53rd Festival Poster

Description

Created by painter and graphic designer Edwin Smeenge, the winning design for the 53rd International Film Festival was chosen from 172 entries from more than 30 countries. “Edwin’s image of a curious face looking out from the dark is perfect,” remarked Michael Kutza, the Festival’s Founder and CEO. “It precisely captures the sense of curiosity, adventure, and discovery that our audiences bring to the Festival.”

Edwin Smeenge is a self-taught painter and graphic designer born in The Netherlands and currently living in Germany. Drawing has always been a part of his life. Influenced in his younger years by comics and later on by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, Smeenge developed his skills as a Pop Art artist. Most of his current work is contemporary figurative art, although his Pop Art roots remain visible. “My design was inspired by the old Film Noir movies and a little bit by Pop Art,” says Smeenge. “That’s why I used black and red in my design. I think people see themselves in the situation on the poster. Anyone can be either the one behind the blinds or the person in front of it. I hope that people get intrigued by my design and become curious for movies in general and the Chicago Film Festival in particular.”