As part of the SXSW Film Design Awards, the festival held a movie poster competition for all of the films showing at the fest. The posters were displayed at the convention center in a gallery for all to view.
There was some steep competition with plenty of unique and eye-grabbing designs, graphically clever layouts, and enticing imagery that certainly influenced which movies I chose to see.
This is a gallery of some of my favorites. I tried to pick a variety of styles to show the breadth of the range of movies and design sense.
Mateo
This poster grabs one's attention from the opposite side of the room. It's vibrant colors pop and with a title that one can read from any difference makes the title of the movie stick in one's mind.
Space Station 76
Simple is the key here. Like the style of the movie, it's clean and white, retro science fiction is pervasive. The eye is drawn to the lone robot and it's martini. The text implies the humorous tone of the movie and suggests an amusing world that the viewer will get to enter into.
*Full disclosure, I am one of the producers of Space Station 76. Regardless of my position on that film, I happen to think it's an awesome poster that I'd have included, regardless.
The Infinite Man
This poster is an intriguing graphic the feels both artistic and expressive of elements of the film. Love, science, and introspection are clearly at play here.
The Special Need
I simply love the animation style here. It invokes Miyazaki, which brings me on board in a heartbeat.
DamNation
What could a movie called damnation be about? Oh, DAMnation. What about dams possibly could be interesting? Cutting them down? Hmm. Why? I have no clue but the poster suggests that I should get one.
Wild Canaries
This poster is surreal and is reminiscent to me of Magritte, one of my favorite painters. The one little splash of color focuses the eye on the titular bird in the tree and the sneaky individuals make me curious as to what exactly is going on.
Take Me to the River
Looking like a concert poster, this movie poster suggests music from top to bottom. The vinyl, the text. There is no confusion about what this movie is about.
Break Point
Textual and graphic puns at play here. I'm a sucker for puns.
Dog Food
The dog silhouette with the dripping mouth is evocative on it's own, but with the people superimposed, subtly into the silhouette, this poster is taken to the next level. It's subtle and well composed.
Print the Legend
I like the layers of digital wireframes over a familiar object. It represents it's subject matter and themes very well.