“In a world where there is so much conflict and hatred, we wanted to portray a hopeful and gentle LGBTQIA story”
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY UNTIL TODAY
In Megan Lyons and Freya Marley’s new film Until Today, a young aristocrat must consider the price of familial duty after her overbearing mother arranges a loveless marriage for her. How will this impact her forbidden romance with her best friend? DIVA spoke to Megan and Freya about what inspired this film, and why this representation is so vital.
What was the inspiration behind this film? And why do you think it’s important to showcase these themes in LGBTQIA filmmaking?
Megan Lyons (Director): As a female director and a member of a female-led crew it was important to all of us that this story felt female-led. I’ve always loved exploring female relationships whether they are romantic or familial, and I reallywanted this story to feel feminine in the way that it was told. Inspiration for this story came from a lot of different places, but ultimately it came down to my, and the crew’s love and passion for period dramas.
The regency setting was always really important to this film because the Regency period had so many societal expectations. The pressure to marry was huge for young women, even more so for those who did not fit into society the way they were “supposed” to. I thought it would be interesting that within this pressure is where we find our two main characters, Georgiana and Abigail. Despite the stress and pressures they feel, they have found each other and when they are together the world stops for a little while.
Queer stories are rarely told. What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
Megan Lyons (Director): My hope is that this film finds people who haven’t necessarily seen themselves represented within the genre before. That they get to see themselves in the characters and their love for each other, and that they feel included within the genre in a positive way.
I think there’s a real opportunity for more films to be made in this genre that showcases LGBTQIA stories with a more optimistic tone. Obviously, it’s incredibly important that these darker and more grounded stories are told and are able tohighlight challenges that the community faces. But I would also love for there to be a space for more optimistic and hopeful stories because they are still so important for people in the community.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while making this film? On the flip side, what are some of your favourite moments?
Megan Lyons (Director): For the majority of the crew this was our final university project, meaning we were all students at the time of production. This meant that there were a lot of things involved in this project that we hadn’t done before, we hadn’t created anything of this scale before. Personally, I felt a lot of pressure because it was my first time working with so many cast and crew.
Freya Marley (Producer): More logistically in the making of the film we were worried about the budget as a graduate project taking on a period genre but that’s also what made the film ambitious and exciting. Overall we were just glad to have had the support to make the film and to be a female-led and LGBTQIA crew.
My favourite thing about working on the film was getting to make a Regency period drama and I’d love to work on more projects in this genre in the future. Also working with such a varied cast in terms of experience and shooting at our beautiful location, Stansted Park made the experience so enjoyable.
Why are celebrations like the Iris Prize Film Festival so important for the community and the preservation of queer film?
Freya Marley (Producer): Overall I just think getting to show LGBTQIA films to LGBTQIA people builds a great sense of community. It gives these films a place to be seen and helps massively with the representation of LGBTQIA stories and filmmakers and makes them feel important – as they should! Festivals are a place of celebration and there’s no better feeling than getting to share your hard work and creativity with other amazingly talented people.
Why is LGBTQIA representation in film so important in 2024?
Freya Marley (Producer): I am in my 20s so still young but even I have noticed a change over the last few years with the queer community having the ability and the courage and the support to be more open about who we are which I think is what allowed me to learn more about LGBTQIA community and identity. Holding onto that and using that momentum to highlight more LGBTQIA stories and films from LGBTQIA filmmakers will hopefully continue things in a positive direction in the creative industry.
One of the things that I enjoyed so much with Until Today is making a film that I wish I could’ve seen growing up and contributing to a niche in LGBTQIA filmmaking which is lesbian stories. In a world where there is so much conflict and hatred, we wanted to portray a hopeful and gentle LGBTQIA story.
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