The Cannes Film Festival unveiled this year's poster today in Paris. Conceived by Hervé Chigioni and graphic designer Gilles Frappier of the Lagency creative studio, the poster features Marcello Mastroianni based on a photogram taken from Federico Fellini's 8 1/2, which starred Mastroianni and was presented in the festival's Official Selection in 1963.

The Oscar-nominated Italian actor, who passed away in 1996, was cast in many of Fellini's film, including La Dolce Vita. He was the perfect actor to play the director's complex, tortured leading men. His final film, Manoel de Oliveira's Voyage to the Beginning of the World, was released in 1997.  Hit the jump for more.

"The way he looks at us above his black glasses draws us right into a promise of global cinematographic happiness," Chigioni told French cable news channel BFMTV. "The happiness of experiencing the Cannes Film Festival together."

Actress Chiara Mastroianni, whose mother is Catherine Deneuve, shared her own happiness after seeing the poster: "I am very proud and touched that Cannes has chosen to pay tribute to my father with this poster. I find it very beautiful and modern, with a sweet irony and a classy sense of detachment. It's really him through and through!"

The lineup of the films in competition will be revealed on Thursday (April 17th) in Paris.

The 67th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will open on May 14th with Olivier Dahan's Grace of Monaco, starring Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly.

cannes-2014-poster

cannes posters