Cannes official poster revealed: homage to Godard

Central image comes from Godard's film Pierrot le fou

The Cannes Film Festival has released the official poster for the international event, which kicks off in less than a month on the French Riviera.

The design, created by graphic artist Flore Maquin, is taken from Pierrot le fou, the 1965 film by Jean-Luc Godard that starred Jean-Paul Belmondo and Anna Karina. Per the festival, the poster is inspired by the work of noted film set photographer Georges Pierre (1927-2003). Pierre worked with Godard and other leading European directors including Louis Malle and Bertrand Tavernier.
​

Inspired by pop culture, this 27-year-old illustrator blends drawing, painting and digital art in a vibrant and colourful world.

--The Cannes Film Festival on poster designer Flore Maquin

Interestingly, Godard made something of a near-cameo in one of the most acclaimed films to come out of last year's Cannes Film Festival, Faces Places, directed by Agnès Varda and the photographer JR. In the documentary, which won the top prize for nonfiction film at Cannes and later earned an Oscar nomination, Varda attempts to introduce JR to Godard, her friend of many decades. But Godard rejects the opportunity in what Varda perceives as a particularly cruel way.

As for poster designer Maquin, the festival describes her thusly: "Inspired by pop culture, this 27-year-old illustrator blends drawing, painting and digital art in a vibrant and colourful world. A passionate film buff, she works with Universal Pictures, Paramount Channel, Europacorp, Wild Side, and Arte, revisiting or creating alternatives for film posters."

Below are some samples of her stellar work (all images from flore-maquin.com; © Flore Maquin 2015).

The 71st edition of the Cannes Film Festival runs from May 8-19. Actress Cate Blanchett is set to serve as the president of the jury that will award the Palme d'Or and other prizes. The official lineup of films on tap for Cannes will be revealed Thursday (April 12).