A whole army of inspiring artists, makers, and other experts are ready to host interesting workshops and reveal their secrets in Q&A panels and presentations. Check this page to see in which field you’d like to hone your skills!
Author panels
SMALL READERS, BIG ADVENTURES
HOW TO WRITE STORIES FOR YOUNGSTERS
Participants:
– Dimitri Balcaen
– Morgan Blade
– Pen Stewart
Timing: Saturday: 12:30h – 13:30h
What is it about?
Kids are smarter than you think, and youth authors are well aware of that. Discover how they write with a younger audience in mind, without looking down on them.
Place: Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4
HOW TO WRITE STRONG DIALOGUES
Participants:
– Petra Doom
– Mathias Maho
– Morgan Blade
– Pen Stewart
Timing: Sunday: 14:30h – 15:30h
What is it about?
Want your readers to be engaged while reading your story? Then great dialogues are essential! In this session, you get insights on how to write lively dialogues that give your characters that coveted credibility.
Place: Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4
DOES INSPIRATION EVEN EXIST?
Participants:
– Anaïd Haen
– Django Mathijsen
Timing: Sunday: 11:00h – 12:00h
What is it about?
The number one question for an author Q&A is ‘Where do you get your inspiration from?’. Fantasy authors Django & Anaïd show you where their ideas sprout from, and how they grow into a magnificent story tree in the sun.
Place: FLEX 1
A HISTORY OF
FANTASTICAL STORIES
Participants:
– Peter DeWillis
Timing: Saturday: 15:00h – 16:00h
What is it about?
Author Peter van Roermund, aka Peter DeWillis, dissects the DNA of stories. The focus: how do the various genres of the fantastic in books, comics, films and other art forms stem from sources that date back thousands of years?
Place: FLEX 1
Cosplay panels & workshops
MAKE SHORT VIDEOS WITH YOUR PHONE:
TIPS & TRICKS
📹 Cosplay guest Yugoro will help you gain knowledge and techniques to create quality, engaging short videos. Learn about the best filming and editing apps, essential equipment, lighting setups, and video montage basics.
Place: Cosplay Stage
Timing: Saturday: 12:00h – 12:45h
HOW COSPLAY HELPS YOU TURN YOUR PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY INTO A PROFESSION
📸 Cosplay guest PakuPaku Ru talks about how her cosplay career helped her to become a better – and even professional – photographer and how the two worlds can be connected with ease.
Place: Cosplay Stage
Timing: Sunday: 12:00h – 12:30h
MAKE YOUR OWN WIZARD PROPS BY THE COMPENDIUM
📹 The Compendium is back with its DIY workshops! Craft everything a wizard or witch desires:
- Wandmaking workshop
- Spellbook workshop
- Potions workshop
- Headpieces workshop
- Unicorn horns workshop
- Magical fans workshop
Place: Fan Village (Hall 8)
Timing: Both days, all day long!
Fandom talks & workshops
DINOMANIE:
DINOSAURS IN OUR POP CULTURE
🦖 Whether you drive around in a Ford Raptor or have seen the first Jurassic Park film 17 times: everyone has had dinosaurs in their lives. But what kind of impact have they had on pop culture, in games, movies, series, and comic books? What was the world’s first dinosaur park? And where can you buy dino turds? Speaker Harald Scheerlinck provides a list of interesting insights and did-you-knows.
Place: Cosplay Stage
Timing: Sunday: 12:30h – 13:00h
START TO LARP!
⚔️ It’s dangerous to go alone, take this workshop! The Live-Action Role-Playing experts of Statera Mundi University will grant you passage into the wonderful world of LARP.
Place: Fan Village (Hall 8)
Timing: Both days, all day long
GUNPLA WORKSHOP
🤖 Gundam Fans Benelux, a group of experts on Gundam, will show you how you can make your own awesome Gundam mobile suit replica. Warning: once you’re hooked on this ‘gunpla’ activity, you may never view the world the same again!
Place: Fan Village (Hall 8)
Timing: Both days, check for details at the Gundam Fans Benelux booth
LEARN HOW TO BECOME A DUNGEON MASTER
🎲 Being a Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons is a mix of game knowledge, story-telling, and enjoying having counter-spells to an immense amount of funny facepalm moments. D&D Gent is happy to show you how it’s done. Time for some vitamin D&D!
Place: Board Game Zone in Hall 1
Timing: Both days, all day long
JOIN THE LIGHTSABER FIGHT WORKSHOPS!
