Please read these rules before applying to the VIECC® Cosplay Championships!

 

 

The VIECC® Cosplay Championships is a celebration of all pop culture. It is a craftsmanship award show with a pre-judging session and a stage display. All entries must represent a character or element from the pop culture realm.

 

Each entrant will submit an application to be reviewed by the VIECC® team and a jury of Cosplay experts!

 

All entrants may only enter with one costume into the competition. If approved, accepted contestants will be contacted by the VIECC® team and will advance on to the competition stage of the VIECC® Cosplay Championships. Contestants will be judged on the quality and craftsmanship of their costumes. No store bought costumes will be eligible to enter.
Selected contestants will be pre-judged for craftsmanship off stage and then battle it out on the Main Stage for First Place in their respective categories. The best contestants will then move on to the Final round to win the main prize and the title of VIECC® Cosplay Central Crown Champion.
Contestants will provide VIECC® with a brief costume description for the emcee to read as they cross the stage and exhibit two to three poses before exiting. No speaking or individualization of music is allowed, as pre-selected music will play throughout the event. The time limit per participant on stage is approximately one minute.
Space in the VIECC® Cosplay Championships is limited and entry will be based on each applicant’s form and picture. There are no group entries allowed.

 

Every Contestant will receive one Adult Saturday Ticket for November 18th, 2022.

 

 

 

Prizes

 

First Place

  • 1.500€ Price money

  • VIECC® Cosplay Championships 2023 Trophy

  • 2 VIP Tickets for VIECC® 2024

  • Other prices by partners

Second Place

  • 750€ Price money

  • VIECC® Cosplay Championships 2023 Trophy

  • 2 Con Tickets for VIECC® 2024

  • Other prices by partners

Third Place

  • 400€ Price money

  • VIECC® Cosplay Championships 2023 Trophy

  • 2 Con Tickets for VIECC® 2024

  • Other prices by partners

Judges Choice Awards

  • Will be awarded by the judges independely from the contest winners.

  • VIECC® Cosplay Championships Judges Choice 2023 Trophy

  • Other prices by partners

 

 

VIECC® Cosplay Championships Rules

 

Participants in the VIECC® Cosplay Championships must adhere to the following:

 

  1. All selected contestants are responsible for all expenses related to competing in the VIECC® Cosplay Championships including all lodging and travel to and from the convention center. Austrian Exhibition Experts GmbH (short “AEE”) will provide all contestants with a badge valid for Saturday at VIECC® 2023.

  2. A contestant may participate in the VIECC® Cosplay Championships only once. Applicants may not register multiple times with multiple costumes. A contestant can only enter once and only wear one costume.

  3. Group costumes are not allowed.

  4. Entrants must provide a written description that the emcee will read during their appearance on stage. This may describe the details of the costume or provide a story about the character being portrayed. You may offer details about the construction process, materials, number of work hours, or anything that might impress the judges and fans. This description is limited to 100 words. AEE reserves the right to edit introduction material for time and content.

  5. All accepted contestants must check in for craftsmanship judging on the contest day (Saturday at VIECC). Failure to appear at pre-judging will result in disqualification. If accepted, AEE will notify you when and where the craftsmanship judging will take place. Information will be provided to you closer to the competition.

  6. To be judged for accuracy a visual reference, preferably a front and back color photo on paper, can be turned in with your application. This is not required. However, you may not be eligible for accuracy points if the judges are not familiar enough with your character. We also request you to bring a printed whole-body picture of your character to the show on Saturday.

  7. Electronic media (i.e. CDs) will not be accepted nor will bringing a laptop or video device (i.e. iPods) to pre-judging. No skits are allowed on stage or during judging.

  8. No profanity allowed on stage. That includes messages on signs or clothes. Anyone who violates this may be disqualified from the competition.

  9. No political or religious statements are allowed on stage or during judging. Anyone who violates this may be disqualified from the competition.

  10. Costumes used for the Championships Qualifier or Final must not have been used for any previous international cosplay or costume contest final.

  11. Costumes cannot promote alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous or any particular political agenda or message.

  12. Costumes cannot be obscene or offensive, endorse any form of hate or hate group;

  13. Costume cannot defame, misrepresent or contain disparaging remarks about VIECC® or its products, or other people, products or companies;

  14. Costume cannot communicate messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or goodwill to which VIECC® wishes to associate; and

  15. Costume cannot depict, and cannot itself, be in violation of any law.

  16. Please refrain from wearing or using any substances that may potentially interfere with another participant’s costume. If you are wearing body paint or make-up, please make sure it will not come in contact with others. Do not bring anything on stage that could damage the other costumes. Do not leave anything on stage at all.

  17. No nudity. All costumes should provide enough coverage to be worn in public and should be in good taste and appropriate for a family-friendly show. Gore, graphic violence or other objectionable elements may be grounds for disqualification as determined by the judges or VIECC® Staff.

  18. Contestants are responsible for their own belongings. We are unable to provide a secure area for personal items. We recommend bringing an assistant to help with belongings.

  19. Any participant may be disqualified from the contest by Convention Management, VIECC® Staff, or official costume judges for failure to observe any of these rules. All decisions made by the judges are final.

