Todd Haynes at Lumière Festival: 'It is a time to remember how important it is to protect our freedoms'

Lyon's Lumière Film Festival welcomed celebrated director Todd Haynes, a pioneer of New Queer Cinema, as one of its honorees. Haynes presented restored versions of his films Poison (1991) and Safe (1995), which have not been screened in French cinemas since their initial releases. Euronews Culture spoke with Haynes about the enduring relevance of these films, his thoughts on the Hollywood ecosystem, and his upcoming film De Noche.

Haynes expressed his excitement about attending the Lumière Film Festival, hailed as the birthplace of cinema. He mentioned the festival's celebration of movies from all genres and eras, as well as its focus on filmmaking and films. Haynes also discussed the retrospective of his films, highlighting the newly restored versions of Poison and Safe. He noted that many audiences at the festival would be seeing these films for the first time, making the event particularly meaningful.

Haynes reflected on the significance of Poison and Safe in the context of the AIDS crisis. He emphasized how these films, made during that era, addressed the emotional repercussions of social repression and marginalized experiences. He also mentioned how the films' themes remain relevant today, particularly in light of ongoing battles around reproductive rights, tolerance, and acceptance for queer and trans communities.

Haynes expressed concern over the current state of Hollywood, particularly the recent merger between Paramount and Warner. He felt that this consolidation threatened the financing of films from diverse voices, leading to a sense of regression in the industry. However, he mentioned that for his recent films, he had taken a different approach, aiming to explore unique stories and voices outside the mainstream Hollywood system.