Todd Haynes to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Cannes Film Festival
American filmmaker Todd Haynes is set to receive a prestigious accolade at this year’s Cannes Film Festival: the lifetime achievement Carrosse d’Or award. This honor comes from the esteemed French Film Directors’ Guild, recognizing Haynes’ significant contributions to cinema.
A Celebration of Queer Cinema and Innovation
Haynes, an influential figure in queer cinema, has an impressive body of work that includes acclaimed films such as Carol, Far From Heaven, Velvet Goldmine, I’m Not There, and May December. He will officially accept the award during the opening ceremony of Directors’ Fortnight on May 14, which is a notable sidebar of the Cannes Festival organized by the guild.
“From Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story to Safe, Velvet Goldmine, Carol, and May December, your films have been inhabited by a great faith in cinema’s experimental and narrative possibilities,” the guild commented. “Your genius is to move and mesmerize us in a single move, combining formal virtuosity with infinite empathy and tenderness. Your films are a haven for anyone who knows the price they have paid for their feelings and their difference. You have been relentlessly shaking up the norms and structures of cinematic representation in order to better question our social, racial, and gender representations; as if all the love and violence in the world came together in your cinema to carry us away in a flood of emotion.”
Festival Circuit Presence and Upcoming Projects
Haynes has become a regular figure at film festivals globally. Earlier this year, he served as the president of the international jury at the Berlin Film Festival, where he awarded the coveted Golden Bear to Norwegian filmmaker Dag Johan Haugerud for his poignant queer love story, Dreams.
Currently, Haynes is navigating a challenging period, as he was engaged in pre-production on his next feature—a gay romance set in the 1930s—when lead actor Joaquin Phoenix unexpectedly withdrew from the project, causing uncertainty for its future.
Recognition of Cinematic Excellence
The Carrosse d’Or award has recognized numerous illustrious filmmakers since its inception in 2002. Previous recipients include notable names like Andrea Arnold, Kelly Reichardt, Martin Scorsese, David Cronenberg, and Jane Campion, all of whom have made substantial contributions to the evolution of cinema.
As Todd Haynes prepares for this distinguished honor, his work continues to inspire and challenge perceptions, solidifying his legacy as a key figure in the world of film.