KRISTEN STEWART HAS THREE FILMS AT NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL; ADMITS SHE'S A WORKAHOLIC

Kristen Stewart admits she's a workaholic after bringing three films to the New York Film Festival.

"Oh yeah, I'm totally addicted man," said the actress from the red carpet Wednesday (5 OCT. 2016).

"Like I'm a crazy, compulsive, like I get super obsessed with stuff, you know, which is to a fault but it's served me well."

Stewart was the guest of honor at a dinner thrown by the Lincoln Center Film Society.

Before going inside, she also commented on her intensity, the type of director she hopes to become and reinventing herself after "Twilight."

For the latter, she claims it wasn't intentional.

"Oh, honestly, it was not like a tactical approach," said Stewart.

"I've really always known that if I have a certain dynamic with someone or a conversation, it's either leading to productivity or not. I definitely thank you for that question because it implies that I've like by chance seemingly designed a career I totally got lucky to have."

Since the "Twilight" franchise, the actress has quietly amassed an impressive body of work, including a trio of very different films at this year's festival.

She already premiered "Certain Women," directed by Kelly Reichardt, earlier this week. The festival will screen the upcoming "Personal Shopper." And Stewart will walk the red carpet again for Ang Lee's "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" next week.

Besides acting, Stewart aspires to become a director too.

Working with Lee and Reichardt gave her unique perspective, especially since the two take a completely different approach to directing a film.

"It's weird. I think I fall somewhere in between wanting to be really surgical and technical and in control of absolutely everything but at the same time I'm wanting to see something live and breathe and I think they both do that completely differently, but they both accomplish the same thing," Stewart said.

"I think they are both absolute geniuses when it comes to being composed and when it comes to being aware of something that we're not aware of. They see the invisible and they capture it and that's what I would like to do while making movies."

Reichardt shot "Certain Women" on 16mm film, working around the limitations of that to create a visually poetic story surrounding three women whose lives intersect in Montana.

Ang Lee worked the opposite end of the field, shooting war drama, "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk," using high-frame rate digital capture.

Stewart admits she leans toward Reichardt's style, suggesting it was motivational, making her want to start directing right away.

"Seeing Kelly steel train her way through a movie that seems so natural but is so deliberate, I love her. So yeah, it makes me want to work now, like start working," Stewart said.

"Certain Women" will be at select U.S. theaters from 14 October 2016, while "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" kicks off on November 11.

"Personal Shopper" isn't in theaters until next year.

New York, 5 October 2016

1. Wide shot traffic driving past Lincoln Center

2. Wide shot rows of electronic signage

3. Medium of Kristen Stewart walking onto red carpet

4. Tilt up Kristen Stewart, pan to photographers and back

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart, actress - on choosing roles carefully after early success with the 'Twilight' series:

"Oh, honestly, it was not like a tactical approach, you know what I mean? I've really always known that if I have a certain dynamic with someone or a conversation, it's either leading to productivity or not. I definitely thank you for that question because it implies that I've like by chance seemingly designed a career I totally got lucky to have."

5. Wide of Kristen Stewart talking to reporter, zoom in

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart, actress - on being a workaholic:

"Oh yeah, I'm totally addicted man. Like I'm a crazy, compulsive, like I get super obsessed with stuff, you know, which is to a fault but it's served me well."

7. Medium of Kristen Stewart talking to reporter

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart, actress - on what she's learned from directors Ang Lee and Kelly Reichardt:

"It's weird. I think I fall somewhere in between wanting to be really surgical and technical and in control of absolutely everything but at the same time I'm wanting to see something live and breathe and I think they both do that completely differently, but they both accomplish the same thing. I think they are both absolute geniuses when it comes to being composed and when it comes to being aware of something that we're not aware of. They see the invisible and they capture it and that's what I would like to do while making movies. And also I think rather than having a bunch of actors in the room and we kind of find an interesting subject and sort of explore it in improv and pull it together - that's the stuff I like to act in, but seeing Kelly steel train her way through a movie that seems so natural but is so deliberate, she's just like, to me, (raises her hand up high), I love her. So yeah, it makes me want to work now, like start working, yeah."

