Pearl River Film Fest

This project was for a typography course and asked students to develop a visual identity system for an annual independent cinema festival.

Brand & Design · Posters

Pearl River Film Fest

This project was for a typography course and asked students to develop a visual identity system for an annual independent cinema festival. Students were to assume that while the festival is a well-established annual venue, the visual identity changes from year to year, keeping with the concept of an independent creation, we were to decide this year’s look. Students were required to create advertising in the form of a billboard and poster, a mailer invitation and a programming brochure for the “History of Independent Cinema” series of screenings.

Initial Idea

A horizontal billboard version of the identity: the Pearl River mark with “INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL” in layered blue and white type over black, dated 04.19-21.24, Pearl River, NY.

This was the prototype for my visual identity that was inspired by patterns of light created by projectors. It aimed to call back to the classic, grungey feel of independent cinema while incorporating a modern flare.

Final Identity

A poster built from oversized cut-paper numerals reading 2 0 2 4, with “PEARL RIVER INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL” and “APRIL 19–21” set into the gaps between them in a bleached blue-and-white palette.

The final billboard: “PEARL RIVER INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL” in chipped white type over a dark speckled ground lit by projector rays, the word INDEPENDENT stamped along a strip of blue tape, 2 0 2 4 split across the four corners and “APRIL 19–20 PEARL RIVER NY” underneath.

Staying with the original inspiration of projectors and their significance to film, this revised identity combines the traditional art deco style of classic cinema with a rough and modern texture highlighting the gritty realness of independent films.

Mailer

The front of the opening-reception postcard: the 2024 festival lockup above “Opening Reception — Friday April 19 7pm start”, a live performance of award-winning film music at 8pm, and www.prff.org.

The back of the postcard: the Marian Anderson Memorial Theater address at 1042 Elisabeth Street, Pearl River NY 10965, ticket prices of $25 advance and $35 at the door, valet parking, refreshments and cash bar, with a blank address block and postal barcode.

Pamphlet

The program booklet cover: “HISTORY OF INDEPENDENT CINEMA” above the Pearl River Independent Film Festival lockup and a large 2024, in bleached blue duotone.

The booklet's back cover: an unprinted field of dark speckled navy, carrying only the flecks, scratches and dust used as the festival's texture throughout.

A booklet spread listing two screenings — People on Sunday (1929) in the Green Room on Saturday 4/20 at 7pm, and Playtime (1967) in the Green Room at 9pm — with a paragraph of program notes beside each.

A booklet section divider reading “LEGENDARY CLASSICS” in stencilled type, over duotone film stills credited to directors Edgar G. Ulmer, Robert Siodmak and Jacques Tati.

A program spread listing two screenings against navy: “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)”, Saturday 4/21 6pm in the Blue Room, and “Lady Bird (2017)”, Sunday 4/21 4pm in the Green Room, each with its notes set in a cream panel down the right.

A booklet page headed “INDEPENDENT WOMEN”, the first word printed on a strip of blue tape: above it a coarsely halftoned still of a woman at a kitchen table credited “Director Chantal Akerman”, below it two girls in school pinafores credited “Director Greta Gerwig”.

A booklet spread for The Blair Witch Project (1999), screening Saturday 4/20 at 11:30pm in the Blue Room, and Clerks (1994) at 8pm in the Red Room, each with budget and box-office figures and a paragraph of notes.

A booklet section divider reading “LOW-BUDGET BLOCKBUSTERS” in stencilled type, over duotone stills credited to directors Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez and Kevin Smith.