On Saturday December 21, 2019 the fifth Echo Base Con (EBCC2019) took place, the official event of the Dutch Star Wars foundation Echo Base. This edition, like its predecessors, was dedicated to a good cause, this time Stichting Kinderen Kankervrij (KiKa)At the Kinepolis Jaarbeurs cinema in Utrecht, some 1,500 visitors from home and abroad attended the convention, and as in 2017, the event was again completely sold out. This resulted in incredible proceeds of a whopping 11.375,74 euro for the charity.
The guests
As with the four previous editions, a scintillating guest list had been compiled with, once again, various names from before and behind the scenes. For the very first time, we were allowed to present a real Oscar winner to our audience: Lorne Peterson, one of the better-known faces of the legendary "special effects" company Industrial Light + Magic, who headed the model shop there. And what about such actors as Michael Pennington (Moff Jerjerrod in Return of the Jedi- who made his first-ever convention appearance in continental Europe), Skywalker Sound contributor Matthew Wood (Bib Fortuna in The Phantom Menace and The Mandalorian, and voice of General Grievous and all the Battledroids in the Prequels and Clone Wars), Katy Kartwheel (Rio in A Star Wars Story: Solo), Kiran Shah (amongst others an Ewok and Gonk droid in Return of the Jedi), Tom Wilton (Ponda Baba in A Star Wars Story: Rogue One and puppeteer in several other Star Wars films), Lee Towersey (droid builder for several new Disney Star Wars productions), Brian Herring (BB-8 from the Sequel Trilogy) and Paul Brooks (Rancor Keeper in Return of the Jedi).
Auction
For the second time, an online auction was held in partnership with Catawaki, with all proceeds benefiting the charity. Once again, fans and collectors could bid on dozens of diverse and various items, including a signed photo of Daisy Ridley (Rey from the Sequel Trilogy), a Sideshow premium format image of Kylo Ren and much, much more.
Activities
One of the focal points of all Echo Base events is a program packed with activities. If you come to Echo Base Charity Con, you get a day full of entertainment. Besides the various panels with our special guests, where MC Brainpower took on hosting duties, there was also the very last screening of the only Dutch Star Wars fan film 'Remnants of the Order', a presentation by LEGO designer Nils M. Frederiksen, and at the end of the day fans could watch a free screening of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Convention poster
The official convention poster this time was handled by official Star Wars artist Joe Corroney, who also handled a poster for us in 2003. The limited edition poster, measuring approximately 42 x 60 centimeters, was not sold separately and only V.I.P. ticket holders received a free copy.
