Below are tastes of the events that make the ICon festival even more special: central programmes and outdoor events, stage productions, musical performances, interactive activities and more.

Off with His Head! —Of Elections, Magic and Sudoku

“Off with His Head!” is an interactive performance presenting a different and satirical view of organisational culture, new-age, and sudoku; an exceptional theatrical experience, in which the activity flows beyond the edge of the stage and engulfs the audience.

You are invited to the 39th congress of the AMUM—the Mystics and Non-Mystics Union. A few technical difficulties, and the congress begins. There’s nothing to worry about. Except all too soon almost anything that could possibly go wrong is out of control, leading to what will be an unforgettable congress. And this is where you enter the picture. The entire theatre becomes a stage, as the plot changes and evolves together with the audience.

Also in the show: a quick Sudoku course, Nostradamus’ teachings in a nutshell, political coffee reading, schemes, betrayal, and the winning lottery numbers. Come, and you’ll really be able to change the end of the play.

Forty Years of Star Trek

Forty years have passed since the first episode of Star Trek, the series that sparked the imaginations of millions of viewers around the world. The 2006 ICon festival will include several events that will review the series and attempt to understand the secret of its extensive influence.

ISF&F Celebrates a Decade of Dreaming

The Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy was founded in May 1996 in order to promote and augment the fields of science fiction and fantasy in Israel. The society was the first organisation in Israel dedicated to the genre, and one of the original organisers of the Icon festival; among its goals are the promotion of the genre in Israel, encouragement of original writing and other art in the genre, encouragement of translations of science fiction and fantasy and establishment of contacts with similar organisations abroad. 

The society organises several conventions, as well as lectures regarding science fiction and fantasy, literature contests and other activities to encourage original works in the genre. It grants the Geffen Award to the best science fiction and fantasy works yearly, and publishes a magazine named The Tenth Dimension. The members of the society are diverse: young and old, students and professors, men and women, united by a common love for science fiction and fantasy.

In a special event, Nir Yaniv, Ilan Eshkoli and Naomi Weiner will invite the crowd to a journey to some of the great moments of the society’s ten years as the oldest (but spiritually young) organisation of science fiction and fantasy fans in Israel, and reveal all that (maybe) happened since then and to this very day.

Homage: Stanisław Lem (1921-2006)

The Polish writer Stanisław Lem is considered one of the greatest of science fiction writers. He was renowned for science fiction masterpieces such as Solaris, for his brilliant comical writing in such works as The Star Diaries, and for his deep contempt for the (mostly American) science fiction mainstream, which he considered entertainment for the masses. This did not stop generations of readers and writers, including fans of the “low” science fiction, from reading his books with passion and admiration.

The 2006 Icon festival will dedicate an evening to the great writer. The evening will include a screening of the film Solaris (by Steven Soderbergh and starring George Clooney), based on his famous novel, along with X, a short movie based on one of his stories, accompanied by a lecture about Lem’s works by Dr. Aaron Hauptman (translator of Solaris to Hebrew).

Astronomy Workshops in the Mobile Planetarium: Get to Know the Night Sky!

The Eshkol Payis building will house a planetarium room, in which short workshops will be held every round hour from 12:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Thursday. The workshops are intended for children and grown-ups alike, who wish to get to know the night sky, the mythology behind the constellations, and the science of astronomy and astrophysics as we see them in the night sky.

Archery Workshops

Since prehistoric times man has used bows for hunting and protection from predators. Later the use of archery was extended also to warfare. In the last few decades, archery has been developed as a sport, occupying millions of amateurs and professionals around the world. Archery using modern bows and arrows is simple and risk-free, and develops concentration, patience, fitness and self-confidence.

Two hour long archery workshops will be held at the festival, including explanations about the different parts of modern bows and arrows, a fascinating review of the history of archery, and also an opportunity to learn and experience the nine steps of firing a bow.