Vintage Cannes Film Festival Posters

Vintage Cannes Film Festival poster

1939: The first ever 'Festival International du Film' was scheduled to start on 1 September, but was forced

to close after the first night because of the outbreak of WWII. This poster, featuring an illustration

by Jean Gabriel Daumergue, is the first and still one of the best.

1946 had two posters. Greedy

The Festival was abandoned during the war, but kicked off again in September 1946.

There were TWO official posters that year, the last of which is an original illustration by Leblanc. 

1947: Films were still nominated for awards by their respective countries which basically meant everyone won something. Organisers didn't want to upset anybody so everyone left happy.

1949: A distinct lack of funds led to there being no festival in 1948, but never fear,

it was back the year afterwards with a slightly dubious Olympic-style poster. 

1951: The festival took another year's hiatus in 1950, (we're getting the impression that Cannes is a bit like Glastonbury - temperamental, stroppy and in need of a year off now and then), but returned in 1951.

Cannes had a new dedicated venue for the event: the Palais Croisette, which became known as the Palais Des Festivals.

1952: The Festival moved from September to April to make the most of the beginning of the tourist season.

The poster though, er, still looks like an advert for the Olympics.

In fact it arguably looks better than the adverts for this year's Olympics.

1954: The year someone had the bright idea of incorporating a palm leaf motif on all the trophies

and the Cannes emblem was born. No one thought to put it on the seafaring-going-to-war-style poster though.

1955: Everyone loved the palm leaf thing so much they renamed the top prize - the Grand Prix - the Palme d'Or.

Again no one thought to put it on the poster.

1956.

1957: This looks like somewhere we might actually want to go. For an all-inclusive holiday.

In no way does this poster say anything about the festival. It actually looks like a stamp.

1958: As far as we were aware, the film festival is not a modern art festival.

1959.

1960: This looks like the book cover for a new Twilight sequel.

 1961: This one by A.M. Rodicq. It's simple and pretty.

 1962: Van Gogh-style pretty

1963

1966: The 20th anniversary of the awards and the year Sophia Loren was appointed the festival's second ever female president. (Olivia de Havilland was the first in 1965).

1967: The patterns are meant to emulate the shapes created by spotlights in the sky.

Either that or it's going to be an X-rated festival.

1968: This poster is more excited about the fact it's the 21st anniversary than that it's about films.

1971: The 25th anniversary of the awards.

1982

1985

1986