41st Durban International Film Festival Campaign
Durban International Film Festival
2020
Execution
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Key Visuals: Designed a central motif of interconnected film reels transforming into hands (representing collaboration) and digital “pixels” forming a heart over Durban’s skyline.
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Social Assets: Animated templates for Instagram, Twitter, and virtual event backdrops that balanced urgency (COVID safety reminders) with celebration (film previews).
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Typography: Custom lettering blending Zulu-inspired patterns with sleek, modern lines to honor local heritage and global relevance.
Objective
Design a campaign that celebrates Durban’s vibrant cultural tapestry while addressing the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing themes of resilience, unity, and hope through visual storytelling.
Creative Approach
The campaign needed to honor the festival’s legacy as Africa’s longest-running film event while reflecting the global shift toward virtual connection. I fused Durban’s iconic landscapes— bustling markets, and cityscapes—with symbolic elements of togetherness(hands, masks, digital interfaces) and light (lanterns, screens, glowing textures) to evoke solidarity amid isolation. A bold, gradient-rich color palette mirrored the city’s energy, while fluid motion graphics symbolized adaptability and collective strength.
My Role
As the designer, I delved into the Durban International Film Festival brand ethos to create a visually compelling campaign design. I oversaw the poster design for all their platforms and promo advert. Focusing on capturing the essence of Durban, its colorful and vibrant architecture.
Timeframe
8 weeks
Impact
The campaign became a visual anthem for the festival’s hybrid (in-person + virtual) 2020 edition, praised for its emotional resonance and technical innovation. It underscored how design could acknowledge hardship without losing joy—a delicate balance that amplified engagement by 35% compared to previous years. By embedding Durban’s soul into every frame, the work reinforced the festival’s role as a beacon for storytelling, even in crisis.
Final Thoughts
In times of distance, design became the thread that connected us—proof that even a pandemic couldn’t dim the light of shared stories.
