Todd Haynes retrospective brings 23 films to CCBB SP

Todd Haynes retrospective at CCBB São Paulo runs Jan 21–Feb 12 with 23 films, free admission, talks, a course, Q&As and accessibility actions.

Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil São Paulo hosts the first-ever Todd Haynes retrospective in the venue, running from January 21 to February 12 with free admission. A key figure associated with the New Queer Cinema wave and a leading voice in contemporary independent filmmaking, Haynes is known for a sharp critique of the “American dream” and for stories that probe sexuality, gender identity and the social rules shaping private life.

Curated by Carol Almeida and Camila Macedo, the program features 23 titles, combining films directed by Haynes with works by other filmmakers in direct dialogue with his aesthetics and themes. “We shaped the retrospective around three vibrations that run through Haynes’s entire filmography: the avant-garde legacy of New Queer Cinema, the conversation between different artistic languages, and melodrama as a way to expose contradictions in domestic and social life,” the curators say.

Internationally acclaimed, Haynes has amassed major awards and nominations. Carol (2015), his biggest commercial success and most widely distributed film worldwide, earned six Academy Award nominations. For Far from Heaven (2002), he received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, alongside honors such as the Sundance Grand Jury Prize (1991), Berlin’s Teddy Award (1991), the Venice Grand Jury Prize (2007) and Cannes’ Queer Palm (2015).

Three of his films also made Cahiers du Cinéma’s annual top 10 list: Velvet Goldmine (1998), Carol (2016) and May December (2024). Across his work, Haynes also examines artistic and cultural identity through portraits that intersect music and cinema, as seen in Velvet Goldmine and I’m Not There (2007).

Beyond Haynes titles such as Poison (1991), Safe (1995) and the documentary The Velvet Underground (2021), the lineup includes films that create aesthetic and conceptual parallels with his cinema. The selection features A Woman Under the Influence, by John Cassavetes; Brief Encounter, by David Lean; All That Heaven Allows, by Douglas Sirk; Un chant d’amour, by Jean Genet; Peggy and Fred in Hell: The Prologue, by Leslie Thornton; Jollies, by Sadie Benning; Jeanne Dielman, by Chantal Akerman; Vento Seco, by Daniel Nolasco; and Primavera, by Fábio Ramalho.

Opening screening

The opening session takes place on January 21 (Wednesday) at 5 pm with Far from Heaven. The cast includes Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, Viola Davis and others. After the screening, filmmaker Marcelo Caetano will lead a commentary session.

In the story, Cathy (Moore) lives a seemingly perfect suburban life until she learns her husband Frank (Quaid) is involved with another man. Shaken, she grows closer to Raymond, a Black gardener, triggering prejudice and suspicion in the community. While the marriage holds on for appearances, a quiet, forbidden love begins to take shape.

Talks, course and access

Alongside screenings, the Todd Haynes program offers six commented sessions, two panel discussions, an educational session, an eight-hour course and accessibility actions. One panel focuses on Haynes’s legacy for the newest queer cinemas, while another looks at women characters and melodramatic strategies in his films.

The project also launches a printed and digital catalog featuring Brazilian and international researchers. Highlights include an unpublished text by feminist film critic and scholar Mary Ann Doane.

To pick up the catalog, visitors must present tickets from five screenings and provide their CPF at the CCBB SP box office.

Sponsored by Banco do Brasil, the “Todd Haynes Retrospective” is produced by Caprisciana Produções, with Hans Spelzon as the project’s creator, general coordinator and executive producer, and curated by Carol Almeida and Camila Macedo. The full schedule is available at https://bb.com.br/cultura and in the online catalog, which can be downloaded for free during the event.

The retrospective also runs at CCBB Rio de Janeiro (Jan 14–Feb 9) and CCBB Brasília (Mar 3–22).

Service

Todd Haynes Retrospective

Venue: Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil São Paulo

Dates: January 21 to February 12, 2026

Free admission: tickets available from 9 am on the day of each session at the CCBB box office and at https://bb.com.br/cultura

Age rating: check each screening’s rating on the CCBB SP website

Address: Rua Álvares Penteado, 112 – Centro Histórico – São Paulo

Hours: open daily from 9 am to 8 pm, except Tuesdays

Information: (11) 4297-0600

Parking: CCBB has a partner parking lot at Rua da Consolação, 228 (R$ 14 for 6 hours; ticket validation required at the CCBB box office). A free shuttle runs both ways from 12 pm to 9 pm.

Public transport: CCBB is a 5-minute walk from São Bento subway station. Look for bus lines stopping on Ruas Líbero Badaró and Boa Vista.

Taxi or ride-hailing: get off at Praça do Patriarca and walk along Rua da Quitanda to CCBB (200 m).

Van shuttle: free round trip from Rua da Consolação, 228. On the return route, there is also a stop at República subway station. Runs from 12 pm to 9 pm.