TORONTO—The Office of Gilbert Li has been tapped by the Toronto International Film Festival to design the bi-monthly 180° publication to be distributed at its newly opened TIFF Bell Lightbox theatre.



TIFF approached the studio after seeing its work with other cultural institutions including the University of Toronto, says The Office of Gilbert Li principal designer Gilbert Li.

The TIFF 180° magazine is an expansion on the foundation’s former Cinemateque Guide, which presented information on its one-screen year long screening series. “When they approached us it was basically to do a replacement to the guide because with the TIFF Bell Lightbox they are able to show much more than one movie a night,” says Li. “There are now five theatres, an art gallery and much more programming. They had to rethink the way they communicate the way the various things are going on inside the building.”

Design inspiration for the TIFF 180° came from old movie posters and classic typography, says Li. The Sans Serif font used in the magazine is Founders Grotesque, chosen for its wider proportion and “James Bond” feel.” The Sentinel Serif used also has a classic feel, he says.

There is no intentional colour scheme for the magazine, which will be distributed both at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and to TIFF members apart from the main red accent colour, says Li. Contact: Gilbertli.com, Tiff.net