The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) has revealed the visual identity for its upcoming jubilee edition. The central motif of the visual for the 60th edition of the festival has become the red carpet, symbolizing the event's openness to the general public and celebrating eighty years of this film showcase. The graphic design was created by Jonatan Kuna, who worked on the concept in collaboration with Aleš Najbrt from Studio Najbrt.
This year, the creators opted for a minimalist approach that utilizes the strong symbolism of an iconic element of film premieres. According to the authors, the chosen design is intended to evoke various associations and simultaneously serve as a unifying point for all festival participants, from world stars to ordinary viewers.
“We opted for the symbolism of the red carpet. We designed it with maximum simplicity so that it could evoke various associations and interpretations and symbolize the festival. The red carpet is simply here for everyone, so that everyone can experience a few moments of glory,” explain Jonatan Kuna and Aleš Najbrt.
An important part of the visual identity are the shadows projected onto the red surface, which will gradually come to life in the festival's communication and in the spaces of Karlovy Vary. The authors describe these shadows as another layer of graphics, intended to function as a projection of the events and the film world taking place directly on the carpet. The aim was to emphasize the inclusivity of the event and the fact that the space in front of the Hotel Thermal cinema belongs not only to delegations but to every lover of cinematography.
The unveiling of the visuals is accompanied by other news regarding the program of the jubilee edition. As part of the celebration of two anniversaries – the 60th edition and 80 years since the festival's founding – the organizers have prepared the section Returns to the Sources, which will map KVIFF's history. It was also announced earlier that the prestigious Festival President's Award will this year be presented to Slovak actress Magda Vášáryová.
Studio Najbrt has been collaborating with the Karlovy Vary festival for a long time, and their work regularly defines the city's face during the event. This year's concept builds on the tradition of distinctive colored areas and typography, while returning to one of the most fundamental attributes of film glory in a modern interpretation.