The Zurich Film Festival has revealed the official poster for its 22nd edition, featuring a bold and contemporary design created by Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) students Mimi Peneva and Nico Frei. The winning artwork was selected through a public vote, with more than 3,500 people participating in the decision.
The new visual identity reflects the diversity and inclusivity of the festival through a modular design system built around abstract faces. Inspired by the festival’s existing logo, the concept symbolizes the many individuals who shape the ZFF experience — from international film stars and emerging filmmakers to audiences from around the world.
Designed to work dynamically across digital platforms, the poster comes alive in animated form, with shifting and evolving faces that create an engaging and modern visual language for the festival.
Both creators are students at Zurich University of the Arts, though from different disciplines. Peneva, 27, studies Art Education, while Frei, 23, studies Visual Communication. The pair developed the project through the university’s Student Design Agency and drew inspiration from previous collaborations within Zurich’s street art scene.
“We are very pleased that our design will soon be visible everywhere,” said Frei. “It is always special when work that is mainly created on the computer suddenly becomes real and you can show what you do.”
Peneva added: “With our design we wanted to reach as many people as possible and give the ZFF a face that a wide audience can identify with. A face is something that can express emotions across all ages and represents the diversity of the festival.”
The public voting process was introduced for the first time this year, with three shortlisted designs from ZHdK students competing for selection. Festival organizers described the initiative as part of their ongoing commitment to supporting emerging creative talent.
Christian Jungen, CEO of the ZFF, praised the collaboration, saying: “From the beginning the ZFF has been committed to supporting emerging talent. This year, there were many strong proposals to choose from — our audience selected this design. It is a real eye-catcher and reflects the diversity of our programme.”
Co-heads of the Student Design Agency at ZHdK, Corina Zuberbühler and Rebecca Morganti-Pfaffhauser, also highlighted the importance of giving students real-world creative opportunities through collaborations with major cultural events.