9. Pan from photographers to Kristen Stewart posing on red carpet

MICHELLE WILLIAMS, KRISTEN STEWART, LAURA DERN WALK NYFF RED CARPET FOR 'CERTAIN WOMEN'

It was a glamorous red carpet Monday (3 OCT. 2016), as Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern arrived for the New York Film Festival premiere of "Certain Women."

The film - from writer-director Kelly Reichardt - tells a trio of stories of intersecting lives in Montana.

It's based on short stories by Maile Meloy.

Stewart, who plays a high school teacher in the film, loves how the story depicts "the normal lives of women."

"It's not very typical for people to focus on the normal lives of women. It's always movies about exceptional, hero women that overcome great adversity to do a thing. And it's like, no, these are three women sort of doing very mundane but like really engaging, tiresome, really topical, current things. And that usually is not focused on," Stewart said.

"The only way that that can be focused on is if you make it interesting and Kelly's perspective makes it interesting. And you can look at any of her previous work, every woman that's been written into her movies are, you know - she doesn't do archetype movies. There are powerful woman stories now, but they're usually pretty standardized and she's sort of the opposite of that, so I'm so proud to be a part of it."

Reichardt went "old school" when it came to shooting the film, choosing to capture it on 16MM film stock. Stewart explained how that impacted her performance.

"The time constraints are kind of something. You can't just roll and find it," Stewart said.

"But that's like a pretty typically American indie-style thing and her vibe is different. She's very composed. She's not like, 'Oh, we'll just take it off sticks and throw it on his shoulder and we're going to dance around and you can say whatever you want.' She's like, 'No, no. You're going to say the lines and I'm going to compose my shot. We're going to shoot a scene.' Yeah, so I think that's pretty special."

Dern also embraced being captured on film again.

"It's amazing. I hope to, you know, be around film more and more. I love all of it in its own unique way, but I love film very much, so... We just need labs. We need labs and hopefully many more filmmakers will continue to explore with film," Dern said.

As for Williams, she's no stranger when it comes to working with Reichardt, having starred in her previous films, "Meeks Cutoff" and "Wendy and Lucy."

"Working with my old pal Kelly Reichardt, it's our third movie together, so whatever she asks, the answer is always yes," Williams said.

"And then when I was there, I discovered these great actors that I got to work with."

"Certain Women" opens in U.S. theaters on 14 October 2016.

New York, 3 October 2016

1. Wide of Alice Tully Hall

2. New York Film Festival signage, push in

3. Various of Kristen Stewart posing for photographers

4. Wide of Kristen Stewart talking to reporter

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart, actress - on how this movie is different:

"Yeah, it's not very typical for people to focus on the normal lives of women. It's always movies about exceptional, hero women that overcome great adversity to do a thing. And it's like, no, these are three women sort of doing very mundane but like really engaging, tiresome, really topical, current things. And that usually is not focused on. The only way that that can be focused on is if you make it interesting and Kelly's perspective makes it interesting. And you can look at any of her previous work, every woman that's been written into her movies are, you know - she doesn't do archetype movies. There are powerful woman stories now, but they're usually pretty standardized and she's sort of the opposite of that, so I'm so proud to be a part of it."

6. Medium of Kristen Stewart talking to reporter

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart, actress - on shooting in 16mm:

"The time constraints are kind of something. You can't just roll and find it. But that's like a pretty typically American indie-style thing and her vibe is different. She's very composed. She's not like, 'Oh, we'll just take it off sticks and throw it on his shoulder and we're going to dance around and you can say whatever you want.' She's like, 'No, no. You're going to say the lines and I'm going to compose my shot. We're going to shoot a scene.' Yeah, so I think that's pretty special."

8. Medium of Laura Dern talking to reporter

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Laura Dern, actress - on shooting in 16mm:

"God, no. It's amazing. I hope to, you know, be around film more and more. I love all of it in its own unique way, but I love film very much, so... We just need labs. We need labs and hopefully many more filmmakers will continue to explore with film."

