This year, the poster of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival invites you to an epic travel

© Karolis Strautniekas / Folio

CLERMONT-FERRAND INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
UNVEILS 2026 POSTER

 

 

NEXT STOP, SHORT FILMS !

This year, the poster of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival takes on the shape of an epic. Created by Lithuanian illustrator Karolis Strautniekas, it transforms the iconic silhouette of Clermont-Ferrand’s cathedral into a majestic ship. Its towers rise as masts, its sails billow in the wind, and the entire monument metamorphoses into a departing vessel. On board, passengers wave, as if inviting each and every one of us to embark on this cinematic journey.

This image embodies the spirit of the festival: a collective movement towards elsewhere, an invitation to set sail for new territories of imagination. Cinema, like a voyage, connects shores, carries stories, and brings cultures into dialogue. Sailing toward us, this monumental ship reminds us that Clermont-Ferrand has always been a home port for filmmakers and a point of departure toward the infinity of stories.

Set your course for the 48th edition of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, taking place from January 30 to February 7, 2026.

The thematic retrospective will be devoted to holidays, with a focus on South-East Asia.

⬇   DOWNLOAD THE POSTER   ⬇

AND THE PORTRAITS OF KAROLIS STRAUTNIEKAS

• Credit poster 2026 © Karolis Strautniekas / Folio
• Credit portraits of Karolis : © Le Court + name of the photographer (as in the file name)

WATCH THE REPORT ON THE POSTER

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE WORLD
OF KAROLIS STRAUTNIEKAS

© Karolis Strautniekas / Folio

Karolis Strautniekas is a freelance illustrator based in Vilnius in Summer, and somewhere warmer in the winter. Having studied at the Fine Arts Academy in Vilnius, he has worked as a commercial artist for over 10 years, with clients ranging from advertising, animation, design and publishing.

Karolis is a fan of the Film Noir era and an admirer of Retrofuturism. He combines muted colours and tones, creating theatrical and conceptual scenes that are both minimal but nuanced with a strong narrative.

He attended the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival during its 47th edition in 2025 to draw inspiration from the architecture and the atmosphere of the event.

 

“I arrived in Lyon and watched the crowds streaming towards the festival from there. The [Clermont-Ferrand] city itself felt cozy, almost utopian — surrounded by mountains, full of heritage and culture. During the festival it transforms: from quiet, empty streets into huge crowds and long lines outside the cinemas.

It’s wonderful to see the city live at a different rhythm, the whole city becoming the festival. I went to screenings, wandered the streets, talked with directors, admired the cathedral and the narrow Gothic alleys.”

                          

                                                                                                                                                      Karolis Strautniekas

 

 

Find this poster now available for purchase:

A1 (51.4 × 84.1 cm), portrait format

A2 (42 × 59.4 cm), portrait format

Postcard (10.5 × 15 cm), portrait and landscape formats

… with many more variations (small poster 30 × 40 cm, cinema-format posters…) and merchandise (mug, magnet, A6 notebook, tote bag, etc.) coming soon!

 

 

 

 

Follow the festival

The Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival is the world’s largest film event dedicated to short films. Organised by the association Sauve qui peut le court métrage. It will allow festival-goers to discover masterpieces of animation, comedies, contemporary realities, genre films, graduation projects from the world’s best schools, and documentaries from around the world.

The 48^th edition of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival will take place from 30 January to 7 February 2026.