30th IFFK: Proposed Branding
Branding a film festival that brings cinematic greats to God’s Own Country.
Duration: 3 Days
Overview
This project was developed for an open call organized by the Kerala Chalachitra Akademi, which invited designers to propose a fresh branding concept for the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala. With only a week to respond, my challenge was to develop an idea rooted in local culture while achieving the design quality expected of leading global festivals such as Sundance or Tribeca. My concept draws inspiration from the vertical lines of the traditional window grills found in quintessential Kerala architecture. The resulting identity aims to bring a contemporary visual language to a 30-year-old film festival that has consistently made quality cinema and progressive ideas accessible to a wider audience.
Who am I designing for?
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Cinema professionals
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Students
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International delegates
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Cinephiles
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Critics & Journalists
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Walk-in audiences
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Volunteers
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Sponsors
Insights
Observations from my experience at the previous festival edition:
IFFK has become a festival that attracts both serious cinephiles and everyday audiences. Accessibility feels central to the way the festival functions. Even a screening of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai last year was packed, with people from very different backgrounds sitting together and watching a classic world cinema film.
When I visited the festival last year, I noticed how much effort people were willing to make to be there. I met students who skipped classes to attend screenings, working professionals who took leave from work, and regular attendees who told me they hadn’t missed a single edition in seven or eight years. Everyone experienced the festival differently, but the commitment to show up and watch films was shared by all.
BRAINSTORMING IDEAS
Concept
IFFK: A Window to the Worlds
200 Worlds, Open to All
Every film opens up a world- sometimes imagined by the filmmaker, sometimes drawn from the realities around us. If films are worlds, IFFK acts as a window to them, and makes sure everyone has a seat by that window. Students, working professionals, long-time attendees, and first-time viewers all share equal access to world cinema. The festival removes barriers and invites people from all walks of life to sit down and watch. This idea is captured in the branding through the line “A Window Seat for Everyone.”
Visually, the concept is reflected in the recurring motif of vertical window grills found in traditional Kerala homes, reimagined in a bold, contemporary form. These familiar elements ground the festival’s global perspective in a local, everyday context, reinforcing openness and accessibility.
The Word Mark
Colours
Bold and vibrant colours were used to reflect the energy and spirit of the festival. Functionally, these colours also aid in wayfinding, helping visitors identify venues spread across Thiruvananthapuram. Six colours have been chosen, which can also be used to colour-code categories such as ID cards, enabling volunteers to easily recognize different participant groups during verification and entry.
Collaterals
