Once a year, the Tel Aviv Cinematheque is taken over by knights, warrior princesses, zombies, starship captains and others in Icon’s outdoor performances, live role-playing games and more.

Crowds and busy booths fill the Cinematheque halls during the festival

Guest of honor in Icon 2005: Tim Powers, a favorite author of fantasy readers in Israel and worldwide, and also, apparently, a fencing fan

Guests of honor in Icon 2005: Roger Nygard and Robert Burnett, the makers (respectively) of the documentary Trekkies and the indie comedy Free Enterprise screened at the festival

Icon 2005: A visit by the Mayor of Tel Aviv

Guest of honor in Icon 2004: Guy Gavriel Kay, one of the greatest contemporary writers of historical fantasy (Tigana, The Fionavar Tapestry)

Guest of honor in Icon 2003: Famed, award-winning science fiction author Orson Scott Card, creator of the Ender’s Game series

Icon 2003: Orson Scott Card signs his books, and over 1,000 admiring readers wait in line

Famous Israeli comics artist Uri Fink is a regular Icon patron and gives comics drawing classes during the festival

Dr. Thomas Goodman operates the planetarium room at the Icon festival and gives lectures on astronomy

The front of the Tel Aviv Cinematheque turns into an arena, a colosseum and the location for colorful street performances

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