  20. Pre-fabricated, store-bought costumes cannot compete in the Cosplay Contest. All costumes must be made by the wearer. A portion of the costume (such as leotard, tights and shoes) may be from purchased, finished goods, but at least 60% of the costume should have been constructed by the creator of the costume. If you have made heavy alterations to a store-bought garment and wish to enter it into the construction part of the contest, you must be able to explain how you have altered it and the processes that such an endeavor entailed. Unaltered, store-bought assemblies of clothing to represent a character or “costume” are NOT allowed.

  21. No electrical power connections will be provided. If your costume requires power it must be part of your costume design.

  22. Wings, large props, or large costumes are just fine, but if your costume is over 8 feet tall, or 3 feet wide you may not fit through the doors. If possible, make wings and other parts that make your costume detachable. We have no limit on the size of costumes or props, but ask that you be safe and aware while on stage. You will be responsible for ALL damage to the stage, lighting, technical aspects or any convention property.

  23. Your costume must allow movement with limited assistance. Your costume must not impede your ability to get on and off stage. Furthermore, your costume cannot be built on stage.

  24. HAVE FUN!

  25. All entrants must be 18 or older to compete.

  26. All participants who make it to prejudging will be required to sign a permission/release/waiver form to participate in the contest.

  27. Your costume must allow movement with limited assistance. Your costume must not impede your ability to get on and off stage. Furthermore, your costume cannot be built on stage.

  28. Any prize won by an eligible entrant who is a minor will be awarded to the minor’s parent or legal guardian, who must sign and return any required documents. Receiving the prize is contingent upon compliance with these Official Rules.

  29. Release: By accepting a prize, each Winner agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies, and prize suppliers (if any), and each of their respective parent companies and each such company’s officers, directors, employees and agents; from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.

  30. AEE reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Contest, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond AEE’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Contest, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. AEE reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of the Official Rules of this or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, AEE reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. AEE’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

  31. Limitations of Liability: AEE is not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, typographical errors, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. If for any reason an entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Contest, if it is possible. If the Contest, or any part of it, is discontinued for any reason, Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may elect to hold a random drawing from among all eligible entries received up to the date of discontinuance for the prize offered herein.

  32. Participant undertakes to hold AEE harmless and indemnified in respect of all claims for damages asserted by third parties (personal injury or damage to property) arising from their participation to the Contest, the preliminary work or the post-event work except insofar as such damages are occasioned by gross negligence on the part of AEE. The Participant shall, further, irrespective of fault, be liable for all damage directly inflicted on AEE by the Participant, and for any damage to the venue caused by his or her costume (e.g. by reason of fire, explosion, escaping fluids or vapors). AEE’s liability to the Participant is exclusively restricted to willful act or gross negligence. In any event, compensation for any indirect damage suffered by the Participant is excluded. AEE likewise accepts no liability for personal injury or damage to property suffered by the Participant, in particular damage to property of the Participant or third parties brought to the Contest. This shall also apply to damage occasioned by defects in buildings or facilities where the Contest is held insofar as AEE is not responsible for such defects due to willful act or gross negligence.

  33. Participant undertakes to hold AEE harmless and indemnified in respect of all claims for damages asserted by third parties (personal injury or damage to property) arising from their participation to the Contest, the preliminary work or the post-event work except insofar as such damages are occasioned by gross negligence on the part of AEE. The Participant shall, further, irrespective of fault, be liable for all damage directly inflicted on AEE by the Participant, and for any damage to the venue caused by his or her costume (e.g. by reason of fire, explosion, escaping fluids or vapors). AEE’s liability to the Participant is exclusively restricted to willful act or gross negligence. In any event, compensation for any indirect damage suffered by the Participant is excluded. AEE likewise accepts no liability for personal injury or damage to property suffered by the Participant, in particular damage to property of the Participant or third parties brought to the Contest. This shall also apply to damage occasioned by defects in buildings or facilities where the Contest is held, insofar as AEE is not responsible for such defects due to willful act or gross negligence.

  34. All prop weapons must conform to the VIECC® Weapons Policy, which is as follows: The following items are generally forbidden at VIECC:
    – Functional firearms (including air soft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns and pellet guns)
    – Realistic replica firearms (including reproduction, fake or toy guns that can be confused for functional firearms)
    – Functional projectile weapons (including blow guns, crossbows, long bows, silly string, slingshots, water balloons and water guns)
    – Sharpened metal-bladed weapons (including axes, daggers, hatches, knives, kunai, shuriken, swords, sword canes and switch blades)
    – Explosives (including firecrackers and fireworks)
    – Chemical weapons (including mace and pepper spray)
    – Blunt weapons (including brass knuckles, clubs and nunchaku)
    – Hard prop weapons (including props made of metal, fiberglass and glass)
    – Instruments that cause excessive noise levels like vuvuzelas
    – Aerosol mustard

 

Prop weapons will be allowed providing they are composed of cardboard, foam, wood or other light materials. Prop firearms are allowed only if they cannot be mistaken for real weapons. The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with brightly-colored caps. Prop bows will be allowed providing all arrows have soft tips.

 

Click here to read the German version of the VIECC® Cosplay Championships Rules

 

 

I Still Have A Question!
If you have any questions about the VIECC® Cosplay Championships , please contact us at comiccon@expo-experts.at