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CIMASUB, the San Sebastián International Underwater Film Festival, has officially unveiled the poster for its 50th edition—a very special image with which the organization aims to commemorate half a century of history, outreach, and passion for the underwater world.
Reaching its 50th edition marks an extraordinary milestone for an event that, since its inception in the 1970s, has brought the beauty, fragility, and secrets of the oceans to thousands of viewers through photography, film, and underwater exploration. For this reason, the organizers wanted this year’s poster to visually reflect the uniqueness of such an iconic edition.
Unlike recent editions, in which underwater photography had been the focal point of the festival’s official image, this year the organizers have opted for a completely different visual language: illustration.
This decision stems from the desire to convey at first glance that this is not just another edition, but a historic celebration. The result is a work that deliberately departs from the festival’s usual visual style to offer an evocative, nostalgic, and deeply meaningful perspective.
The illustration shows a classic diver equipped with gear typical of the 1970s, carrying an underwater camera from that era. This figure pays tribute to the pioneers who, with far more limited resources than we have today, ventured beneath the sea to capture images and footage that are now part of the collective memory of scuba diving.
The poster aims to recognize an entire generation of divers, underwater photographers, and filmmakers who devoted countless hours of effort and passion to documenting the seafloor when technology was still in its infancy.
Those pioneers were able to capture extraordinary images using heavy equipment, mechanical cameras, and lighting systems that were a far cry from today’s capabilities. Thanks to their work, knowledge of and awareness about the underwater world were able to grow and reach new generations.
But the tribute goes even further. The image also serves as a tribute to all those members of the Real Sociedad’s Underwater Activities Section who spearheaded the creation of CIMASUB fifty years ago. Visionaries and lovers of the sea who were committed to creating a space in San Sebastián dedicated to underwater film and photography, planting the seed for a project that has managed to stay alive for five decades and become an international benchmark.
The organization wanted to highlight the legacy of those founders, whose work and commitment have allowed the festival to continue growing today while keeping its original spirit intact.
Another standout element of the poster is the presence of the city of San Sebastián. The composition features some of the most recognizable landmarks of San Sebastián Bay, integrated into a scene that connects the sea, culture, and the city’s identity.
The illustration thus establishes a link between the festival and the setting where it was born, reinforcing the deeply San Sebastián-rooted character of a festival that has successfully established itself internationally without losing its roots.
The cover image for this issue was created by San Sebastián-based illustrator Iker Ayestaran, one of the most renowned figures in contemporary illustration. After studying graphic design at the School of Applied Arts in San Sebastián and later pursuing photography, Ayestaran has built a solid professional career that has led him to work for some of the world’s most prestigious publications.
His illustrations have appeared in international media outlets such as The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, Fortune, Variety, Wired, The Boston Globe, and Penguin Books, among others.
His style, characterized by visual synthesis, textures inspired by traditional techniques, and a marked influence from the graphic design of the 1950s and 1960s, has earned him recognition from such prestigious institutions as the Society of Illustrators in New York, Communication Arts, American Illustration, and the World Illustration Awards.
Ayestaran’s selection to design the 50th-anniversary poster stems precisely from his ability to combine elegance, visual storytelling, and historical evocation—qualities that align perfectly with the message CIMASUB sought to convey in this very special edition.
The poster also reveals the festival’s key dates. The 50th edition of CIMASUB will take place on November 12, 13, and 14 at the Teatro Principal in San Sebastián, where some of the best international productions dedicated to the underwater world will once again be screened.
The organizers also remind the public that the registration deadline for participating in the international competition remains open until September 8, offering filmmakers, photographers, and audiovisual creators from around the world the opportunity to be part of a historic edition that will bring together some of the best productions dedicated to the sea, conservation, and underwater exploration.
With this commemorative poster, CIMASUB begins the countdown to a very special edition that will not only celebrate fifty years of underwater cinema but also the legacy of all those who have helped build one of San Sebastián’s longest-running and most prestigious cultural and environmental events. This edition will look to the future without forgetting those who, half a century ago, laid the foundations for a project that remains an international benchmark in raising awareness about the underwater world.
