Kristen Stewart is making her feature directorial debut at the Cannes Film Festival on May 16th, and she’s bringing a uniquely candid perspective along with her film, The Chronology of Water. The actress-turned-director is acknowledges that her movie is far from a polished final cut, embracing the unrefined state of her work with a striking philosophy.
“‘I’m kind of happy to take on something vulnerable. I’m happy to take something with mistakes. Mistakes are f—— hot,'” Stewart, 35, told The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the premiere. This sentiment directly reflects the current status of her film, which she admits is still a work in progress.
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“‘There’s not a more eloquent way [to say it]. We barely finished this movie. It’s not even done,'” said Stewart. “‘I need to come home and literally have two more weeks in color and sound. This is my f—— first draft.'” Despite this, The Chronology of Water is set to screen in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section of the festival.
The Twilight star even expressed an unconventional hope for its reception: “‘we crash and burn, but in a way that feels correct.'” She conveyed her astonishment at the film’s inclusion in the festival, saying she simply “‘cannot believe'” it made it in. Getting the news was a shock; Stewart described it as “‘such a f—– Hail Mary'” and said her “‘head blew off'” when she found out.
The Chronology of Water is an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir, starring Imogen Poots and Earl Cave. Directing has been a long-held ambition for Stewart, who mentioned wanting to direct since she was nine years old. The journey to bring this particular story to the screen, and then to Cannes, was evidently a whirlwind. “‘I am not being false humble — we’re all running on fumes. I was like, ‘We can do it.’ I was like an absolute basket case,'” she admitted about the intense production period.
This directorial venture comes after recent acting roles in 2024’s Love Lies Bleeding and Sacramento, and her marriage to filmmaker Dylan Meyer in April. Looking forward, Stewart has more directorial projects in mind, stating she has “’10 more movies I want to make.'” However, she remained tight-lipped on specifics, adding, “‘Definitely not [sharing details]… This is something I do, I always tease too early.'”
For Stewart, rushing to the Croisette has a certain appeal, aligning with her view of the filmmaking process. “‘I love stories about movies and filmmakers that have taken their films to Cannes and had to come back and fix a few things and release a different movie,'” she explained. “‘It’s all about revealing yourself. So it’s very meta that we’re running in here half-dressed. But I’m into it.'”
