Lyon’s vibrant cultural scene is set to welcome the 16th edition of Écrans Mixtes, a celebrated queer film festival, from March 4th to 12th, 2026. The festival, which has become a cornerstone of the city’s annual arts calendar, will showcase a diverse program of films, spotlighting emerging talent and addressing important LGBTQI+ themes. Écrans Mixtes has evolved from its origins as a monthly ciné-club in 2007 to a recognized festival of significant cultural importance.
This year’s festival places a particular emphasis on cinema from the Balkans, with director Ivan Mitifiot noting that “women are making a revolution through cinema there.” The festival will feature two long-form films in competition for the Grand Prix Écrans Mixtes: Fantasy, a Slovenian film by Kukla, who gained recognition for her short film Sestre at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, and Gorgona, from Greek director Evi Kalogiropoulou, described as “a sort of feminist Mad Max meets Pulp Fiction.”
Homage to Jean Genet and a Gaze at Lithuanian Cinema
Beyond the Balkan focus, Écrans Mixtes will pay tribute to the influential French novelist, playwright, poet, and political activist Jean Genet, marking 40 years since his death. The tribute will include a special evening at the TNP (Théâtre National Populaire) in Villeurbanne, featuring a screening of Genet’s film Chant d’amour, alongside Carole Roussopoulos’s documentary Genet parlant d’Angela Davis and a new operate inspired by Genet’s oeuvre created by Gilles Pastor.
The festival will also present a retrospective of the work of Lithuanian filmmaker Romas Zabaroskas, whom the festival invited back as a jury member after his previous visit in 2022. Zabaroskas’s trilogy – Tomber pour Ali, Te revoir, and his latest film, L’activiste, which has not yet been released in France – explores themes of sacrificed love. According to festival organizers, Zabaroskas is considered “the most queer of Lithuanian filmmakers.”
Supporting Emerging Filmmakers and Preserving Queer Cinema History
Écrans Mixtes continues its commitment to supporting emerging talent by awarding a prize of €1,000 to the best short film, with approximately twenty films competing for the honor. A jury of three personalities will select the winning film. The festival’s dedication to preserving queer cinema history is also evident in its “Queer Cult Classics” series, which will include screenings of Brokeback Mountain and Catherine Corsini’s 1993 film, Les Amoureux, alongside restored classics.
The festival’s archival efforts are also noteworthy. Since 2017, Écrans Mixtes has deposited its paper archives with the Archives départementales du Rhône. Since 2018, in partnership with Université Lumière-Lyon-II, the festival has published a journal, edited by Didier Roth-Bettoni, with contributions from students. In 2022, a partnership with the Centre audiovisuel Simone-de-Beauvoir was established to preserve the festival’s video archives, ensuring its legacy for future generations.
Founded in 2007 as a monthly ciné-club, Écrans Mixtes gained official recognition as an association of general interest. Cédric Denonfoux led the association from 2011, with Ivan Mitifiot as coordinator, before Olivier Leculier took over as president in 2016, with Mitifiot continuing to oversee the festival’s artistic direction. In 2022, the festival introduced a competition for long-form films, offering a €10,000 prize split between the filmmaker and the French distributor.
The festival also created the Philippe Vallois Honorary Prize in 2023, recognizing a film within the program for its boldness and artistic freedom. This commitment to celebrating innovative and challenging queer cinema underscores Écrans Mixtes’ position as a vital platform for LGBTQI+ storytelling.
As Écrans Mixtes prepares for its 16th edition, the festival continues to evolve, solidifying its role as a key event in Lyon’s cultural landscape and a significant voice in the world of queer cinema. The opening night, featuring the film La Foule, is scheduled for March 4th at the Comœdia theater. Further details about the full program and ticket availability can be found on the festival’s official website.
The festival will conclude with a screening of La Grève. Attendees are encouraged to check the website for updates and to accept the necessary data collection permissions to view the trailer and teaser for the long-form film competition.
