Hobbits and starship captains arrived in Brno as the fifth annual Comic-Con Brno & Junior opened on Friday at the Brno Exhibition Centre, bringing thousands of fans together with international screen stars.
The pop culture festival runs through Sunday in Pavilion E, sharing the venue with the third annual Kniha Brno book fair, Médium.cz reported.
Headlining guests include actors Dominic Monaghan, David Wenham, and Miranda Otto, who celebrate the 25th anniversary of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, News reported.
Middle-earth Stars Arrive
Fans lined up for autographs and photo sessions with the actors who brought J.R.R. Tolkien’s characters to screen a quarter-century ago. Wenham’s credits also include 300 and Australia, while Otto appeared in Steven Spielberg’s War of the Rings adaptation, according to reporting by Novinky and Brněnský deník.
David Wenham last visited Moravia 23 years ago while filming the horror movie Van Helsing with Hugh Jackman at Pernštejn Castle, where he portrayed a monk, Novinky reported.
Sci-fi veterans join the roster for the weekend. Amanda Tapping, known for her role as Samantha Carter in Stargate SG-1, makes her first Czech convention appearance, Brněnský deník reported. Festival organizers also welcomed Katie Stuart, who played the character Cassandra in the series, according to Novinky.
“We will also bring one of the biggest stars of the Stargate series – Amanda Tapping, the performer of Samantha Carter, who is among the most popular characters of the entire sci-fi world,” said festival organizer Pavel Renčín.
The event also marks the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, featuring franchise actors Robert Picardo, Gates McFadden, and Brian Thompson, alongside Game of Thrones actor Anton Lesser, Novinky and Brněnský deník reported. Anton Lesser is also recognized by audiences for his roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, according to News.
Czech cinema and television are represented by actors Ondřej Vetchý, Michaela Kuklová, and Sabina Laurinová, meeting fans in Pavilion E, Seznam Zprávy noted.
Books and Comics Merge
Kniha Brno expands its footprint this year, hosting over 250 authors across eight halls with more than 100 publishers, České noviny reported. The literary gathering features the Czech Wave festival, organized by Brno publisher Host.
Saturday brings high-profile author appearances, including romance writer Penn Cole, bestselling German author Ewald Arenz, and writer Karin Lednická, according to České noviny and Seznam Zprávy.
“Comic-con dlouhodobě propojuje různé světy fandomu – od filmů a seriálů přes hry až po knihy. Díky spojení s veletrhem Kniha Brno nabídneme ještě širší program pro rodiny i náročné fanoušky,” program director Václav Pravda said.
Illustrator Petr Kopl runs a charity booth during the weekend, sketching custom artwork for donations benefiting the St. Zdislava Home Hospice in Třebíč, Médium.cz reported.
Film costumes and board games feature at festival
Visitors can explore displays featuring original film costumes from classic Czech fairy tales like Madly Sad Princess and The Prince and the Evening Star, alongside paper models loaned by the Lužánky Leisure Centre, according to Médium.cz and Seznam Zprávy.
The festival grounds include a dedicated board game hall where attendees can test dozens of titles with assistance from event volunteers, Médium.cz reported.
Full-festival admission costs 2,200 CZK for adults, with single-day tickets priced at 1,300 CZK for Saturday and 1,000 CZK for Sunday, Brněnský deník reported. Tickets for Comic-Con grant access to the adjacent book fair, while standalone passes are available for Kniha Brno, České noviny noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Comic-Con tickets include admission to the book fair?
Yes. Tickets purchased for Comic-Con Brno & Junior include entry to the concurrent Kniha Brno book fair, though visitors can also purchase standalone tickets solely for the book fair.
Where is the festival located?
The three-day event takes place in Pavilion E at the Brno Exhibition Centre, running through Sunday, November 15, Médium.cz and Seznam Zprávy reported.
Which charities benefit from artist booths at the event?
Illustrator Petr Kopl offers custom artwork in exchange for donations to the St. Zdislava Home Hospice, supported by the Třebíč Regional Charity, Médium.cz reported.