A 'bare-knuckle' reality check for Hollywood

Kristen Stewart delivered a fierce and emotionally charged speech at the Academy and Chanel Women's Luncheon, condemning Hollywood for what she described as a 'devastating' backslide in opportunities for women filmmakers after the momentum of the 'Me Too' era.

Addressing an audience of actors, directors and industry figures at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Stewart said the promises of change once made to women in Hollywood had largely evaporated, replaced by token gestures that fail to create genuine space for female voices.

The 'Twilight' star, who makes her directorial debut next month with 'The Chronology of Water', said she was 'so angry' that the progress sparked by the movement had stalled.

"In a post-MeToo moment, it seemed possible that stories made by and for women were finally getting their due," she told the room. "But I can now attest to the bare-knuckle brawling it takes every step of the way when your work is seen as too dark or too taboo." She added that such resistance exposed how deeply rooted the industry's discomfort remains with women's authentic perspectives.

The annual luncheon, hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, drew a star-studded audience including Kate Hudson, Sarah Paulson, Tessa Thompson, Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Riley Keough, and Claire Foy. Stewart's remarks were met with repeated applause, with Variety reporting that the seven-minute keynote struck a nerve in a room full of women who have battled similar obstacles.

Referencing figures from the 'Celluloid Ceiling' report, she noted that only 11 of the top 100 grossing films in 2024 were directed by women—down from 16 in 2020. "The backsliding from a brief moment of progress is statistically devastating," she said. "We can talk about wage gaps and taxes on tampons, but the violence of silencing — of pretending this issue has been resolved — is unbearable. I'm so angry."

Stewart also criticised the 'boys' club business model' that she said continues to dominate the entertainment industry, pretending to welcome women's input while simultaneously "siphoning our resources and belittling our true perspectives". She urged her peers not to accept token inclusion, calling instead for a system in which women can "start printing our own currency".

Despite her sharp critique, Stewart's message was ultimately one of determination. She said visibility and honesty were essential for the next generation of filmmakers and that those who had managed to make their films despite barriers now carried the responsibility to keep pushing for others.

"There are too few of us," she said, her voice rising with emotion. "It seems like there's a lot... but Jesus Christ, there's not. It's not our fault. We're allowed to be proud of ourselves and to taste that pride from the inside out."