Dubai: Get ready to immerse yourself in the ultimate celebration of pop culture as the 11th edition of the Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC) blasted off with a bang from yesterday to the 5th. Brace yourself for an epic adventure as fans from all over the world converge at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) to experience the region’s premier festival of all things comic and film. The event opened under the inauguration of The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) Chairman, HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Buckle up for an action-packed weekend, as this year’s schedule is bursting at the seams with a thrilling line-up of events that are simply unmissable!
1. Feed your ‘Gram at Meet the Stars
Come face-to-face with your beloved heroes! From Q&A panels that will leave you star-struck to meet and greet sessions where you can snap a pic and score an autograph, this zone is where all your fan dreams come true. Rub elbows with famous actors and talented voice artists, and get ready to make your social media feed the envy of all your friends.
Coming all the way from Hollywood to Abu Dhabi, our MEFCC guest stars hail from various worlds such as Marvel, DC, Star Wars and many more fandoms. We’ve got Hayden Christensen and Anthony Daniel (Anakin Skywalker and C3PO from Star Wars), Matt Smith (House of the Dragon, Doctor Who, The Crown & Morbius), David Harbour (Thunderbolts, Stranger Things, Hellboy & Black Widow), Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, Black Panther & Batman), May Calamawy (Moon Knight & Ramy) and Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things, Harry Potter & Twilight).
Voice actors from your favourite animated movies, series and games such as Christoper Sabat (Dragon Ball Z, My Hero Academia & One Piece), Zach Aguilar (Demon Slayer, Genshin Impact, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure & One Punch Man) and Paige O’Hara (Disney’s Beauty & the Beast) will also be at the event for meet and greets.
With a lifetime of bragging rights on the line, you won’t want to miss out on this incredible opportunity!
2. Let your Creative Juices Flow with International Artists and Artist Alley Powered by Manga Arabia
Characters, stories, worlds and even entire universes have come to life thanks to the boundless vision and energy of artists and creators. The Artist Alley is where local, regional and global talent get to showcase their latest work. Drop by to network with fellow manga and comic artists or even get commissioned work done on demand.
Among the artists you’ll get to see at MEFCC are Greg Capullo (Batman, Spawn, Death Metal & Death of the Family), Ryan Ottley (Spiderman, Invincible & Hulk), Jock (Batman, Wolverine & Judge), Ken Lashley (X-Men, Black Panther, Spiderman, Batman, Suicide Squad & Superman), Mike Peraza (Ducktales, The Little Mermaid, Goof Troop & Aladdin), Patty Peraza (The Black Cauldon, Beauty and the Beast, The Great Mouse Detective & Tom & Jerry), Long Vo (X-Men, Street Fighter, Robotech, Thundercats, Power Rangers & Voltron), Jeffrey Cruz (Mega-Man, TMNT, Transformers, Power Rangers & Street Fighter), David Angelo Roman (Rick and Morty, Star Wars, The Walking Dead & Steven Universe), James C. Mulligan (Frozen, The Little Mermaid & Mary Poppins) and Quiccs (Toy Designer & Street Art).
3. Check Out the Action at the Likecard Festival Stag
Sometimes you just need to rock out and make some noise – and the Festival Stage is the place to be for exhilarating dance classes by celebrity choreographers G-Force, performances from Ashen Runway and the Boxtones, live DJ sets with DJ Abood and DJ Trina, thrilling matches of PUBG Mobile, COD Mobile and Stumble Guys Mobile Tournaments by LikeCard, One Piece, Naruto and Demon Slayer showcases and the blockbuster Cosplay Competition!
4. Join the Panels at the Cine Club
The Cine Club is where future directors and film aficionados can gather to enjoy fireside chats, meet-ups with fellow movie enthusiasts and enjoy exclusive feature films, trailers and featurettes! Catch up with your fave movie actors and artists in panel discussion spread out over the three days.
5. Take a Masterclass (or two!) at the Creative Academy
Challenge your artistic skills with masterclasses from legends in the comic books, anime, cosplay, film and voice acting. The Creative Academy offers aspiring artists, cosplayers and animators the rare chance to learn from the best of the best in the industry to help take their career to the next level.
6. Create and Collaborate with Fellow Cosplayers at the Cosplay Central
There’s a whole new area dedicated to cosplay at MEFCC. Apart from the Cosplay Competition, get the opportunity to meet and greet professional cosplayers, visit the cosplay repair shop and indulge in photo opportunities that will really help you bring your favourite character to life.
7. Get your Game on at the Gaming Arena
MEFCC is also leveling up the fun this year with another new zone – this time dedicated for gamers. The Gaming Arena will be home to limited-edition merchandise, e-sports tournaments, gaming accessories and hardware and action-packed tournaments. From NBA2K, CS: GO, FIFA 23, Fortnite to Rocket League, those who make it through the qualifiers will be battling it out for the live finalists’ tournament.
8. Take Home Some Swag
What’s a convention without some swag? And there are going to be some fantastic finds waiting for you at MEFCC – from comic books, original or commissioned prints, board games, Funko Pops, trading cards, shirts, to other collectibles on sale. Get your hands on exclusive and limited-edition figures or pick-up some merch that you can get signed by celebrities and artists.
9. Recharge and Refuel with tasty treats themed specifically for MEFCC
Get ready to fuel up for all the action with an incredible array of food and drink options! From the mouth-watering Asian-inspired dishes at Comic Con Wok by Wok Boyz, to the complete Star Wars menu at Brassa Star Wars featuring Vader’s Ribeye Platter and Jabba’s Fish & Fries, you won’t want to miss a single bite. Looking for something a little more classic? Wing Stop has you covered with their collection of delicious wing flavors, while Oro Pizzeria will satisfy all of your pizza cravings. And when you need a caffeine boost, head over to Lamarz for their specialty coffee drinks.
But the food options don’t stop there! DNA Boardgames offers a range of tasty sandwiches, salads, and appetizers, while High Joint serves up mouth-watering burgers, fries, and drinks. For those craving Japanese cuisine, UDN has got you covered with their delectable UDN Katsu Chicken and Chicken Gyoza. And if you’re looking for something a little healthier, be sure to check out The Acai Spot for their Original Acai Bowl or the Yummy Berry Acai Bowl. With so many delicious options to choose from, MEFCC is sure to be a foodie’s dream come true!
10. There’s something for the young heroes too.
Attention all families! The MEFCC extravaganza caters to everyone, including our youngest heroes! Venture into the thrilling Kids Zone at the Festival Plaza, where bouncy castles face painting activities will keep your little ones enchanted. Witness your children unleash their inner heroes at the Kids Cosplay Competition, where every participant emerges victorious. Finally, the Creative Academy offers classes that inspire and ignite the spark of imagination in our budding prodigies.