⚔️ The world’s oldest fencing club, Sint-Michielsgilde De Hallebardiers, will show you how to wield a lightsaber. That might sound odd, but rest assured: these people know how to cut a Dathomirian Zabrak in half.
Place: Star Wars Zone in Hall 8
Timing: Both days, all day long
LEGO DESIGNER PANEL
🧱 Meet Belgium’s first official LEGO designer on Sunday, April 7th! Amber Veyt, who designed LEGO’s Hocus Pocus set (Disney) will do signing sessions at the booth of Starbrick in Hall 1. And yes, you can also buy the set there.
Place: Pen-and-Ink Palace (Hall 4)
Timing: SUNDAY: 15:45h – 16:30h
Artist Alley workshops
DRAWING WORKSHOP:
HOW TO DRAW THE MARSUPILAMI
Participants:
– Batem
Timing: Saturday: 11:00h – 12:00h
What is it about?
Batem himself has been drawing the mysterious Marsupilami since 1982 and is more than willing to pass down his know-how to you, at FACTS!
Place: FLEX 1
(French spoken, but Dutch translation available)
HOW TO WRITE A GRAPHIC NOVEL
A MASTERCLASS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Participants:
– Brian Michael Bendis
Timing: Sunday: 13:00h – 14:00h
What is it about?
The graphic novel features the unique marriage of words and pictures that has seeped into every facet of popular culture. This one time special class, led by legendary comic author Brian Michael Bendis (Marvel, DC, Dark Horse) will focus on all the storytelling elements that create the written word of this unique medium.
Place: FLEX 1
Artist Alley panels
MARC DE BEL'S KEYNOTE ON THE NEW KRIEGELS BOOK
Participants:
– Marc de Bel
Timing:
– Saturday: 13:30h – 14:30h (Hall 2)
– Sunday: 13:00h – 14:00h (Hall 4)
What is it about?
Flemish children’s book author Marc de Bel is presenting his latest book ‘De Kriegels are back!’ at FACTS! The story itself has FACTS as its setting, so we’ve got some Kriegelception going on here!
OF MONSTRESSES & X-MEN
Participants:
– Sana Takeda
– Marjorie Liu
Timing: Saturday: 14:00h – 15:00h
What is it about?
Join us in an exclusive panel where we’ll discuss the secret origins of two of the biggest comic book writers of their generation, the thrills, chills & spills of writing world-famous characters, and the challenges of carving out your own successful path in comics.
Place: Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4
MASTERS OF MARVEL & BEYOND
Participants:
– Marjorie Liu
– Brian Michael Bendis
Timing: Sunday: 11:30h – 12:30h
What is it about?
Join us in an exclusive panel where we’ll discuss the secret origins of two of the biggest comic book writers of their generation, the thrills, chills & spills of writing world-famous characters, and the challenges of carving out your own successful path in comics.
Place: Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4
BEHIND THE PANELS:
DECISIONS THAT MAKE A GOOD COMIC GREAT
Participants:
– Marjorie Liu
– Chris Weston
– Cam Smith
– Daniel Henriques
Timing: Saturday: 17:00h – 18:00h
What is it about?
Join our artists for an exclusive gathering where they will explore the craft behind today’s biggest comic books. We’ll discuss their individual approach to writing, drawing, colouring, lettering, and more. It’s a unique opportunity to see how they go from conceiving a comic book page to making it a tangible reality.
Place: Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4
CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY:
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Participants:
– Brian Michael Bendis
Timing: Saturday: 15:30h – 16:30h
What is it about?
There’s little Brian Michael Bendis hasn’t done. Writing landmark runs on Marvel’s Daredevil, Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers, co-creating Jessica Jones and Miles Morales, helping shape the MCU… He is undeniably one of the biggest comic book creators of the 21st century.
So lets discuss not only his tenure at Marvel & DC, but also his powerful return to his creator-owned roots. (Q&A included)
Place: Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4
LAWRENCE'S LEGACY
Participants:
– Chris Weston
– Romano Molenaar
Timing: Saturday: 11:00h – 12:00h
What is it about?
Join comic artists Romano Molenaar and Chris Weston for a discussion about the career of the mighty Don Lawrence (The Trigan Empire, Storm). What did the legendary artist teach Chris Weston and how did Lawrence’s tutelage help him forge his own path in the comic book industry? And what sort of challenges and opportunities did Romano Molenaar encounter when continuing the epic adventures of Storm?
Place: Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4