The change

Subaru’s annual retailer awards celebrate the people driving the brand’s success. For the 2026 event at Manchester’s Everyman Cinema Manchester, we created a cinematic theme that transformed a traditional awards ceremony into a more immersive brand experience.

Inspired by the venue, we developed a bespoke visual identity that positioned retailers as the stars of the show. From event branding to environmental graphics, every element was designed to elevate the occasion and reinforce Subaru’s appreciation of its retailer network.

When we discovered the cinema’s poster sites were available to use, we extended the idea further by reimagining iconic movie posters with Subaru vehicles at the heart of the action, creating a fun and memorable talking point for guests.

With the event only confirmed a few days before Christmas, we had just two weeks to concept, design, produce and print everything. Tight deadline or not, the posters proved so popular that we couldn’t resist keeping a couple for our own walls.

People entering to the cinema in fancy dress. On the left side there's a board with Everyman Cinema name at the top and "Now Showing Cue The Action Starring Subaru Out Now" within the board.
People walking red carpet in fancy dress
A cinematic venue entrance featuring a backlit white lightbox sign that reads "WELCOME SUBARU" in black and red letter tiles against rich wood paneling. To the left, a glass door opens into a dimly lit hallway lined with black-and-white film contact sheet wallpaper.
A wide shot inside a cinema with red velvet seats filled with seated guests. On stage, a speaker stands in front of a large projection screen displaying the marquee-style title "CUE THE ACTION" alongside the Subaru logo and "RETAILER UPDATE & AWARDS 2026."
Mockup of an illuminated, framed 'Mad Max Fury Road' film poster featuring a Subaru Forester in a desert. Placed on a black pillar at a formal, busy, and dimly lit upscale bar. Guests in evening wear are visible mingling around it. Poster text reads: 'WHAT A LOVELY DAY. MAD MAX FURY ROAD. MAY 2015.
Mockup of three illuminated movie poster frames displayed on a dark wall inside a classy, dimly lit bar where guests walk by in formal attire. Each poster features a Subaru vehicle integrated into iconic film art: Left: The Italian Job poster featuring Michael Caine, with three Subaru models (Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback) at the bottom. Middle: Jurassic Park poster showing a T-Rex looming over a lime-green Subaru Crosstrek. Right: Drive poster featuring Ryan Gosling standing in front of a green Subaru Forester.
A low-angle shot of a presenter holding a microphone on stage in front of a large presentation screen displaying the title "CUE THE ACTION" in glowing marquee letters alongside "SUBARU RETAILER UPDATE & AWARDS 2026."
A custom event menu set against a dark surface. The front cover on the right features glowing marquee bulb text reading "MENU" on a blue gradient background. The open menu on the left is styled like a film clapperboard, dividing the dinner courses into movie categories such as "TRAILERS" for starters, "FEATURE" for mains, and "CREDITS" for desserts at 20 Stories, Manchester.
Custom black popcorn boxes branded for the Subaru Retailer Update & Awards 2026, filled with popcorn.
An evening view of an event hall set with formal dining tables in the foreground. In the background, a illuminated blue stage backdrop with marquee border lights reads "CUE THE ACTION" above a podium, flanked by two digital display screens showing the Subaru event branding.
Blue and black table name card that says "Forrest Gump"
An event dining table set with glassware, napkins, place cards, and custom menus. A marquee-style blue sign in the center marks table number 2 as "THE GOONIES" for the Subaru "Cue The Action" event, with additional tables and ambient lighting blurred in the background.
A black folded menu with a text on the front "Cue The Action"
A DJ performing behind a "Cue The Music" branded DJ booth at the Subaru Retailer Update & Awards 2026, set against a night-time city skyline backdrop.
A film clapperboard place setting on a dinner table, customized with event details for director Sophie Dickens.
Mock-up of 5 same flags in Black and blue ombre colours with a headline saying "Cue The Action"
Side-by-side wrinkled paper poster mock-ups on a blue background. The left poster parodies Back to the Future with a silver Subaru Outback leaving flame trails and blue lightning under the tagline "THE FUTURE LOOKS A LOT BIGGER IN IMAX." The right poster parodies Disney Pixar's Cars, featuring a blue Subaru WRX STI styled with animated eyes on the windshield and a mouth on the front bumper.

Client

  • Subaru UK

Deliverables

  • Event Identity
  • Event Planning
  • Events
  • Motion Animation 

Additional Credits

  • N/A

Our Projects
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