Overview

• Kristen Stewart premiered her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, at Cannes 2025 in the Un Certain Regard section.
• The film is an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, exploring themes of identity, addiction, and resilience through the story of a former Olympic swimmer.
• Stewart faced significant challenges financing the project in the U.S. and turned to European backers to bring her vision to life.
• Her decision to cast Imogen Poots in the lead role, rather than herself, added to the difficulty in securing funding.
• Stewart hopes the film will inspire greater support for female-driven narratives and challenge Hollywood's entrenched gender disparities.