Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, made a stunning premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, earning a heartfelt four-minute standing ovation. Adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir, the film stars Imogen Poots in a raw and poetic portrayal of the author’s life.
Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section, Stewart’s non-linear film explores deeply personal themes—ranging from childhood trauma and addiction to the redemptive power of water. Poots’ powerful performance as Yuknavitch was widely praised, with the emotionally intense narrative leaving audiences visibly moved.
The newlywed director, accompanied by her wife Dylan Meyer, shared an emotional moment after the screening. Stewart, overwhelmed by the response, thanked her cast and crew before taking the mic from Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux.
“This is an absolutely insane, surreal experience to be able to be here and watch this with all of you guys. We finished the movie like five minutes ago, it’s not even finished yet. We just slipped under this fucking shut door and goddamn it thank you,” she exclaimed, before leaping into Fremaux’s arms.
Stewart co-wrote the screenplay with Andy Mingo, Yuknavitch’s husband. The film also features performances by Thora Birch, Earl Cave, Michael Epp, Susannah Flood, Kim Gordon, and Jim Belushi. It was shot over six weeks in Latvia and Malta in mid-2024.
First announced in 2018, The Chronology of Water was a long-awaited passion project for Stewart. Speaking to Variety earlier this year, she admitted facing major hurdles in financing the film, vowing not to take on new acting roles until it was completed.
Calling the journey “near impossible,” Stewart noted, “There’s a certain physicality to the type of film I want to make that in a slugline looks unattractive to buyers—but in action, it’s deeply moving.”
With its Cannes debut now behind it, The Chronology of Water cements Kristen Stewart’s transition from actor to auteur, opening a new chapter in her already-celebrated career.
