Priit Pärn creates PÖFF's first visual identity with Kilplased
The 80-year-old animator was commissioned to design the look for the 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, featuring characters he has depicted since 1974.
By Fatou Mitchell ·
Estonian animator Priit Pärn has created the first visual identity in the history of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
PÖFF commissioned Pärn to design a poster and visual package for its 30th anniversary. The festival had previously relied on single-year designs without a permanent brand identity. Maria Plees, PÖFF’s head of marketing, stated that the organization wanted a fresh perspective and new traditions for its next decade. The festival announced the collaboration late in the summer.
Pärn, who turned 80 on the day he revealed the design, selected the Kilplased as the central figures. The Kilplased are fictional, foolish yet resourceful people from Estonian folklore. Pärn noted that the characters had never promoted a film festival or been seen making a film before. He described them as a large group where failure is unlikely and success is guaranteed when they work together.
The creative process took approximately five minutes to decide on the concept. Pärn worked with the advertising agency AD Angels, which won the contract for the visual style. Pärn brought his wife, animator Olga, to the initial meeting as a technical expert. She contributed to the final poster creation. The design features a busy scene of the Kilplased making a film about themselves. The colors include glowing yellow and black cinema tools against a dark, starry sky.
Pärn has depicted the Kilplased since 1974. He worked as an artist on Rein Raamat’s animated film The Kilplased. He later published comic books titled The Kilplased and The Kilplased Go Global. He also illustrated a book by Eno Raud. The character origin traces back to the German town of Schilda. An Estonian translator named Kreuzwald first published the tales in Estonian. Eno Raud later rewrote and republished them.
The visual identity will appear across advertisements and decorations for the 30th edition of PÖFF. The festival runs from Nov. 6 to Nov. 22. PÖFF stated that the initiative aims to provide a platform for Estonian artists and bring cinema into dialogue with other art forms. The festival seeks to introduce local work to international audiences.
Pärn said people often become cheerful when viewing the poster. He described the initial impression as a burst of color on a November night. He noted that the Kilplased are modest and do not try to stand out, though he included one star in the design. He does not expect the characters to return to screens for a new film or series, though he has an idea for a thriller involving hundreds of identical characters.
Pärn started his career as a caricaturist before becoming a filmmaker and graphic artist. He has created numerous posters over the years. He said he did not initially think he would be the first filmmaker invited to design a PÖFF poster. The collaboration marks the beginning of a new visual tradition for the event.