10. Various of Michelle Williams posing for photographers

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Williams, actress - on what was important about this film:

"Working with my old pal Kelly Reichardt, it's our third movie together, so whatever she asks, the answer is always yes. And then when I was there, I discovered these great actors that I got to work with."

12. Michelle Williams posing for photographers

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Williams, actress - on working with Kelly again:

"It's extra for me because I think that Kelly is a genius and I am so lucky that in my lifetime I have intersected with hers."

(Reporter: "Outside of that, security and Kim Kardashian do you feel less safe after what happened yesterday?")

Michelle Williams: "Do I feel less safe after what happened, yesterday? Oh, I don't know."

14. Various of cast posing for photographers

'PULP' ON 'CLOUDS'

Quentin Tarantino and the stars of "Pulp Fiction" walked the red carpet in Cannes on Friday night (23 MAY 2014) for the premiere of "Clouds of Sils Maria."

The acclaimed American director is at the festival this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his cult classic, which won the festival's top prize in 1994.

They were joined at the event by French director Olivier Assayas and his "Sils Maria" cast, which includes Kristen Stewart, Juliette Binoche, and Chloe Grace Moretz.

Assayas' latest offering is showing in competition at this year's festival which draws to a close on Sunday.

Tarantino will also be helping to close the 67th edition of the festival with a tribute to Sergio Leone.

The filmmaker will present a restored version of Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964) at the May 24 closing ceremony.

Usually, the Palme d'Or winner is screened at the Cannes closing ceremony, but this year's schedule has been tweaked because of European elections.

The Palme d'Or winner will be shown Sunday (25 MAY 2014) instead.

AP Entertainment

Cannes, France, 23 May 2014

1. Tilt down of red carpet

2. Pan of photographers

3. Joe Jackson red carpet

4. Catherine Deneuve arrival

5. Cutaway of press

6. Various of "Pulp Fiction" arrivals including Lawrence Bender, Quentin Tarantino, Uma Thurman, John Travolta and Kelly Preston

7. Tilt up Kristen Stewart

8. Cutaway of press

9. Various of "Clouds of Sils Maria" arrivals including Kristen Stewart, Juliette Binoche, Chloe Grace Moretz and Olivier Assayas

KRISTEN STEWART RE-EMERGES ON TORONTO RED CARPET

"Twilight's" newest vampire re-emerged in public Thursday night at the Toronto Film Festival.

Kristen Stewart made her first public appearance in nearly two months.

After publicly apologizing for having a tryst with the married director of her last film, "Snow White and the Huntsman," the 22-year star went into lockdown mode.

Hundreds of fans eagerly awaited her return as she walked the red carpet for her latest film, "On the Road," based on the classic Jack Kerouac novel.

Stewart posed for photographers, spoke to a few television crews (while paired with co-star Garret Hedlund, and signed lots of autographs for fans. Many of them had waited since the early morning.

Dressed in a slinky, floral Zuhair Murad dress, Stewart held her head high but showed signs of nervousness.

Several times she broke away from the press line to pose for pictures with fans behind the barricade.

At times, it seemed that the fans were providing the support Stewart needed to carry on through mobbed press event.

Stewart says she likes the idea of books being made into movies, and that "On the Road" is one of her favorite books.

"Yeah, specifically to this case there were untapped resources that we were allowed to sort of be privy too. Being somebody that has loved the book their whole life, I think to be allowed to know the information that we knew and be able to bring it to life in a way that was connected to the people and not just the book and the fiction of it. It happened. It wasn't just a novel. I think it pays homage to all of that, and it feels good," she said.

But did she ever think she would act in the big screen version back when she first read it?

"I was so young when I read the book, there wasn't a second's thought that I would ever play this part, so when it came about I drove away from my meeting with Walter absolutely vibrating, shaking, so yeah," Stewart said.

Back in July Stewart admitted to having an affair with 41-year old director Rupert Sanders. That announcement had a rippling effect, putting her romantic relationship with "Twilight" co-star Robert Pattinson on definite hold.

When asked how she was doing, Stewart responded: "I'm doing fine." Then she walked away.

