Cannes: Todd Haynes to Receive Directors’ Fortnight Honor

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This year at the Cannes Film Festival, American filmmaker Todd Haynes will receive the Lifetime Achievement Golden Carriage Award from the French Directors’ Union, in recognition of his work by his fellow French directors.

The groundbreaking figure in LGBTQ+ cinema, known for films such as “Carol”, “Far From Heaven”, “Velvet Goldmine”, “I’m Not There”, and “May December”, will be honored at the opening ceremony of Directors’ Fortnight on May 14. This event is a sidebar organized by the guild during the Cannes Film Festival.

Or, in a more conversational style:

The trailblazer in LGBTQ+ cinema who made “Carol”, “Far From Heaven”, “Velvet Goldmine”, “I’m Not There”, and “May December” will receive an award at the opening ceremony of Directors’ Fortnight, which is a side event organized by the guild during the Cannes Film Festival on May 14.

As a passionate gamer, I’d say: “From ‘Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story’ to ‘Safe’, ‘Velvet Goldmine’, ‘Carol’, and ‘May December’, Haynes’ films have consistently shown a deep belief in the power of cinema to push boundaries and tell compelling stories. His unique talent lies in captivating audiences with a single stroke, seamlessly blending technical mastery with heartfelt empathy and sensitivity. His movies serve as a sanctuary for anyone who understands the cost of emotions and individuality. Time and again, Haynes has disrupted the status quo in filmmaking to challenge societal, racial, and gender norms; it’s as if all love and conflict in the world converge within his cinema, sweeping us away on a torrent of emotion.

I’ve been quite a regular face on the vibrant festival scene lately. Recently, I had the honor of presiding over the international jury at the esteemed Berlin Film Festival. It was there that I bestowed the prestigious Golden Bear award upon Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud for his heartfelt queer love story titled “Dreams.

During the early stages of production for his upcoming film, a love story between two men in the 1930s, Haynes found himself in a predicament as lead actor Joaquin Phoenix decided to withdraw from the project, leaving it temporarily halted.

Winners of the Carrosse d’Or honor at Directors’ Fortnight, a recognition given out since 2002, have included filmmakers such as Andrea Arnold, Kelly Reichardt, Martin Scorsese, David Cronenberg, and Jane Campion in previous years.

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2025-04-01 16:24