Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 17, 2025 · Entertainment

Kristen Stewart's Touching Embrace: A Directorial Triumph at BFI London Film Festival

Kristen Stewart rushed to embrace Imogen Poots as they led the stars arriving at the premiere of The Chronology Of Water on Thursday, during the 69th BFI London Film Festival

KIRSTEN STEWART GETS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH IMOGEN POOTS AT 'THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER' PREMIERE

The stars aligned last Thursday at the 69th BFI London Film Festival as Kristen Stewart and Imogen Poots brought the glamour to the premiere of Kristen's directorial debut, "The Chronology Of Water". The highly anticipated drama has been generating buzz since its Cannes Film Festival premiere earlier in May, where it received critical acclaim and a standing ovation.

Kristen, 35, looked every bit the proud momma as she beamed with joy alongside her leading lady, Imogen Poots, 36. The Spencer star stunned in a daring short black and white minidress that showcased not one but TWO new tattoos inspired by the film - "WHY" inked on her bicep and "MINE" on her thigh. Talk about making a statement!

The actress, 35, put on a very leggy display at the screening in a short black and white minidress, leaving both her new tattoos that were inspired by the film, on full display

Imogen, looking like a million bucks, rocked a velvet maroon gown that hugged her lithe frame to perfection, paired with a coordinating scarf. The actress exuded old-school Hollywood glamour, giving the paparazzi a show they wouldn't soon forget.

The two actresses were joined by their castmates, including Esme Allen, Esmé Creed-Miles, Anna Wittowsky, and Earl Cave (yes, Nick Cave's son!), who all brought their A-game to the red carpet. But it was Kristen's movie that truly stole the show - a poignant drama based on Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir about her experiences as a competitive swimmer after surviving an abusive childhood.

The film has been hailed by critics for its raw energy and poetic passion, with Variety praising "a stirring drama of abuse and salvation" and Indiewire's David Ehrlich declaring "there isn't a single millisecond of this movie that doesn't bristle with the raw energy of an artist".

The Spencer star had the words 'WHY' and 'MINE' inked on her bicep and thigh, respectively, to commemorate the project

But what really drew Kristen to the project? In an exclusive interview with AFP, she revealed: "I had just never read a book like that that is screaming out to be a movie, that needs to be moving, that needs to be a living thing. It was awe-inspiring how Lidia was able to take really ugly things, process them, and put out something that you can live with, something that actually has joy."

Kristen confessed she was drawn to the book's themes of trauma, recovery, and empowerment - themes that resonate deeply with women around the world. "Being a woman is a really violent experience," she said candidly. "Even if you don't have the sort of extreme experience that we depict in the film or that Lidia endured and came out of beautifully... I think this movie resonates with anyone who is open and bleeding, which is 50 percent of the population."

And what about her decision to cast Imogen as the lead? Kristen raved: "She's the best actress of our generation. She's so lush, so beautiful and she's so cracked herself open in this. She has this big boob energy in the film - even though she is quite flat-chested - these big blue eyes and this long hair."

Kristen beamed as she joined Imogen, 36, on the carpet, who exuded Hollywood glamour in a velvet maroon gown that clung to her lithe frame, teamed with a coordinating scarf

The actress continued to gush about Imogen's performance: "Pain and pleasure, they're so tied, there's a hairline fracture there... Lidia's book meditates on what art can do for you after people do things to your body - the violation and the thievery, the gouging out of desire. Which is a very female experience."

But don't worry, Kristen's not all about drama and angst - she also brought some much-needed levity to the premiere, joking with Imogen and flashing that famous smile for the cameras.

So what's next for Kristen? With "The Chronology Of Water" making waves at film festivals around the world, it's clear her directorial debut is one to watch. We can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

The Chronology of Water is Kristen's directorial debut, which she also co-produced and adapted for the screen from the visceral 2011 memoir by American swimmer Lidia Yuknavitch

Kristen Stewart's Directorial Debut: A Must-See

"The Chronology Of Water" has been generating buzz since its Cannes Film Festival premiere earlier this year. Here are some of the reasons why:

  • The film is based on Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir about her experiences as a competitive swimmer after surviving an abusive childhood.
  • Kristen Stewart made her directorial debut with this film, adapting it for the screen from Lidia's book.
  • Imogen Poots stars as Lidia in the drama, which has been praised for its raw energy and poetic passion.
  • The film explores themes of trauma, recovery, and empowerment - themes that resonate deeply with women around the world.

The two stars were joined at the screening by fellow cast members Esme Allen, Esmé Creed-Miles, Anna Wittowsky and Earl Cave (L-R)

With its poignant drama and stunning performances, "The Chronology Of Water" is a must-see at this year's BFI London Film Festival. Don't miss it!

Esmé turned heads as she put on a racy display in a sheer blue gown, flashing her underwear beneath and major side boob

While Earl - who plays Lidia's first husband in the film - looked the spitting image of his famous father, Nick Cave, as he posed in an Argyle patterned sweater vest and a black knit cardigan

Rounding out the talented cast for the drama are Jim Belushi, Tom Sturridge, Thora Birch and Sonic Youth rock band's Kim Gordon

Kirsten first presented the film at Cannes Film Festival earlier in May - where the film was met with critical acclaim and and a standing ovation

Variety called it 'a stirring drama of abuse and salvation, told with poetic passion', while Indiewire critic David Ehrlich said 'there isn't a single millisecond of this movie that doesn't bristle with the raw energy of an artist'

The Twilight star insisted there were no autobiographical parallels per se that drew her to the original book

Kristen told reporters she was never really tempted to play Lidia herself, before deciding to cast Imogen, who she called 'the best actress of our generation'

Kristen described her movie's fever-dream energy as 'a pink muscle that is throbbing' and that Imogen was able to tap into, channelling Lidia's ferocious but often chaotic battle to rebuild herself and find pleasure and happiness in her life

She added that Lidia's book 'sort of meditates on what art can do for you after people do things to your body - the violation and the thievery, the gouging out of desire. Which is a very female experience'

Kristen said Lidia discovered that the only way to take desire back was to 'bespoke it... and repurpose the things that have been given to you in order for you to own them'