AP Entertainment

Toronto, 6 September 2012

1. Wide of fans outside Ryerson Theater

2. Camera crews waiting for Kristen Stewart

3. Wide of Kristen Stewart posing for photographer

4. Medium of Kristen Stewart posing for photo with fan

5. Medium of fans waiting for autographs

6. Medium of Kristen Stewart hugging friend on red carpet

7. Wide of Kristen Stewart and Garret Hedlund talking to reporters

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart/Actress, on working from a book again:

"Yeah, specifically to this case there were untapped resources that we were allowed to sort of be privy too. Being somebody that has loved the book their whole life, I think to be allowed to know the information that we knew and be able to bring it to life in a way that was connected to the people and not just the book and the fiction of it. It happened. It wasn't just a novel. I think it pays homage to all of that, and it feels good."

9. Wide of Kristen Stewart and Garret Hedlund talking to reporters

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart/Actress, on imaging herself in the movie when reading the book:

"I was so young when I read the book, there wasn't a second's thought that I would ever play this part, so when it came about I drove away from my meeting with Walter absolutely vibrating, shaking, so yeah."

11. Wide of Kristen Stewart and Garret Hedlund talking to reporters

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Garret Hedlund/Actor:

"I read this book when I was in high school. I looked it up on lone to see who was directing and it said Francis Ford Coppola and I said I'll never get it. I have no chance at this. And then eight years later we were all on set together, me and Kristen and Sam (Riley) and Kirsten (Dunst) and Viggo (Mortensen) and it's one of the greatest experiences you could ever feel."

13. Tilt up on Kristen Stewart signing autograph

14. Kristen Stewart walking on red carpet

STEWART AND HOULT ARRIVE AT VENICE

Kristen Stewart's fans were out in force in Venice, Italy.

The star was greeted by screaming fans when she arrived by boat for a press conference on Saturday (5SEPT2015) for her sci-fi romance "Equals" at the Venice film festival.

She was joined by co-star Nicholas Hoult and director Drake Doremus.

Set in a futuristic society where emotions have been genetically suppressed, the drama focuses on Silas and Nia, two co-workers who fall in love and must find a way to keep their feelings a secret.

Guy Pearce, Bel Powley and Jacki Weaver also star in the film.

The film screens in competition at the 72nd Venice Film Festival.

Equals will premiere in North American at the Toronto Film Festival on September 13th.

AP Entertainment

Venice, 5 September 2015

1. Wide of boat arriving

2. Various of actors Nicholas Hoult and Kristen Stewart and director Drake Doremus getting out of the boat

3. Medium of actors Nicholas Hoult and Kristen Stewart and director Drake Doremus posing on pier

4. Wide of (left to right) actors Nicholas Hoult and Kristen Stewart, director Drake Doremus, and other castmembers

5. Wide of actors Nicholas Hoult and Kristen Stewart, director Drake Doremus leaving

6. Medium of actress Kristen Stewart signing autographs

7. Close up of actress Kristen Stewart signing autographs

8. Wide of actor Nicholas Hoult signing autographs

9. Close up of actor Nicholas Hoult signing autographs

10. Wide of actress Kristen Stewart signing autographs

STEWART, HOULT BRING 'EQUALS' TO VENICE

Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult were greeted by hoards of screaming fans at the Venice Film Festival premiere of their new futuristic romance, "Equals," on Saturday night.

Directed by Drake Doremus, the American filmmaker behind troubled-love stories "Like Crazy" and "Breathe In," "Equals" is a science-fiction romance that puts Stewart and Hoult into a future society where emotions _ messy, disruptive things _ have been genetically suppressed for the good of humanity.

Their characters, Nia and Silas, develop feelings which blossom into a secret love that shakes their identities and endangers their lives.

"Equals" is one of 21 films competing for the festivals top prize, the Golden Lion.

The Venice Film Festival draws to a close on September 12th.

