The annual Dallas Fan Festival, held Oct. 20-22 at the Irving Convention Center, featured stars such as Paul Bettany, who plays Vision in the MCU, Michelle Hurd who has most recently played Raffi in ‘Star Trek: Picard’, and Andy Serkis who played Gollum in ‘Lord of the Rings’. They delighted fans with photo ops and autographs, allowing fans a chance to meet their heroes.
Cosplay contests and a variety of events added to the excitement, while panels and discussions enriched the experience, creating a bond among fans who share a passion for pop culture.
It was an unforgettable weekend, leaving attendees eager for next year’s festival. The events featured cosplays from all different fandoms, with people dressing up as anything from Captain America to Jedi and Sith, or the occasional Waldo from “Where’s Waldo.”
The competitions that lasted all day allowed the cosplayers to walk down the red carpet and show off their amazing costumes and get professional photos done by the on-staff photographers.
Whenever festivalgoers needed a break, the café and concession stands onsite offered a cool place to get a drink and eat.
Once done, fans could go to the main theater to listen to their favorite actors talk about themselves and their careers and get a chance to ask questions afterward.
Despite the resolved writers’ strike, actors still faced their ongoing disputes, so they tactfully sidestepped certain questions during their panels.
However, that didn’t diminish their engaging interactions with the audience. The actors shared personal anecdotes, laughter and valuable advice, building a connection with their fans. They also charmed aspiring creators, emphasizing dedication and a love for the craft.
“Be your authentic voice. Be your authentic self and have a strong point of view because we need all the diversity that we possibly can.” Hurd said at one of the panels she hosted.
“When you show up on the screen and you speak with your authentic voice, people get to say, ‘That’s me, I’m not alone, that’s me.’ And that’s a gift of a sacred thing.”
Garret Dillahunt offered his own advice, “You’re going to get a lot of pushback, always. But when it’s something you love, don’t quit. Do not give up.”
While the 2023 Dallas Fan Festival was a source of fun for most, with cosplays and fandom meetups, some who went appeared able to leave with new ideas and more aspirations for the future.
