Julia Breckenreid

Should Have Been Illustrated: TIFF

posted: September 7, 2011

The Toronto Film Festival starts tomorrow, September 8th. It's all very exciting and generally all are on the lookout for a glimpse of an actor or actress strolling through Yorkville and elsewhere. I include myself in the masses who love going to the scheduled movies to have the opportunity to hear the director's perspective and listen to the questions posed to the cast when the movie is over.
However, one thing stands out to me year after year - TIFF does not use illustrated posters to celebrate the festival. They used to. Have a look - I've scrounged up what I could find online and starting at the top left, they begin around the mid-80's with an illustration done by Canadian illustrator Heather Cooper:

Illustration dwindles on the yearly posters that follow, with the exception of a poster in 2009 with a concept of wings for eyes. Much use of photography, photoshop magic and ending with what looks like a stock photo in 2009. I have not found, nor can I recall the posters that may have followed in 2010 or the present year.

I understand that illustration does not suit every job. Conceptually, there are some nice ideas found here and there… 2007's posters is quite nice, with a pastoral scene glimpsed in the darkness above the screen. However, I love what illustration can do and my reaction to it. The value of an illustrated poster feels different to me, something to keep, to pore over, to wonder, to allow for a suspension of disbelief - and when it has a fantastic concept to boot, it knocks me out every time.

This poster illustration done by Robert Neubecker, granted, is not for a film festival but the filmmakers took a chance on illustration instead of using photography like everyone else. (It won the Key Art Award for Best Comedy Poster of 2004- the oscar of movie posters. Also awards from SI, A.I.G.A. and AI.)

So TIFF, what's the problem? Why so short-sighted? Posters for an international film festival say something about the place that they are held, so what is it you are saying about Toronto?

Have a look at some more posters I found online that stuck out to me below, and tell me that illustration is less than powerful, sharp, beautiful, wondrous, inspiring, collectable and MEMORABLE...

Have a look at some more posters I found online that stuck out to me below, and tell me that illustration is less than powerful, sharp, beautiful, wondrous, inspiring, collectable and MEMORABLE.This poster illustration done by Robert Neubecker, granted, is not for a film festival but the filmmakers took a chance on illustration instead of using photography like everyone else. (It won the Key Art Award for Best Comedy Poster of 2004- the oscar of movie posters. Also awards from SI, A.I.G.A. and AI.)

Have a look at some more posters I found online that stuck out to me below, and tell me that illustration is less than powerful, sharp, beautiful, wondrous, inspiring, collectable and MEMORABLE.