Thursday
16.00–17.15 Sign up, pick up badges
17.15 Welcome to Åcon 12!
17.30–18.30 How has SF changed in the past 20 years
Tommy Persson, Sari Polvinen, Sara Norja
19.30–20.30 My introduction to fandom (group discussion)
How did you first get into fandom? Come share your memories of your first steps into fandom and conventions!
21– What to watch?
Mikko Seppänen & Elisa Wiik
So many things to watch, so little time. Worry not! Our self-appointed experts are back to give you their take on the best and worst genre series from the 2022–2023 television season.
Friday
10.00–12.30 Excursion to Amalias!
NOTE: The bus leaves from the hotel at 10:00.
12.00–13.00 Non-book recommendations (group discussion)
Seen/heard/played anything fun recently? Come and tell the others!
13.30–14.30 Up-and-coming author readings
Nicke, Mikko Rauhala, Sara Norja, Kari Fedyk
Some of the fresh, interesting and thought-provoking fiction from your friendly convention participants.
15.00–16.00 Movies – a thing of the past?
Ian Sales (M), Rasmus Häggblom, Petri Hiltunen
Some might say we live in the golden age of television shows and movies have lost their place in the entertainment sector. But are they really a thing of the past already or do movies still have something to offer to the field of SF?
16.30 Writing in a shared universe
Cennie, K Lennart Jansson, Pasi Välkkynen
Not all writers build their own worlds. Sometimes worlds are shared, either because of the nature of the franchise (RPG) or because of the popularity of the world (Moomins, Praedor etc.)
17.30–19.30 Dinner Break
19.30–20.30 Anthologies!
Ian Sales, Johan Anglemark, Sara Norja, Matti Järvinen
Anthologies are an easy way to get acquainted with new writers, but do we really need ten Year’s Best compilations each year?
21.00–22.00 Nevermind the Buzzaldrins
JukkaHoo
Yes, he is doing it again. Only you can prevent forest fires!
22.30– Book of the Night (group discussion)
Discussion of Catherynne M. Valente’s Palimpsest
Saturday
11– Excursion to the strategy gamers’ club!
12.00–13.00 Book recommendations
Read something good lately? Share your findings!
13.30–14.30 NOFF, EFF, GUFF, TAFF, OFF – WTF?
Tero Ykspetäjä (M), JukkaHoo, Rinna, Johan Anglemark
Fandom is filled with various fan funds with strange abbreviations! The panel of past and present fan fund delegates discuss the role of fan funds today – starting with what they actually are!
15.00–16.00 Do all books need to be filmed? Do all films need to be turned into series?
K Lennart Jansson (M), Kari Fedyk, Petri Hiltunen
The streaming era has been very kind to people who want their favourite books turned into films and series. And now films are getting sequels in series form. But is it all going too far? Do we need to visualise everything, to chop stories into bite-sized pieces?
16.30–17.30 The Magick of Translation
Ylva Spangberg (M), Johanna Vainikainen, Sarianna Silvonen
We all read books that are translated, but does that all happen? How do translators work their magick? What are the tropes and tricks they utilise in order to bring us all those stories in a different language?
17.30–19.30 Dinner Break
19.30–20.30 Podcasts, vlogs, youtube, interaction with virtual audience
JukkaHoo (M), Elisa Wiik, Nina Niskanen
Our world is constantly changing, fannish activities of just decade ago are a distant past and DIY activity is finding new ways to help fen to express themselves. Printed matter is dying, people want sounds and sights. But the Making of Things is still very much alive.
21.00–22.00 Which is better – a panel
Miikka Riikonen (M), Tommy Persson, Nina Niskanen, Rasmus Häggblom
Panel of Experts are presented with pairs of genre pieces (books, movies, manga, comics, RPG, whatever) and then discuss which of the pair is better – Objectively and Factually of course. The panel may be lighthearted fun or more serious, or both – we’ll find out!
22.30–late Fanfiction karaoke!
Remember Shatner Karaoke? Well, prepare for Fanfiction Karaoke! Your host will guide you through the marvellous world of fanfiction, from comedy to cringe, with you, the audience, as the narrator. Welcome!
Sunday
12.00 Gripe session and thoughts about possible future Åcons
Åcon 12 