HSE x ITS: Art of Reframe. The Alternative Cinema Poster Competition

About Competition

A global creative competition organized by HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL in collaboration with Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) , invites communication designers and illustrators to recreate visual interpretations of Russian and Indonesian films through alternative posters.

Reframing the Screen

Browse Russian and Indonesian films from the available watchlists, then create alternative posters that capture the essence of each film. Watch the film, interpret the story, and bring your creative vision to life.

There are two categories:

— Russian Watch List (for ITS students)
— Indonesian Watch List (for HSE students)

Both follow the same guidelines. Scroll down to the “Competition Guidelines” section for more information.

Please note that this competition is only open to HSE and ITS students aged 18 years and over.

Russian Watch List (for ITS students)

— Russian Ark (2002, Aleksandr Sokurov)

A 19th-century French aristocrat, known for his scathing memoirs about Russia, journeys through the Hermitage Museum, meeting historical figures from over 200 years. Aleksandr Sokurov’s Russian Ark is an experimental masterpiece that combines art history with one-take Steadicam footage inside St. Petersburg’s iconic museum.

— Brother (1997, Aleksey Balabanov)

The most iconic film of post-Soviet Russia reflects a decade marked by new freedoms and socio-economic instability. Alexey Balabanov’s masterpiece was praised by audiences and critics alike — some saw its protagonist as a Robin Hood-like hero, while others saw him as a symbol of a generation lost, struggling with PTSD and descending into violence.

— The Return (2003, Andrey Zvyagintsev)

In the Russian wilderness, two brothers face a range of emotions when their father, whom they have known only through a single photograph, unexpectedly returns. The Return is a landmark in Russian cinema’s “new silent generation,” known for its slow pace and cold minimalism. Andrey Zvyagintsev’s debut captures the tension of relationships and the power of visual storytelling.

— Piter FM (2006, Oksana Bychkova)
This is a simple but very tender and romantic story about a telephone love affair between two creative young people. He is an architect; she is a radio announcer. In the mid-2000s, Piter FM became the most successful romantic comedy (romcom) and a real hit, inheriting the best traditions of Soviet cinema during the Khrushchev Thaw.

— Night Watch (2004, Timur Bekmambetov)
A fantasy-horror film set in 2000s Moscow, where the forces of day and night clash in an epic battle. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Night Watch was Russia’s first true blockbuster, adapted from a novel by Sergei Lukyanenko. The film combined supernatural elements and high-quality special effects with everyday life in Moscow, which spawned a mini-franchise.

— My Killer (2016, Kostas Marsan)
A young detective in Yakutia investigates a seemingly simple murder case, only to uncover a dangerous world of illegal mining and gold trading. In recent years, Sakha (Yakutia) has become a significant force in Russian cinema, with filmmakers specializing in horror and thrillers. Initially focused on local audiences, their films have now become popular across Russia. Kostas Marsan’s My Killer is one of the pioneers of this movement.

— Major Grom: Plague Doctor (2021, Oleg Trofim)
Supercop Grom confronts crime in St. Petersburg and comes face to face with a vigilante targeting elites who escape justice. Based on the popular comic Major Igor Grom , the film is one of Russia’s latest hits with its stunning production design, combining St. Petersburg architecture with Batman-esque aesthetics.

— Why Don’t You Just Die! (2018, Kirill Sokolov)
A corrupt detective faces chaos in his apartment when people with grudges show up. The film is known for its brutal Tarantino-style violence and its ironic exploration of family trauma.

— Haulout (2022, Maksim and Evgenia Arbugaev)
A man waits in his Arctic hut to witness a rare natural phenomenon, but warming oceans threaten to make it happen. Haulout is a Russian documentary by siblings Evgenia, a renowned photographer, and Maxim, a film director. The film is known for its stunning cinematography and incredible natural scenery.

