COSPLAY UNIVERSE

Showings

Cinema Arts Centre - Cinema 1 Wed, Jul 13, 2022 7:00 PM

Description

COSPLAY UNIVERSE

Wednesday, July 13th at 7:00 PM

In Person: Filmmaker Jonathan McHugh and cosplayers Fairwind Cosplay & Rizuki

Members $10 | Public $15 | Free for Young Film Fan Members!

Cosplay Universe explores the rise of the global Comic Con sub-culture and evolution of Cosplay; the art form of becoming a character that you love. The film follows the journey of several international cosplay teams as they compete in what is known as the 'Olympics of Cosplay' at the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, Japan. Cosplay Universe also chronicles America's top cosplayers' challenges to turn their geeky hobby into a thriving business. The film taps into the psychology behind this art of self-expression and demonstrates how Cosplayers can transform and expand their perceptions of themselves while finding community. Cosplay Universe features appearances by comic book legend Stan Lee, cosplay superstars Yaya Han and Jessica Nigri and many more. (2018, 84min., US/Japan, English | Dir. Jonathan McHugh & Jordan Rennert)

Fairwind Cosplay is a professional cosplay model, actor, educator, mermaid performer, and children’s entertainer. She got her start in the cosplay world in 2008 and has been following her fairy tale dreams ever since! She has been a guest, panelist, and performer at several east coast conventions and especially loves working with children—especially when it comes to teaching the next generation of cosplayers to find and follow their passion.

Rizuki is a Long Island cosplayer who has been in the community officially since 2009 but began her cosplay adventures back in 1998. She makes many of her cosplays and mostly chooses characters from various anime and video game series. She is the cosplay coordinator for Long Island Tropic Con and Long Island Retro Gaming Expo, and has been a Cosplay Guest/Judge at various New York events since 2017 including I-CON, Mount Vernon Public Library Comic Expo, EmCon Anime Festival, OceanCon, CopiaCon, InbeonCon, and Cradle Con, to name a few. She has facilitated panels, workshops, and official convention photoshoots at events including Anime NYC, New York Comic Con, AnimeNEXT, Katsucon, and Otakon. Her platform revolves around strengthening the cosplay community and providing motivation + resources to cosplayers of all ages. The goal is to assist the community in enjoying their craft and being better versions of themselves regardless of social platforms and media misconceptions of cosplay.

Calling All Cosplayers! Cosplayers of all ages will have a chance to show-off their work to the audience. They are also invited to come early, and stay afterwards, to meet professional Cosplayers. They will be at the Cinema Arts Centre to talk about their craft, answer your questions, and have information about upcoming cons.  Come as your character.  Get pointers on wigs, makeup, clothing and props. 

Film poster for COSPLAY UNIVERSE (2022)