Eagle-Con

That’s a wrap on Day 2 of Eagle Con! Huge thanks to everyone who came out today to be part of the conversations, panels, and workshops that make Eagle Con so special.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an incredible first day of Eagle Con 2025!

We’re just getting started. Day 2 kicks off tomorrow with more exciting programming, panels, and opportunities to connect. See you there!

🚨 The countdown is almost over 🚨

Eagle Con 2025 begins TOMORROW!

Starting September 23, we’re bringing together writers, artists, scholars, and fans for two days of panels, workshops, and award presentations that celebrate the power of imagination, creativity, and resilience.

Join us. Be part of the resistance.

More incredible sessions coming at Eagle Con next week!

Tiny Poems, Infinite Worlds: The Dwarf Star Awards

Celebrate the power of concise verse at the SFPA Dwarf Stars Awards, showcasing the best speculative poems of ten lines or fewer. Poet Laureate Emerita Wendy Van Camp hosts this event featuring editor Dr. Miguel O. Mitchell and live readings from this year’s winners.

Sept 23 | 10:55AM–12:00PM
LA Room 308

Starlit Scribes: Speculative Voices, Timeless Themes

Speculative poets from SFWA, SFPA, and HWA share their work and insights on how professional organizations support poets writing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Moderated by Wendy Van Camp, this panel offers community, inspiration, and practical advice.

Sept 23 | 12:20PM–1:30PM |
LA Room 308

Beyond the Gatekeepers: Indie Sci-Fi from the SFN Anthology

Contributors to the Science Fiction Novelists 2025 Anthology discuss how they took their stories straight to readers—without waiting on agents or publishers. Learn about indie publishing, collaboration, and the future of sci-fi storytelling.

Sept 24 | 12:20PM–1:30PM |
LA Room 308

Join us for two back-to-back sessions on September 24 that you won’t want to miss!

10:00AM – 10:50AM

Workshop: Images of Resistance
What does resistance look like?

Across media, resistance movements and rebellions have used design and visual language to unify and empower everyday people. In this workshop, we’ll explore those histories and fandoms and then create our own visual calls to action. By the end, participants will walk away with a button (or buttons!) of their own making as a symbol of their resistance to the forces that try to tear them down.

Moderator: Professor Zachary Vernon, Department of Art

11:00AM – 11:50AM

Student Panel: Telling Your Own Stories Through Comics

Come hear students from the Spring 2025 special topics class Comics & Graphic Narratives share their work and talk about how they went from readers of comics to makers of comics. Plus, don’t miss the raffle for a printed copy of the student comic anthology Freedom!

Moderator: Professor Zachary Vernon, Department of Art
Panelists: Mayra Gamboa (Art), Royce Jamerson (Computer Science), Yair Flores (Art)

📍 University Student Union, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles Room (308)
Full schedule in our bio.

Get career-ready with EagleCon’s creative career industry sessions!

📅 Sept 23 | 9:30–10:40 AM

Pitch Perfect: Selling Your Creative Ideas to Industry Pros

Learn how to pitch like a pro! Creative leaders from film, TV, and animation share strategies for shaping and presenting ideas that captivate audiences, clients, and executives.

📅 Sept 23 | 10:55 AM–12:00 PM

Résumés, Reels, and Portfolios:

Crafting Your Creative Calling Card
Recruiters from top entertainment companies reveal how to make your résumé, reel, and portfolio stand out in a crowded market and land that interview.

📅 Sept 24 | 12:00–2:00 PM
Styled for Success: Creative Industry Pop-Up

See outfit examples, get advice, and discover how to align your personal style with creative industry expectations. Learn how the Cal State LA Career Clothing Closet can help you build a professional wardrobe for free!

📍 University Student Union, 3rd Floor (Alhambra Room 305 & Los Angeles Room area)

Full schedule in our bio.

The Lemonade Award honors acts of kindness by organizations that strengthen science fiction communities. This year, EagleCon recognizes the Organization for Transformative Works (OTW) — a nonprofit created by fans, for fans, dedicated to preserving the history of fanworks and fan culture in all its forms.

Sept 23 | 1:45–2:55 PM
University Student Union, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles Room (308)

Join us for a conversation with Erica L. Frank (Galactic Journey blog and OTW member), moderated by Dr. Patrick Sharp (Liberal Studies). Learn about OTW’s mission and how you can explore and contribute to their incredible archives.

Two panels you won’t want to miss at EagleCon!

Sept 23 | 9:30–10:40AM

Evolutionary Science, Living Art, and Crafting Speculative Environments

A conversation between Dr. Jeannette Vaught (Environmental Humanities) and Fine Arts student Jesus Escandón, exploring Cal State LA’s [In]visible Flows exhibit, indigenous knowledge, and how art and science can help build climate resilience.

Sept 24 | 3:10–4:20PM
AI and Adapting Čapek’s Rossum’s Universal Robots

Featuring Daniel Hrbek (Švanda Theatre, Prague) and Dr. Zdeněk Vacek (Karel Čapek Museum), with moderator Professor Tanya Kane-Parry (Theatre and Dance). Learn about the life and work of Čapek, whose play introduced the word “robot,” and how his legacy continues today.

📍 University Student Union, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles Room (308)

Full schedule at the link in our bio.

The Prism Award celebrates creators who expand diversity in speculative genres across media.

This year, we honor influential filmmaker Alex Rivera, whose groundbreaking work, including his cyberpunk feature Sleep Dealer, has become a cornerstone of Chicana(o) and Latina(o) futurism. Rivera’s films were recently showcased in the Academy Museum’s Cyberpunk: Exhibiting Possible Futures Through Cinema exhibition, solidifying his impact as a visionary storyteller.

Prism Award Presentation
September 24 | 1:50–2:55 PM
University Student Union, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles Room (308)

Join us as Rivera discusses his journey from DIY filmmaking to Hollywood features. Moderated by Dr. Stephen Trzaskoma, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters.

Don’t miss this celebration of futurism and storytelling.
Full details at the link in our bio.

This year, we honor legendary art director and production designer Herman Zimmerman with the Imaginator Award . Zimmerman helped define the look of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, First Contact, Insurrection, and more—bringing entire futures of resistance to life on screen.

Imaginator Award Presentation
September 23 | 3:10–4:25 PM
University Student Union, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles Room (308)

Join us as Zimmerman reflects on his groundbreaking career, joined by Star Trek graphic designer Michael Okuda and moderated by Professor Patrick Sharp.

Don’t miss this celebration!
Full details at the link in our bio.

Save the Date and mark your calendars as Eagle Con 2025 returns on September 23–24 on the 3rd floor of the University-Student Union at Cal State LA.

This year’s theme: Resistance is Not Futile. The Future is Changeable.

Join the resistance as we celebrate Latina(o) futurism, Afrofuturism, and speculative visions of fighting for a better world through panels, workshops, student presentations, and career-focused sessions with industry professionals. Free for students and faculty!

Learn more and see the full schedule at the link in our bio.

The first half of the exhibition The Art of Resistance in Film and Television is now up on the 2nd floor walkway of the University Library! It is free so come on by and Join the Resistance!