... OK, so this is not genre. But it is cult TV and the Lone Ranger has something of a fantasy riff about him.
Saga: The Shadow Cabal
Action fantasy. A secret cabal, The Shadow, works to bring about the return of Goth Azul - the Undead God - in the rich world of SAGA, populated by elves, orcs, dwarves and dragons. Trailer here.
The World's End
From the Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz team. Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival. Director: Edgar Wright. Stars: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Martin Freeman. (The film was shot around Welwyn Garden City and Letchworth Garden City.) This film is hugely awaited by us lot.
You're Next
When the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of victims harbours a secret talent for fighting back.
September 2013
Extraction
This offering has had some early buzz of the SF cinematic circuit... A scientist who has invented a technique to see people's memories finds himself in danger after he's asked to enter a murder suspect and heroin addict's mind.
I, Frankenstein
Frankenstein's creature finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries old war between two immortal clans. Starring:
Aaron Eckhart, Miranda Otto and Bill Nighy (who will have been in at least four films released this year!).
Elysium
SF action thriller. Set in the year 2159, the very wealthy live on a space station while the rest reside on a ruined Earth, a man goes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds. Directed and written by Neill Blomkamp. Starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley. Trailer here.
October 2013
Judas Ghost
This Brit offering sees a team of professional ghost finders become trapped in an old village hall and must fight for their survival when an apparently standard haunting turns out to be far worse than they first anticipated. Based on the 'Ghost Finders' book series by Simon R. Green. (Simon is the author of Daemons Are Forever and Damned if You Do in the Nightside among others.)
Haunt
An introverted teen sparks with his new neighbour, and together the couple begins to explore the haunted house that is family has unknowingly just purchased.
The Seventh Son
Based on the novel by Joseph Delaney, John Gregory is a seventh son of a seventh son and as the local Spook he has protected he country from witches, boggarts, ghouls and all manner of things that go bump in the night. However John is not young anymore and has been seeking out an apprentice to carry on his trade, most have failed to survive. The last hope to the county a young farmer's son named Thomas Ward. Will he survived the training to become a spook that so many others failed ? Should he trust the girl with pointy shoes ? How can Thomas stand a chance against Mother Malkin the most dangerous witch in the county ? The first in a series of chilling tales known as the 'Wardstone Chronicles' .
Ender's Game
Based on the Hugo Award winning novel by Orson Scott Card. 70 years after a horrific alien war, an unusually gifted child is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future invasion... Directed by Gavin Hood who also adapted the novel (so you know whom to blame if this film ends up being a turkey). Starring Asa Butterfield, Abigail Breslin and Harrison Ford.
Thor: The Dark World
Thor battles an ancient race of Dark Elves led by the vengeful Malekith who threatens to plunge the universe back into darkness after the events of Avengers Assemble. Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Christopher Eccleston.
November 2013
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Juvenile SF. The continuing adventures of Katniss Everdeen, which take place in a futuristic dystopian world, as she prepares for the Quarter Quell. Young teenagers love the novels.
December 2013
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
The Dwarfs, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the misty mountains, but Bilbo has gained the one ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back off the Dragon, Smaug.
Dance of the Goblins
Dark British Sf film. Six centuries after an Earth magnetic pole flip, in a post-apocalyptic London, humans carve out a medieval-like existence in the rubble of a ruined city. Meanwhile, the goblins have come up from the deep places and taken over the old underground stations. What would you do, to protect your world?
2014
January 2014
We will post an update of this diary this month but will draft the page early December 2013 should you wish to let us have details of your national convention.
Return to top of 2013 Films Return to 2013 - '14 Conventions
Alternatively check out the Annual top SF & fantasy films charts
This page is updated annually in early December -- so get any additions you have to us in November. (See 'contact' below.)
Please note the guidance at the top of this page: this is a listing of primarily national level and international conventions.
There are other sites on the web for regional and more specialist SF events.
Also the film listing relates to British Isles release dates as there are many other websites covering N. American SF.
Note to bookmarkers -- This page's URL remains the same and we update the information annually.
So best cite this as a national SF convention listing and forthcoming film diary without mentioning a specific year.
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