You don't usually think of sci-fi fans/geeks as being traditionalists, and yet today around a hundred genre fans revived the traditional Easter Parade in somewhat of a non-traditional way. For the first SCI-FI-LONDON Easter Parade there was a dearth of Easter bonnets, but there were all manner of characters from Hollywood blockbusters, TV shows and anime, with a few random characters thrown gathered by the side of the BFI Southbank. The ranks of the 501st regulars and hardcore cosplayers were swelled by passers-by who were given the chance to join in thanks to a generous donation of costumes from Escapade in Camden. The planned departure was a little delayed as we had to wait for the guests-of-honour, zombie Will and Kate, who were to be leading the parade, to shuffle in. No doubt they had been snacking on the staff, as one couldn't possibly lead anything on an empty stomach. Festival director Louis Savy, resplendent in a Ghostbusters boiler suit and armed with a megaphone, announced the beginning of the parade as the undead faced a barrage of photographers as they commenced their Sunday afternoon stroll along the side of the Thames towards their final destination of the London Movie Museum, with a brief stopover in Jubilee Park for the lead couple to snack on each other.
With the glorious spring weather and a host of other events on the Southbank, or little parade grabbed plenty of attention from a highly bemused public. One family man was overheard to say to his wife, "You can't say that holiday Sundays in London are boring." Photos were taken, festival flyers were distributed and journey's end was reached, where all the participants were given water, Mountain Dew (for those in need of an energy boost), popcorn and donuts then ushered into the majestic debating chamber of the old County Hall for a final photocall, before being given free run of the museum. The whole event was deemed a success by those taking part and by those who organised it. Will there be another Easter Parade? Who knows? It was a lucky coincidence that Easter was so close to the usual date of the festival, and the fact that we had decided to celebrate ten years with a ten-day festival.
As the crowd of cosplayers dispersed it was back to the Apollo Piccadilly for the main business of the festival, showing films, with the world premiere of Italian film The Gerber Syndrome (which is also showing again Sunday 1 May if you missed it), and appropriate choice following the zombie-led parade. After a couple of minor technical hitches the film was underway, and was followed up with a Q&A with the film's director Maxi Dejoie and lead actor Sax Nicosia. The post-apocalyptic theme continued with the downbeat Irish film 100 Days. General consensus on this film was it was a bleak (but not as bleak as The Road) but a well made and fresh approach to the PA genre.
For all those still up for it there was an after party at Koko in Camden, organised in conjunction with Be-at, while the older (and some may say more sensible) ones headed home to pace themselves for the next eight days.
