Film festival posters function as a core communication tool, conveying the identity and message of contemporary film festivals. This study treats the official posters of the Busan International Film Festival regarded as Korea’s most successful film ...
Film festival posters function as a core communication tool, conveying the identity and message of contemporary film festivals. This study treats the official posters of the Busan International Film Festival regarded as Korea’s most successful film festival – as visual texts, and seeks to examine the meanings and identity embedded within them. Applying the semiotic theory of Roland Barthes, this research analyzed the connoted meanings within the visual imagery of the official posters from the 1 st to the 29th editions.
When applied to a film festival, a poster serves to communicate the event’s character and concept, capable of leaving a strong impression on the audience. To analyze these posters in-depth, this study employs Roland Barthes’semiotics as an analytical framework. It first identifies the first-order meaning(denotation), which is formed by the combination of the signifier and the signified. Subsequently, it analyzes the secondary meaning precess(connotation)-where this initial sign becomes a new signifier that generates a broader cultural meaning known as ‘myth’-to understand how the message if naturally communicated.
First, an analysis of the individual posters by period revealed that the early period demonstrated an intention to promote the host region and country, while simultaneously connoting the meaning of a ‘festival for all’. In te middle period, in addition to these characteristics, the aspiration to become Asia’s premier film festival, along with the diversity and harmony of film genres, became more prominent. The recent period conveyed a message aimed at solidifying the top-tier status BIFF has achieved. Overall, BIFF has consistently communicated themes such as its core identity, the festival’s passion, diversity and harmony, the symbolism of Busan, Korean tradition, and an Asian vision.
Among these, three core themes consistently emerged: First, ‘Tradition’, which reveals national cultural identity through traditional Korean motifs and techniques. Second, ‘Locality’, which emphasizes the sea and landmarks representing the host city, Busan. Third, ‘Growth’, which demonstrates reach.
In conclusion, this study reveals BIFF’s identity is constructed through three key themes. Its posters, as visual texts, communicate its evolution from a local, tradition-based event to a global one. The study’s significance lies in analyzing these posters as a semiotic system of identity, not mere design. While limited to posters, future research should also analyze other elements like programming and audience reception.