Cosplay Contest Info and Rules

What’s a convention without a good old-fashion cosplay contest?  At Hamacon we couldn’t have it any other way! Our Cosplay Contest will be held Saturday June 2nd and we can’t wait to see what everybody has prepared for us.  Winners will be announced at the end of the cosplay contest.

Cosplay Contest Rules

1.  All Costume Contest participants must be registered convention attendees.
2. Costumes are limited to Japanese/Korean anime, manga/manwa, and video games.
3. NO SKITS WILL BE ALLOWED due to time restraint.
4. All costumes must be in compliance of Hamacon’s Dress Code.
5. Excessively large costumes are strongly discouraged although you will be allowed to bring
one handler if it is absolutely necessary. However, if a costume/prop cannot easily fit through a normal doorway it will not be allowed for competition due to public safety of other convention attendees.
6. Each participant will be showing his or her costume on stage at the Costume Contest in a ”catwalk” style. Each contestant must be present, in full costume, for pre-judging which will take place before the event. Failure to show will result in disqualification. (see below for judging specifics).
7. All entries are required to bring a folder to pre-judging containing the following:
* A legibly completed costume contest entry form that will be available at the registration desk. If you are in a group, all
members must be listed. Unreadable forms will be disqualified.
* A color reference picture at least 5” x 7” in size. Hand drawn images are not
allowed. If it is a group entry, reference pictures for ALL members are required.
* Contestents age 12 and under must have parent/guardian present during prejudging.
8. All contestants are required to create 70% of their own costume in order to compete. Store bought and commissioned costumes are not allowed. Any purchased or commissioned costume may only be entered as an exhibition costume. (Check Epic Doll category for exceptions) Store bought accessories will be allowed, but will not be judged.
9. An entrant may enter a model into the competition wearing their costume/prop; however,
the entrant must physically accompany the model to pre-judging. Just make sure to
state that the person wearing the costume is a model, and not the creator, on the entry
form.
10. Judges may closely inspect the inner and outer costume construction of each
entrant.
11. A costume that has won a MAJOR award (i.e. craftsmanship, best in show, best
group, best master) in another competition may not be entered in the Costume Contest and may only be worn as an exhibition costume. If you won novice and would like to compete in the same costume as journeyman, that will be allowed.
12. If there is space available, exhibition costumes may be presented during the
costume contest, but will not be eligible for awards.
13. All weapons must be in compliance with the HAMACON Weapons policy (see Convention Rules & Weapons Policy.)
14. HAMA-CON staff has the unrestricted right to use and publish photographs of
costume contest entrants. This may be posted the convention website/social networking
site for editorial, trade, advertising, and any other purpose or medium; to alter the same
without restriction; and to copyright the same.

If you have any questions please feel free to email the Cosplay Director at cosplay@hama-con.com  .