At the 2025 Academy and Chanel Women’s Luncheon in Los Angeles, actress and director Kristen Stewart gave a powerful keynote speech. She spoke out against the worrying drop in opportunities for female filmmakers since the Me Too movement. Stewart, who will make her directorial debut with Chronology of Water in December, called the decline in gender equality “statistically devastating.” She said she was frustrated with the industry’s ongoing obstacles for women behind the camera.
Stewart spoke to a group of famous female filmmakers and stars, including Kate Hudson and Patty Jenkins. She pointed out the sad fact that only a small number of movies from the past year were directed by women. She talked about how women have to “bare-knuckle brawl” to get real, sometimes taboo stories on screen. Moreover, they often have to deal with backlash and being silenced.
Stewart said, “The backsliding from our brief moment of progress is devastating.” “It seemed possible that stories by and for women would finally get what they deserve.” But that moment didn’t last long. Recent data shows that only three major studio films in 2025 will have female directors. This is a sign that Hollywood needs to do more to promote gender equality in filmmaking.
Stewart’s direct speech brought attention to the “boys club” business model. This model keeps women’s voices out of the conversation and takes resources away from female talent. She stressed the importance of women’s right to tell their own stories, even though it was hard. She also called for immediate action to restore and maintain progress toward gender equality in the film industry.
Chronology of Water, Kristen Stewart’s first film as a director, will come out on December 10, 2025. This is a big step forward for her campaign to get more women involved in Hollywood.
