It's an annual highlight in RIFF's activities when the festival's newvisual identity is unveiled, including a refreshed look for the website, riff.is. We are proud to introduce the designer behind RIFF’s visual identity for 2026, Alexander Le Sage de Fontenay.
One of the lovely signs of spring in Iceland is that the Reykjavík International Film Festival (RIFF) invites an Icelandic designer to take on this extensive project, which encompasses, in essence, the festival’s entire visual identity each year. Now that the visual identity for RIFF 2026 has been unveiled — as can be seen, among other places, on the website — we sat down with Alexander for a short conversation.
A Perfect Project for a Film Lover
Alexander graduated from Iceland University of the Arts (LHÍ) in 2021 and has, among other things, worked at the advertising agency Brandenburg. In recent years, he has worked independently, and it is in his studio at Hlemmur.Haus that the magic happens.
“I’m a huge film enthusiast, and I have one year of film studies under my belt, along with a degree in art history,” says Alexander when we meet him at his studio. “Before I started thinking about graphic design, I had already begun exploring all kinds of art and design — and cinema. Films have always brought me a great deal of joy. That’s why this project for RIFF feels very logical and fitting to me,” he adds.
References to the World of Cinema
“The inspiration behind the visual identity comes from film history, filmmaking, the experience of watching films, and even cinematic techniques. These were the things I looked to when designing it: film culture, going to the cinema, and watching movies. I wanted to capture those emotions and find a way to interpret them visually.” It is safe to say that various symbols and references to the world of cinema are hidden throughout Alexander’s design. It will be up to RIFF guests — and passers-by when the time comes — to discover the meanings within the design by examining the work and interpreting the symbols.
What has inspired Alexander the most recently is independent artists, he explains — especially now that he himself has become a freelance graphic designer. “All these incredible artists: visual artists like Andy Warhol, graphic designers like Lance Wyman, and the studio where I did my internship in New York, Karlssonwilker. Their drive gives me motivation.”
The Joy of Play and the Creative Process
“There is always a little bit of playfulness close at hand for me, and I always try to keep things somewhat playful, lively, and colourful when it comes to design. I usually start by writing down all kinds of ideas — I just completely empty my mind — and then I use a process of elimination to figure out what works,” Alexander says when asked about his creative process. “When you’ve been digging for something, eventually you reach a point where you find something that makes sense, and that is naturally the most enjoyable part of the work,” he adds.
A Full Day at the Movies at RIFF
Alexander has attended RIFF as a guest for many years, ever since his teenage years, and can therefore rightly be called a true RIFF enthusiast. “I have very fond memories of spending entire days at the cinema. That was something you could do, thanks to RIFF — you could simply get a pass and spend the whole day watching films. When I was invited to design this year’s visual identity, I was incredibly excited. It was a project I was really eager to take on: becoming the festival’s artist for the year. Of course, I said yes, and it has been a lot of fun ever since. I’m really looking forward to what comes next — seeing the design appear all around the city, little by little.”
