A film poster is a paradox: it is both a work of art in its own right and a promotional object. Its significance in the history of film is, however, undeniable. Posters not only provide information on the evolution of cinematic entertainment and film production throughout the decades; they also show us how film was perceived at different periods in history, revealing the strategies used to “promote” films in the social space. The safeguarding, preservation and restoration of posters are an integral part of the Cinémathèque suisse’s mission.
Within the collections, there are around 500,000 posters in different formats and languages. As different countries have each developed their own specific formats, a single title may have several different versions. The diversity of the Cinémathèque suisse’s poster collection is partly due to the conservation of the linguistic variations that reflect the country’s four official languages – a Swiss specificity.