2026 Chicago Latino Film Festival

Overview

This project was a poster design entry for the 42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival, taking place April 16–27, 2026. The objective was to create a celebratory and approachable visual identity for one of the largest and most prestigious Latino film festivals in the United States.

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

The Challenge

The challenge was to capture the "vibe" of Chicago while simultaneously celebrating the diversity of Latino cinema. I wanted to avoid purely architectural references to the city and instead find a way to represent the joy, community, and excitement of the theater-going experience.

The Solution

I designed a character-focused poster featuring a whimsical bear mascot—a subtle nod to Chicago’s iconic sports and city identity—fully immersed in the cinematic experience.

Key Design Features:

Chicago Pride: The theater seat prominently features the four red six-pointed stars from the Chicago city flag, grounding the design in its host city.

Cinematic Joy: The bear is shown wearing 3D glasses and holding oversized snacks, with the popcorn and soda containers featuring silhouettes of people in motion, symbolizing the energy found in film.

Floral Framing: The central character is framed by vibrant cacti and marigold-inspired flowers, blending traditional Latino botanical symbols with a modern, clean illustration style.

Bold Typography: I used a heavy, stacked sans-serif typeface for "LATINO," giving it a modern, "blockbuster" feel that commands attention against the dark, patterned background.

The Impact

By using a central character and a bright, "neon-adjacent" color palette, the poster appeals to a wide demographic, making the festival feel inclusive and fun. It demonstrates an ability to take a established city brand (Chicago) and remix it with specific cultural and industry-related elements to create a fresh, collectible-style design.