AP Entertainment

Venice, 5 September 2015

1. Wide of Kristen Stewart arriving

2. Pan from photographers to Stewart

3. Various of Kristen Stewart posing for photographers

4. Various of Nicholas Hoult posing for photographers

5. Medium of director Drake Doremus and guest

6. Close of Doremus

7. Medium of fans

8. Medium of Doremus, Stewart and Hoult

9. Cutaway photographers

10. Medium of Stewart and Hoult posing for photos

11. Various of Hoult signing autographs

12. Medium of Stewart signing

13. Tracking shot of Stewart walking away from fans towards theater

KRISTEN STEWART TO LEAD ELIZABETH BANKS' 'CHARLIE'S ANGELS'

Kristen Stewart is set to star in Elizabeth Banks' reboot of "Charlie's Angels." Sony Pictures on Thursday (26 JULY 2018) says Stewart's fellow Angels will be played by Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska.

Banks is directing, producing, co-writing and starring as Bosley in the new incarnation of the Angels saga.

Banks says in a statement that "Charlie's Angels" is one of the original brands to celebrate the empowered woman. The statement says this film will introduce a new era of modern and global Angels.

Sony Pictures will release the new "Charlie's Angels" in North American theaters in September 2019.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: New York, 5 Oct. 2016

1. Various of Kristen Stewart posing at the New York Film Festival

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: Beverly Hills, Calif., 24 Oct. 2016

2. Various of Kristen Stewart on the red carpet

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: New York, 3 Oct. 2016

3. Various of Kristen Stewart arriving at the New York Film Festival

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: New York, 8 Feb. 2018

4. Various of Elizabeth Banks posing at a Tom Ford fashion show

CANNES RED CARPET LOOKS FROM CATE BLANCHETT GLAMOUR TO KRISTEN STEWART'S BARE FEET

Glamour reigns at the Cannes Film Festival, but this year's most memorable fashion moment might have been Kristen Stewart ditching her heels to go barefoot on the red carpet at the premiere of Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman," in what many people speculate was an act of rebellion against the unofficial formalwear rules at Cannes.

Other celebrities made statements but more along the lines of fashion statements.  

Cate Blanchett wore a Givenchy black jumpsuit to the star-sudded "Capharnaum" premiere and a floor length tiered rainbow skirt with a black turtleneck open back top to another event.

Kristen Stewart, Michelle Rodgriquez and Bella Hadid, glimmered in silver but bright jewel tones also showed up against the red carpet. Model Winnie Harlow wore a bright apple green gown while jury member, Khadja Nin wore a boldly colored purple and gold print gown.

Feathers, sequins, lace, chiffon, beads and crystals embellished many of the outfits and of course diamonds adorned many of the stars as they walked the red carpet at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival. The winner of the Palme d'Or will be announced Saturday and decided by a nine-person jury led by  Blanchett. There are 21 films competing.

Cannes, France, 17 May 2018

1. Various, Cate Blanchett

Cannes, France, 16 May 201

2. Various, Adriana Lima

3. Various, Cindy Bruna

4. Various, Isabel Goulart

5. Various of Milla Jovovich

6. Various of Khadja Nin

Cannes, France, 14 May 2018

7. Various, Sonam Kapoor

8. Various, Natasha Poly

9. Various, Ming Xi

10. Various, Winnie Harlow

11. Various, Nicole Scherzinger

12. Various, Jane Fonda

13. Various, Naomi Campbell

14. Kristen Stewart, as she takes off shoes to walk up stairs

15. Various, Cate Blanchett arrival

16. Bella Hadid arrival

Cannes, France, 15 May 2018

17. Various, Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly posing for photographers

18. Medium of Phoebe Waller-Bridge posing for photographers

Cannes, France, 13 May 2018

19. Various, Naomi Campbell

20. Various, Bella Hadid

21. Various, Michelle Rodriguez

22. Various, Winnie Harlow

Cannes, France, 16 May 2018

23. Various, Fan Bingbing

KRISTEN STEWART BRINGS GUANTANAMO BAY FILM TO SUNDANCE

Sorry, "Twilight" fans, Kristen Stewart is not sticking with young adult fare as her acting career continues in the wake of the blockbuster franchise that launched her career.

