When the 27th annual International UFO Congress opens this Wednesday, Feb. 14, at We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center, tickets to attend the speaker presentations range from $39 for one talk to $309 for the full five-day agenda.

Few may realize that the public can rub elbows with some speakers who have written books about their experiences at a free vendor area.

In the past, UFO notables such as Travis Walton, who claims he was abducted by extraterrestrials while lumbering in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in 1975, has been present and welcomed photos and book signings.

Stanton (Stan) Friedman, a nuclear physicist, lecturer and original civilian investigator of the Roswell incident, co-authored “Crash at Corona: The Definite Study of the Roswell Incident,” also has a booth and is receptive to questions.

Film festival

A free film festival sponsored by UFOTV will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 13, the day before the conference.

Volunteer judges will view all accepted entries. Anyone can volunteer to be a judge as long as the individual plans to view all entries.

The top three films in each category – long and short form – will be shown either Thursday or Friday night, Feb. 15 or 16, respectively, depending on movie lengths and the time available each evening.

The top three films shown Thursday and Friday night will also be eligible for the People’s Choice Award, determined during the awards ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 17.

Popular speakers

Nick Pope, retired acting deputy director in the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense, will provide insights into the recently unveiled U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program.

Although Pope was not involved with the DoD’s program, his experience gives him an informed overview of the program from the perspective of someone who ran a similar program in the UK.

His comments will follow a recorded presentation by Luis Elizondo, the man who led the DoD’s program. The video interview will be shown at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17.