Since we're in the midst of the 65th Festival de Cannes whose official poster features the legendary Marilyn Monroe, I thought it'd be nice to take a look at every single poster to date since the film festival's inception in 1946.
You can see how the design and typography trends of the times are reflected in the 65 poster styles. Many were created by famous french illustrators, some by directors (such as Fellini and Kurosawa), and even one by artist Jenny Holzer. All are shown below, along with design credits, from the most recent to the very first.
2012 - Bronx agency of Paris created the poster from an archival photo by Otto L. Bettmann (©Corbis/Bettmann)
2011 - The poster features a photo of Faye Dunaway taken by Jerry Schatzberg in 1970
2010 - The poster was created by Annick Durban from a photograph of Juliette Binoche by Brigitte Lacombe.
2009 - The poster is a still from Michelangelo Antonioni's l’Avventura (1960), Credit: L'Avventura - M. Antonioni. Société cinématographique Lyre - Cino del Duca ©AFFIF
2008 - The poster is by Pierre Collier, a cinema poster artist who worked from a photograph by David Lynch who represents the model of the Crazy Horse, Anouk Marguerite.
2007 - The poster is a photo homage to Philippe Halsman by Alex Majoli © Magnum Photos, Graphic Design by Christophe Renard
2006 - The poster has been created by Gabriel Guedj (Agence Magazine), from a photograph by Wing Shya for Wong Kar Wai's In the Mood for Love.
2005 - The poster is an original illustration by Frédéric Menant and Tim Garcia from It'suptoyou agency.
2004 - The poster is an illustration by Alerte Orange, communication and graphic design agency.
2003 - The poster is an original illustration by Jenny Holzer.
2002 - The poster is an original illustration by Guillaume Lebigre
2001 - The poster is an original illustration by Granger
2000 - The poster is an original illustration by Lorenzo Mattoti
1999 - The poster is an original illustration by Jean-Pierre Gendis Conception: DDB les Arts
1998 - The poster is an illustration by DDB les Arts agency.
1997 - The poster is an illustration by DDB les Arts agency.
1996 - The poster is an illustration by DDB les Arts agency.
1995 - The poster is an original illustration by Ryszard Horowitz.
1994 - The poster is adapted from an original drawing by Federico Fellini.
1993 - Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in Notorious by Alfred Hitchcock. Conception by Michel Landi.
1992 - Marlene Dietrich's portrait by Don English. Conception by Michel Landi.
1991 - The poster is an original illustration by Philippe and Pascal Lemoine.
1990 - The poster is an original illustration by Castella Traquandi.
1989 - The poster is an original illustration by Ludovic.
1988 - The poster is an original illustration by Tibor Timar.
1987 - The poster is an original illustration by Cueco.
1986 - Conception by Information and Stratégie.
1985 - The poster is a tribute to E. Muybridge. Conception by Information and Strategie.
1984 - The poster was adapted from an original film set by Alexandre Trauner.
1983 - The poster was adapted from an original drawing by Akira Kurosawa.
1982 - The poster was adapted from an original drawing by Federico Fellini.
1981 and 1980 - The poster is an original illustration by Michel Landi and was used two years in a row.
1979 - The poster is an original illustration by Folon.
1978 - The poster is an original illustration by Folon.
1977 - The poster is an original illustration by Siudmak.
1976 - The poster is an original illustration by Siudmak.
1975 - The poster is an original illustration by Siudmak.
1974 - The poster is an original illustration by Georges Lacroix
1973 - artist unknown
1972 - artist unknown
1971 - artist unknown
1970 - The poster is an original illustration by Ferracci.
1969 - artist unknown
1968 - The poster is an original illustration by Beaugendre.
1967 - The poster is an original illustration by Ferracci.
1966 - The poster is an original illustration by Ferracci.
1965 - artist unknown
1964 - The poster is an original illustration by Jean-Claude Moreau.
1963 - The poster is an original illustration by Jean-Denis Maillart.
1962 - The Poster is an original illustration by A.M. Rodicq
1961 - The Poster is an original illustration by A.M. Rodicq
1960 - The poster is an original illustration by Jean-Denis Maillart.
1959 - The poster is an original illustration by Jouineau Bourduge.
1958 - The poster is an original illustration by Pon't.
1957 - artist unknown but most likely same artist as poster for 1965
1956 - The poster is an original illustration by Marcel Huet.
1955 - The poster is an original illustration by Marcel Huet.
1954 - The poster is an original illustration by Piva.
1953 - The poster is an original illustration by Jean-Luc.
1952 - The poster is an original illustration by Jean Don.
1951 - The poster is an original illustration by A.M. Rodicq.
1950 (no festival that year)
1949 - The poster is an original illustration by G.C. Chavane.
1948 (no festival that year)
1947 - The poster is an original illustration by Jean-Luc.
1946 - The poster is an original illustration by Leblanc
Some of the vintage posters can be purchased here
Official Festival de Cannes website