"Camp X-Ray," Stewart's new film that had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival Friday (17 JAN. 2014), tells the story of a young woman who joins the Army and ends up as a guard at Guantanamo Bay, the notorious U.S. prison in Cuba where some of the most dangerous terrorist suspects are detained.

Stewart admitted the role terrified her at first.

"That's the desirable struggle. If I'm not afraid of something, it's probably not worth doing for me," she said. "In this case I just thought it was a really -- I hadn't worked in like two years, hadn't found anything that really got me going -- and I just thought that this story of a young girl who is sort of so pragmatic and logical and practical, like you know, very self-assured based on things that she can grasp -- and so if she can control every situation and join the Army and be a good person and, you know, fill all these responsibilities that she's been brought up to fulfill, and yet still sort of feel like she's not doing the right thing, because Guantanamo it's like this slightly greyer area -- and so she's not getting as much back from what she thought she was putting into it -- and so I thought that that was an interesting struggle."

The 23-year-old actress traveled to Guantanamo Bay in preparation for the part and said what struck her most was the order.

"I think my idea of what it was like down there was not correct. It is clean. I know that sounds ridiculous and very ignorant, but it's really, it's like clinical, you know what I mean?" she said. "Standard operation procedure is like the bible. And to have such like set guidelines for something like that is, for somebody who really wants to follow the rules and do the right thing, when they're kind of confusing -- like they should be the most straightforward thing ever -- you know my character, and this is very individual to this project, I'm not making any grand statements about anything, but you know my character definitely goes through a process of questioning whether or not she's doing the right thing, but she's following the rules."

Stewart didn't get very personal on the red carpet at Sundance, but did say she finds it difficult to watch her work on the screen.

"I watch, literally, like with a fine-toothed comb," she said. "Like, it's the most, it's sort of deathly uncomfortable, but it completes the process. It's a necessary. And it's awesome. It just makes me a little nauseous."

AP Entertainment

Park City, Utah, 17 Jan. 2014

1. Wide of Eccles Theatre

2. Wide of cast posing for photographers

3. Wide of Kristen Stewart, center, with writer and director Peter Sattler, left, and actor Peryman Moaaadi, right, posing for photographs. Then pan to photographers.

4. Medium of Stewart talking to a reporter

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart/Actress, on why she has said previously she was scared of doing the movie at first:

"That's the desirable struggle. If I'm not afraid of something, it's probably not worth doing for me. In this case I just thought it was a really -- I hadn't worked in like two years, hadn't found anything that really got me going -- and I just thought that this story of a young girl who is sort of so pragmatic and logical and practical, like you know, very self-assured based on things that she can grasp -- and so if she can control every situation and join the Army and be a good person and, you know, fill all these responsibilities that she's been brought up to fulfill, and yet still sort of feel like she's not doing the right thing, because Guantanamo it's like this slightly greyer area -- and so she's not getting as much back from what she thought she was putting into it -- and so I thought that that was an interesting struggle."

6. Close-up of Stewart talking to a reporter

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart/Actress:

"I think my idea of what it was like down there was not correct. It is clean. I know that sounds ridiculous and very ignorant, but it's really, it's like clinical, you know what I mean? Standard operation procedure is like the bible. And to have such like set guidelines for something like that is, for somebody who really wants to follow the rules and do the right thing, when they're kind of confusing -- like they should be the most straightforward thing ever -- you know my character, and this is very individual to this project, I'm not making any grand statements about anything, but you know my character definitely goes through a process of questioning whether or not she's doing the right thing, but she's following the rules."

8. Medium pan right to left of cast

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart/Actress:

"I watch, literally, like with a fine-toothed comb. Like, it's the most, it's sort of deathly uncomfortable, but it completes the process. It's a necessary. And it's awesome. It just makes me a little nauseous."

10. Wide of Eccles Theatre

Kristen Stewart,

Copyright 2017 Celebrity Footage. All Rights Reserved.

Kristen Stewart,

Copyright 2017 Celebrity Footage. All Rights Reserved.

