Next stop, short films!
Like a ship lifting its anchor, the poster for this new edition invites us to embark together toward new cinematic horizons. Cinema, like a journey, brings together passengers from elsewhere, carrying stories and dreams to be shared. Through this image, a spirit of adventure, discovery, and encounters comes to life, reminding us that each screening is a voyage into the unknown.
© Karolis Strautniekas / Folio
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.
Watch the poster’s making-of
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.
Who are you Karolis Strautinekas?
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.
One to note for 2026: Karolis will be back at the festival and will take part in a poster signing at Les Volcans library (date to be announced).
© Abigaëlle Robineau (photo report) & © Baptiste Chanat (photocall)
Where can I get the poster?
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!
Place de la Victoire
63000 Clermont-Ferrand
Monday*-Sunday:
10:00 – 13:00 / 14:00 – 18:00
Closed :
– *Monday mornings
– on Sundays in January and November
– on December 25 and January 1st
6 place Michel-de-L’Hospital
63000 Clermont-Ferrand
Monday-Thursday
8:30 – 12:00 / 14:00 – 17:30
(Closed on Fridays)