CIMASUB, the San Sebastián International Underwater Film Festival, has officially unveiled the poster for its 50th edition—a very special image with which the organization aims to commemorate half a century of history, outreach, and passion for the underwater world.
Reaching its 50th edition marks an extraordinary milestone for an event that, since its inception in the 1970s, has brought the beauty, fragility, and secrets of the oceans to thousands of viewers through photography, film, and underwater exploration. For this reason, the organizers wanted this year’s poster to visually reflect the uniqueness of such an iconic edition.
Unlike recent editions, in which underwater photography had been the focal point of the festival’s official image, this year the organizers have opted for a completely different visual language: illustration.
This decision stems from the desire to convey at first glance that this is not just another edition, but a historic celebration. The result is a work that deliberately departs from the festival’s usual visual style to offer an evocative, nostalgic, and deeply meaningful perspective.
The illustration shows a classic diver equipped with gear typical of the 1970s, carrying an underwater camera from that era. This figure pays tribute to the pioneers who, with far more limited resources than we have today, ventured beneath the sea to capture images and footage that are now part of the collective memory of scuba diving.
The poster aims to recognize an entire generation of divers, underwater photographers, and filmmakers who devoted countless hours of effort and passion to documenting the seafloor when technology was still in its infancy.
Those pioneers were able to capture extraordinary images using heavy equipment, mechanical cameras, and lighting systems that were a far cry from today’s capabilities. Thanks to their work, knowledge of and awareness about the underwater world were able to grow and reach new generations.
But the tribute goes even further. The image also serves as a tribute to all those members of the Real Sociedad’s Underwater Activities Section who spearheaded the creation of CIMASUB fifty years ago. Visionaries and lovers of the sea who were committed to creating a space in San Sebastián dedicated to underwater film and photography, planting the seed for a project that has managed to stay alive for five decades and become an international benchmark.
The organization wanted to highlight the legacy of those founders, whose work and commitment have allowed the festival to continue growing today while keeping its original spirit intact.
Another standout element of the poster is the presence of the city of San Sebastián. The composition features some of the most recognizable landmarks of San Sebastián Bay, integrated into a scene that connects the sea, culture, and the city’s identity.
The illustration thus establishes a link between the festival and the setting where it was born, reinforcing the deeply San Sebastián-rooted character of a festival that has successfully established itself internationally without losing its roots.
The cover image for this issue was created by San Sebastián-based illustrator Iker Ayestaran, one of the most renowned figures in contemporary illustration. After studying graphic design at the School of Applied Arts in San Sebastián and later pursuing photography, Ayestaran has built a solid professional career that has led him to work for some of the world’s most prestigious publications.
His illustrations have appeared in international media outlets such as The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, Fortune, Variety, Wired, The Boston Globe, and Penguin Books, among others.
His style, characterized by visual synthesis, textures inspired by traditional techniques, and a marked influence from the graphic design of the 1950s and 1960s, has earned him recognition from such prestigious institutions as the Society of Illustrators in New York, Communication Arts, American Illustration, and the World Illustration Awards.
Ayestaran’s selection to design the 50th-anniversary poster stems precisely from his ability to combine elegance, visual storytelling, and historical evocation—qualities that align perfectly with the message CIMASUB sought to convey in this very special edition.
The poster also reveals the festival’s key dates. The 50th edition of CIMASUB will take place on November 12, 13, and 14 at the Teatro Principal in San Sebastián, where some of the best international productions dedicated to the underwater world will once again be screened.
The organizers also remind the public that the registration deadline for participating in the international competition remains open until September 8, offering filmmakers, photographers, and audiovisual creators from around the world the opportunity to be part of a historic edition that will bring together some of the best productions dedicated to the sea, conservation, and underwater exploration.
With this commemorative poster, CIMASUB begins the countdown to a very special edition that will not only celebrate fifty years of underwater cinema but also the legacy of all those who have helped build one of San Sebastián’s longest-running and most prestigious cultural and environmental events. This edition will look to the future without forgetting those who, half a century ago, laid the foundations for a project that remains an international benchmark in raising awareness about the underwater world.
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