Media Information
What is AVCon?
Calling All Media! AVCon is the only event of its type in Adelaide.
The AVCon Anime and Video Game Festival is an annual celebration of Japanese animation, video gaming, tabletop gaming, esports, game development, art, technology, and cosplay, all in the heart of Adelaide – the capital of South Australia!
Run by Team AVCon Inc, a not-for-profit volunteer organisation dedicated to serving the local South Australian community. Team AVCon Inc. also runs various other anime and gaming-themed events geared towards hobbyists, professionals, and the general public, meaning no matter your skill level or need, we have you covered! Because Team AVCon Inc. is a not-for-profit, all funds generated are used exclusively for making AVCon events better year after year. We put our full focus on promoting local content and giving the South Australian community an event that feels their own.
The AVCon Festival has been running for 21 years, and built a lasting legacy within South Australia, and stands as one of the pillars of pop culture celebration on the Australian calendar. Because of its long-lasting success, AVCon has developed a sterling reputation and is respected nationwide in multiple industries and communities.
AVCon is committed to fostering local and interstate talent in fields such as game development, digital productions, writing, art and design, sewing and construction and other creative outlets such as streaming and podcasting.
South Australia
Although many Aboriginal people settled in the area we know today as South Australia, the traditional owners and custodians of the Adelaide plains were the Kaurna people, who called the area Tarntanya.
Modern Adelaide was established as the first free British settlement in Australia and does not have roots as a convict colony like many other Australian cities. It is named for Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV.
Adelaide is home to a large variety of highly renown arts, performance and food festivals that run all year long. In fact, one of the many nicknames of South Australia is ‘The Festival
State’ so AVCon is in good company. Greater South Australia is home to many wine regions that are considered amongst the best in the world. Areas such as the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale produce first-class wine and are also some of the most scenic landscapes in the country and well worth a visit.
Venue
AVCon will run out of the Adelaide Showgrounds. Just on the outskirts of the Adelaide CBD, the Adelaide Showgrounds is home to the Royal Adelaide Show, a mainstay of South Australian life and a venue well-worn and familiar by most South Australians since childhood.
The Showgrounds is a large and modern venue and one of the largest under-cover exhibition spaces in the Southern Hemisphere. The Showgrounds accommodates other large pop culture events such as Supanova and Oz Comic-Con. The Showgrounds are easily accessible by car (with ample parking), the Adelaide Tram System and by bus.
Our Guests
Homegrown icons – AVCon has hosted many Australian icons such as Jade Gatt and Ryan Lappin (hosts of the Australian kids show Cheez TV) and Steven “Bajo” O’Donnell and Stephanie “Hex” Bendixsen (hosts of the Australian video game show Good Game).
International Celebrities – AVCon has flown in many international guests such as cosplayers Jessica Nigri and Yaya Han, voice actors such as Jen Taylor, Caitlin Glass and Steve Downes and Japanese animator Hiroshi Nagahama.
Artists, Vendors, and Indie Games
The AVCon Festival floor features 3 amazing exhibiting areas to help promote artists, vendors and indie game developers and studios.
AVCon hosts over 100 artists in our Artist Alley annually, with AVCon 2023 being our largest Artist Alley yet attracting local, interstate and international talent.
Our Exhibitor Hall hosts over 40 exhibitors annually. Both local and interstate stores, from tattoo shops to anime figures to Japanese-inspired streetwear.
Every year, we feature up-and-coming indie games in our Indie Games Room – with 30 indie games featured in our Indie Games Room in 2023. Over the ten years the Indie Games Room has been running, we have supported over 1000 local and interstate game developers.
Our Previous Sponsors
In previous years AVCon has had Internode, a large provider of premium internet services (and now part of TPG Telecom), as a major sponsor.
Nintendo has participated in AVCon for multiple years, setting up large displays on the show floor.
Crunchyroll (through Madman) has been a sponsor of AVCon providing anime screenings and prize giveaways.
AVCon has worked with the national tabletop retail outlet Good Game to run content in our tabletop area.
AVCon has worked with local anime and game retailer Shin Tokyo for almost two decades on promotion, exhibition and as a ticket seller partner.
UniSA has worked with AVCon to promote local technologies in development, support local game devs in the Indie Game Room and promote other University level courses on offer.
Demographics
Surveys have found that AVCon appeals to and is attended by males and females in equal measure, with another large segment of our attendees identifying as non-binary or genderfluid. 40% of AVCon attendees fall into the 18 to 24 age range, and another 40% fall into the 25 to 34 bracket, meaning AVCon has solid appeal to the younger demographics who make up the largest share of consumers spending money on pop culture-related products and services.
AVCon is a family-friendly event that offers free entry to children under 10 and targets content directed at young fans to foster a lifelong love of AVCon and pop culture. Feedback from previous years indicates that AVCon resonates with and is well-regarded by the family demographic. AVCon also runs ”After Dark” which is an 18+ pop culture celebration run on the Saturday night of the main AVCon Festival. After Dark allows older fans to enjoy a range of pop culture entertainment not suitable for a younger audience and vendors and artists to offer a wider range of products than normal.
Our Online Reach
AVCon After Dark
AVCon will be running a new version of our popular AVCon After Dark event on Saturday 29th of June from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. This event will take place at the same venue as AVCon (Jubilee Pavilion, Adelaide Showgrounds) but will be restricted to attendees over 18 years of age.
Media Pass
As a community event, AVCon has developed specific and beneficial relationships with print, online, radio, and television media outlets in South Australia. Each year, we host media representatives from TV stations, newspapers, websites and online content creators who eagerly report on our event and the impact it has on the South Australian landscape.
If you represent a media organisation and would like to cover AVCon, you can apply for a media pass.
The media pass, among other things, grants free entry to the entire AVCon weekend, with special permissions to film, interview, and record. To apply, you'll need to show proof of your relevant qualifications and proof of your association with the media organisation you represent. The media pass is non-transferable and must be plainly shown on the wearer at all times. The pass holder must publish at least ‘one’ media article after the festival, and AVCon must be referenced or promoted in all content.
The pass holder will have access to all public areas of the festival. If behind-the-scenes access is needed, pass holders must request this access in writing one month before the commencement of the festival, and is subject to approval. The media pass is a fantastic opportunity for journalists and content producers to have an enjoyable weekend while also creating valuable content.
Application Information and Key Dates
Applications for the AVCon 2024 Media Pass will close on Friday, 31st of May 2024.
All applicants will need to read through and agree to the Media Pass Terms and Conditions available here prior to your application.
Emails will be sent out on Wednesday 5th of June, for both successful and unsuccessful applicants. Further information will follow for successful applicants.
Application
Media Pass applications for the 2023-2024 year are open now – you can apply here or click over to our Google Form!
If you have any questions about the media pass, reach out to us through our Contact Us page or by emailing media@avcon.org.au.
You will be able to complete the form below or here (this will direct you to the Google Form).
Got Any Questions?
Email the contacts listed in our Media Pass Information Pack below, or complete the form, and we'll be in touch!