Sam Smith nominated artist and designer Akiko Stehrenberger:

"Akiko is one of the only people creating hand-painted theatrical movie posters in today's marketplace - a craft that used to pervade the industry before computer-equipped design shops pushed individual poster artists to the fringes. The time and effort involved in these paintings alone is impressive, but Akiko also brings a dreamlike, dark, and sometimes surreal voice to her film posters that addresses the psychological aspects of her film subjects.

Working in low profile a freelancer and competing often simultaneously with larger agencies on the same project, Akiko doesn't always see her pieces go through to a final selection. But these pieces are always more interesting than what studios ultimately go with; Her pieces pitched for Spike Jonze's HER and Jonathan Glazer's UNDER THE SKIN are particularly inspired and iconic."

Work by Akiko Stehrenberger: