Cosplay is, for many fans, the core of their fandom… it’s what makes the world go around and builds the community that we love so much. It’s not for everyone – I once attended an event and helped out as a Skiff Guard from Return of the Jedi and I hated it, it was tiring, difficult and very, very warm. So, I salute and respect anyone who does this for their fandom, yours is a passion that most can never replicate.

New movie Cosplayers UK: The Movie is a celebration of you guys, a love letter to the ones who dress as their favourite characters and wear their passion with pride.

And we have two copies on DVD for two lucky FTN readers/listeners.

All you have to do is answer this simple question:

What is cosplay?

Send your answers to followingthenerd@gmail.com marking them ‘we all wear masks’. Be sure to include your full name and address. Competition closes on March 1st, 2014. Winners will be notified via email and DVDs posted out.

Offer open to UK residents only. Normal FTN T&Cs apply.

Press release

ISIS Entertainment are excited to announce that the world’s first feature documentary on the UK Cosplay Scene, COSPLAYERS UK – THE MOVIE, is now available to buy on DVD.

Directed by Ed Hartwell and Johnnie Oddball, the documentary follows a small selection of talented Cosplayers as they take part in the May 2011 MCM Expo. Cosplay, short for “costume play”, is a type of performance art in which participants wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character often from the fantasy, anime, Sci-Fi or comic genre.

Filmmaker Ed Hartwell is an animator and director who has won numerous awards for his films Bus Kong and The Day The Robots Woke Up and is the co-creator of the BAFTA nominated Strange Hill High. Cosplayers UK The Movie is the second live action feature film Hartwell has produced with Johnnie Oddball following their comedy mockumentary When London Sleeps It Came Alive.

Hartwell explains: “We made this film to inspire and promote the Cosplay scene in the UK. We followed a handful of attendees over 48 hours at the biggest Cosplay event in Europe asking questions and taking interviews with talented players who have found new friendships and fame in the world of Cosplay. It’s a positive look at the UK Cosplay scene and we hope it will inspire, or at least give people an insight into this fascinating world.”

The MCM Expo Group (responsible for the London MCM Expo) was founded by Paul Miley and Brian Cooney in 2001. The event takes place over 3 days and has attendees of over 60,000 from across Europe who are encouraged to take part in Cosplay. As one of the most popular parts of the MCM Expo, Cosplay shows a devotion to favourite characters as they take photos with the public, meet new players through networking, and take part in the international costuming competition.

COSPLAYERS UK – THE MOVIE
DVD: £10.44
Running time: 83 minutes
Classification: E
Buy in Amazon