“You’re going to see a film about a font??!” This was the reaction I received from friends and colleagues when I told them I was going to be attending the Australian premier of Helvetica, the first feature length film on a typeface ever made.

However there was more then just a film to be viewed. Special keynote speakers Gary Hustwit (New York based director of Helvetica) and Garth Davis (one of Australia’s most awarded and most sought after young directors) were attending the sold out event.

The event took place at 3pm on 22 July 2007 at ACMI in Melbourne, Australia. A few short films were screened before Helvetica:

• Think – By Julien Bagard, Nicolas Dufoure and Jordan Harang (all from France) was a short, lively and suitable opening to get the event under way.
• Float – By Stephen Watkins (Australia) was simply amazing! Signs, symbols and typographic elements literally lift off from their structures and float in a swarm through the city.
  
• Kapitaal – By Ton Meijdam, Thom Snels, Béla Zsigmond (and from Netherlands) was also amazing! A black and white look at the overdosed visual communication from all media (advertising, signage etc.) that we submerse ourselves in every day.
  

However it was the much anticipated main attraction, Helvetica, we all wanted to see.

Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type. - Quote from Helveticafilm.com

And they delivered exactly as promised. The film was a well-researched documentary that investigates the growth of graphic design with the typeface Helvetica being a strong central topic. It was interesting to hear typographers speak of how perfect Helvetica (the font) is and the flip side; as the font has become so suitable to almost any environment, the font can become tiresome.

One of the interesting topics I found was the discussion of what a font really is; the real focus is on the space surrounding the characters, and with Helvetica, the space holds the font perfectly. The event concluded with Gary Hustwit & Garth Davis fielding Q&A’s from the audience.

If you get the chance I highly recommend seeing this film! It’s being showed around the world find out when the Helvetica Film is screening near you. A DVD is rumoured to be released around November 2007 that will include extra footage. Edit 11 September 2007: A DVD has been released! You can now purchase a DVD of Helvetica the Film.

Helvetica is a production of Swiss Dots, in association with Veer