SHOTLIST:

Kristen Stewart, Alicia Cargile,

SHOTLIST:

Kristen Stewart,

SHOTLIST:

Kristen Stewart,

SHOTLIST:

Woody Allen, Blake Lively, Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Corey Stoll,

STORY

FRA Opening Night Carpet

SHOWS

The opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival 2016 with a celeb-filled red carpet including, Gong Li, Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Naomi Watts, Eva Longoria, Doutzen Kroes, Paolo Sorrentino, Gael Garcia Bernal, Victoria Beckham, Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick

82 WOMEN WALK THE RED CARPET IN CANNES FILM FEST PROTEST

Eighty-two women climbed the steps of the Palais des Festivals at the Cannes Film Festival Saturday (12 MAY 2018) in an unprecedented red carpet protest to press for improved gender equality in the film industry.

The number of stars, filmmakers and film industry professionals ascending the steps represented the number of female filmmakers who have been selected to compete at Cannes during the festival's seven-decade history.

In contrast to their 82, 1,866 films directed by men have been picked for the prestigious festival lineup.

Organizers said the event was orchestrated by the Time's Up movement and the French movement known as 5020x2020 to show "how hard it is still to climb the social and professional ladder" for women.

It brought an array of film industry professionals to the Cannes red carpet, including actresses Salma Hayek and Jane Fonda, "Wonder Woman" filmmaker Patty Jenkins and French director Agnes Varda, a recipient of an honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes.

Also joining were the five female members of this year's Cannes jury: Cate Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Ava DuVernay, Lea Seydoux and Burundian singer Khadja Nin. Blanchett read a statement atop the Palais steps in English; Varda read it in French.

The protest was held ahead of the premiere of French filmmaker Eva Husson's "Girls of the Sun," which is about a Kurdish battalion of women soldiers. Husson is one of three female filmmakers out of the 21 movies in competition for the Palme d'Or this year.

The other two — Nadine Labaki's "Capernaum," and Alice Rohrwacher's "Happy as Lazzaro" — are to premiere next week.

Cannes has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years over the number of female directors selected into its main slate, considered one of the most esteemed achievements in cinema. Jane Campion is the only female filmmaker to ever win the Palme.

The festival supported Saturday's protest. Festival director Thierry Fremaux earlier this week hailed Saturday's event as a way for women "to affirm their presence."

Fremaux has repeatedly insisted that the festival chooses its films purely based on quality. But he's also signaled that the festival is reanalyzing its procedures and making its selection committees gender-balanced.

Cannes, France, 12 May 2018

1. Medium shot, pull out to wide Kirsten Stewart, Lea Seydoux, Khadja Nin, Ava DuVernay and Cate Blanchett arrival

2. Cutaway press

3. Various Salma Hayek, Sofia Boutella, Patty Jenkins and other film makers arrive

4. Pan of arrivals

5. Cutaway photographers

6. Wide shot Eighty two film industry professionals stand on the steps of the Palais des Festivals

7. UPSOUND (French/English) Cate Blanchett, actress, jury president: "Madame and monsieur bienvenue. On these steps today stand 82 women."

8. Cutaway crowd

9. Wide shot Eighty two film industry professionals stand on the steps of the Palais des Festivals

UPSOUND (English) Cate Blanchett, actress, jury president:

"The prestigious Palme d'Or has been bestowed upon 71 male directors, too numerous to mention by name but only two female directors, Jane Campion, who is with us in spirit and the wonderful Agnès Varda who stand with us today. These facts are stark and undeniable."

10. Cutaway camera operator

11. UPSOUND (English) Cate Blanchett, actress, jury president:

"We all face our own unique challenges but we stand together on these steps today as a symbol of our determination and our commitment to progress. We are writers, we are producers, we are directors, actresses, cinematographers, talent agent, editors, distributors, sales agents and all of us are involved in the cinematic arts. And we stand today in solidarity with women of all industries."

12. Cutaway camera operator

13. Various of Eighty two film industry professionals clapping and holding hands in the air

14. Tilt down from front of Palais des Festivals to wide of women clapping on the steps