— Fall (2022, Vadim Kostrov)
In Nizhniy Tagil, little Vadim moves to a new neighborhood as summer turns to fall. Kostrov, a young director from the Urals, creates a slow-paced experimental film, capturing childhood nostalgia through his personal lens.

Competition Guide

Prize

Timeline

— Submission Deadline: March 28, 2025

— Voting Starts: April 7, 2025

— Shortlist Announcement: April 11, 2025

— Winner Announcement: No later than April 14, 2025

 1. Felipe Taborda

Chair of the jury for the competition. He is a graphic designer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who studied at institutions such as Rio’s Catholic University, London International Film School, New York Institute of Technology, and the School of Visual Arts. Since 1990, he has run his own studio, working on cultural, publishing, and recording projects. Taborda has also curated several notable projects, such as Brazil Designs , 30 Posters on Environment and Development at Eco’92 , and The Image of Sound .

 2. Dr. Rahmatsyam Lakoro, S.Sn., MT,

Lecturer at the Department of Visual Communication Design ITS. He is a professional designer and researcher in the fields of social campaigns, games, corporate branding, and visual culture. Ramok has won various competitions in Public Communication Campaigns organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Technology and the Ministry of Communication and Informatics of Indonesia.

 3. Mitya Kharshak

Designer, founder and Editor-in-Chief of PROJECTOR—an international media focused on researching national design schools. He serves as Dean of HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL in Saint Petersburg. A graduate of Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design, he continued his postgraduate studies in Theory and History of Art and Architecture at the same institution. In addition, he interned and taught at Berlin University of the Arts.

 4. Rabendra Yudhisthira Alamin, ST, M.Ds.

Permanent lecturer at the Department of Visual Communication Design ITS Surabaya. He is experienced in handling various projects in the fields of illustration, games, visual books, posters, and comics. Rabendra has won several competitions, including the 2012 Indonesian National Comic Competition organized by the Indonesian Government.

 5. Igor Gurovich

Academic Director of HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL — Yerevan and head of the joint undergraduate program between HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL and Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University. He is a graphic artist, poster designer, and one of the founders of the Ostengruppe design bureau. In addition, he is active in various international competitions and biennales and has received various prestigious professional awards.

 6. Naufan Noordyanto

Lecturer at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya, Indonesia, in the Department of Visual Communication Design (DKV). Researcher in the integration of graphic design, typography, illustration, and socio-cultural approaches. Award-winning graphic designer with more than 200 international exhibitions in 47 countries. Active in the local art community. Holds a Master of Arts degree in DKV from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta.

 7. Yuri Gulitov

Graphic designer, international exhibitor and winner of various professional competitions. Head of Poster Lab and teacher at HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL, Moscow. Founder and leader of Gulitovdesign studio. Member of the Union of Artists of Russia and the Union of Designers of Russia. He was Art Director at Kommersant newspaper , Creative Director at MS Advertising agency , and was active in various national and international exhibitions.

Our Partners

National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University) is one of Russia’s leading universities, particularly in economics and social sciences. It has over 60,000 students and doctoral candidates, including more than 5,000 international students from various countries. HSE University operates across four campuses in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg, and Perm.

In the QS World University Rankings 2025, HSE University is ranked 410th globally. Additionally, it is the only Russian university listed in the top 100 of the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings.

HSE University offers a wide range of academic programs, covering almost all disciplines except medicine. It has over 400 international partners, reflecting its commitment to global collaboration and academic exchange.

One of HSE University’s notable international collaborations is with the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) in Surabaya, Indonesia. Takha Camilla Aisha Audyarahma, a student from ITS, won the 2024 WOWMOSCOW International Short Video Competition, organized by HSE Art and Design School in partnership with the Moscow City Tourism Committee. The competition attracted 294 projects from 12 countries, and Takha secured first place with her creative work.

This achievement not only brings recognition to ITS and Indonesia but also strengthens academic and cultural ties between ITS and HSE University. Such collaborations highlight both institutions’ commitment to promoting cultural exchange and fostering creativity among international students.

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