On July 20, 2026, a free retrospective lecture will take place at the York Amphitheatre on the campus of Concordia University in Montreal. The event is organized by the Fantasia Festival to honor illustrator Donald Caron for his long‑time work creating posters for the Montreal International Film Festival, a role he has filled since 1997.
The lecture arrives as the Fantasia Festival marks its 30th anniversary. In recognition of three decades of programming, the festival is highlighting the visual legacy that Caron has contributed through his poster designs, which have become a recognizable element of the festival’s public image.
Attendees will be able to view a curated selection of Caron’s work spanning the years of his involvement with the festival. The retrospective presentation is intended to showcase the evolution of his style and the way his illustrations have accompanied the festival’s programming over the past three decades.
The York Amphitheatre, a venue on Concordia University’s downtown campus, will host the lecture without charge to the public, allowing both students and the broader community to engage with the history of the festival’s visual branding. The free nature of the event reflects the festival’s aim to make its cultural milestones accessible to a wide audience.
Since its inception in 1997, Caron’s poster art has been a constant visual thread for the Montreal International Film Festival, and the Fantasia Festival’s decision to feature his work underscores the lasting impact of his contributions. The lecture will therefore serve both as a celebration of Caron’s individual career and as a reminder of the role that graphic design plays in shaping the identity of film festivals.
The event is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at the York Amphitheatre, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, and is open to anyone interested in the intersection of illustration and cinema culture.