ConGregate 12: Full Schedule

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10:00am EDT

How To Make Your First Unreal Engine Short Film

Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Cardinal (Film)

Unreal Engine and virtual production have democratized filmmaking more than ever, but scope and learning curves can quickly take the wind out of your sails. Learn how to drill down on the essentials to produce your first animated or virtual stage short with Unreal.

Speakers

Michelle Iannantuono

Film Guest

Michelle Iannantuono is an award-winning queer filmmaker and 3D artist from Charleston, SC. Her features include 2018’s Livescream, which was nominated for a Rondo Award and won Best Director at Nightmares Film Festival; 2020’s Detroit Evolution, a queer transformative fan... Read More →

Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Cardinal (Film)

Film/TV

11:30am EDT

Before CGI Existed: The Artisans of Schlock

Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT

Cardinal (Film)

A celebration of low-budget ingenuity — how filmmakers on grindhouse budgets pulled off monsters, gore, and sci-fi visuals with almost no money. Great for a craft-minded crowd.

Speakers

Dave Fretz

Costuming Guest

I’ve been a part of science fiction and fantasy fandom for more than 50 years and grew up reading Andre Norton, Allan Dean Foster, and Edgar Rice Burroughs books. I even named my younger son Jason after the lead character in the Ray Harryhausen film Jason and the Argonauts. I was... Read More →

Bill Mulligan

Film Guest

A 25+ year veteran of high school science teaching, Bill Mulligan has parlayed his love of horror, science fiction, and fantasy films into podcasting, convention panels, indie filmmaking, and storytelling. With creative partners such as Christine Parker and Mark C. Lucas, he has worked... Read More →

Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Cardinal (Film)

Film/TV

1:00pm EDT

It's been 10 years since...

Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

High Point Room (Panels)

Zootopia, Rogue One, Hidden Figures, Captain America: Civil War, Suicide Squad (the one with Will Smith and Margot Robbie), Star Trek: Beyond, Deadpool, Ghostbusters (the one with Melissa McArthy and Kristen Wiig) and so many others....

Moderator: Fraser Sherman

Speakers

Sammie Cassell

Film Guest

Sammie Cassell is a North Carolina based filmmaker, actor, improv and sketch comedian, and all around busy guy. His film/tv credits include Halloween Kills, Eyes of Tammy Faye, Kill Giggles and upcoming appearances in Righteous Gemstones and Please Don’t Destroy. A life long comic book fan and collector along with being a lover of all things horror, wrestling and pop culture, he’s also known as Sammie the Comic Book Man. Sammie and his production partners, Dan Sellers, Jeff Cochran, and Chad Hunt with Wreak Havoc Productions also do the... Read More →

DJ McGuire

Performance Guest

D.J. McGuire began his geek journey watching Star Trek Original Series on syndication. These days, he works in Defense IT and teaches economics at his local community college. He has been a musical performer (bass and vocals) for over eight years, starting with Dimensional Riffs in 2017. He has also played with the Nefarious Ferrets... Read More →

Fraser Sherman

Literary Guest

Born in England, Fraser Sherman wound up spending most of his life in Northwest Florida. He’d be there still if he hadn’t fallen in love and moved to Durham NC to marry his dream woman. They’re still together, with two dogs and two cats added to the family.Fraser has published... Read More →

Janet Carden

Online Media Guest

Janet Carden aka The Halfling is one half of the husband/wife team of The Halfling and The Spaceman podcast. She has been active in many aspects of fandom since her high school days. She and her husband have created many fan projects together, including The Familiar Magazine... Read More →

Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)

Film/TV

10:00am EDT

11:30am EDT

1:00pm EDT

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