DeepCon

The last two decades of the twentieth century were a relatively difficult time for science fiction in Italy,^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]} regardless of medium.^[8] Thus DeepCon was conceived to promote its visibility and viability as a genre, as well as a general SF fan convention.^[9][10][11]

Collaborations were sought with television stations, distributors and authoring firms, both for promotion and for panels explaining the behind-the-scenes work needed in order to air or sell a TV show or a movie.^[12][13] By the same token, TV and film actors and crew were present at all of the past DeepCons: actors, make-up artists, pre-production and post-production crew, scriptwriters, and so on.^[12][14][15]

Literature was not neglected, either. For several years, the convention's organizing committee was entrusted by WorldSF Italia with running Italcon [it] (a convention for professionals) within DeepCon.^[16] Since then, publishers, translators, international artists and writers participate and roam the venue.^[17][18]

As a highlight, parent Italian fan club Deep Space One was awarded for 2009 by European Science Fiction Society the privilege of organizing Eurocon (a Europe-level convention), with guests from all over the continent.^[19][20][21]

By that time, the SF focus of the convention had already broadened to include fantasy and horror as well.^[22][23][24]

Since most attendees and even some guests had a strong interest in actual science, efforts were made to officially include scientific and quasi-scientific topics in the program: aeronautics, astronautics, astronomy, astrophysics, computer science, archaeology, the paranormal (both for and against).^{[18][21][22][25]} Members of ASI, NASA, Northrop, CICAP were guests multiple times.

Deepcon 21, originally planned for March 2020, had to be delayed, then canceled in compliance with nation-wide countermeasures against COVID-19.^[26] It was then rescheduled as DeepCon 21 + Eurocon 2021 + Italcon 47 for July 2021.

• Entertainment-related panels^[15]
• Real world-related panels^[21]
• Art exhibitions^[18]
• Dealers' room
• Mingling all convention long, often with the guests, too^[10][12][13]
• Charity auction^[11]
• EatCon (food- and drink-related attendee-driven sub-event)
• Gala dinner^[24]
• Costume contest^[10][24]
• Autograph signing sessions
• Sunbathing (rare, due to the unfavorable season)
• Spa (charged separately)
• Unplanned, impromptu extras^[27]