3 weeks ago
2
“The Chronology of Water” director Kristen Stewart and one of the film’s stars, indie rock icon Kim Gordon, will headline Breaking Through the Lens‘ annual gala at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, May 16.
Breaking Through the Lens is a global nonprofit dedicated to creating pathways to financing for women, LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized filmmakers working in front of and behind the camera.
As the organization returns to Cannes for an eighth consecutive year, Stewart and Gordon will sit for a fireside chat moderated by Variety, just before the world premiere of “The Chronology of Water” in the Un Certain Regard section. Stewart and Gordon will reflect on their experience working on the buzzy new film, dive into their creative process across mediums and discuss the importance of backing underrepresented filmmakers with proper funding.
Adapted from the bestselling 2011 memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch, Stewart’s adaptation of “The Chronology of Water” stars Imogen Poots as Lidia, an Olympic swimming hopeful who, brought up in an environment torn apart by violence and alcohol, seemed destined for self-destruction until she found freedom in the form of literature. The film, as described in the festival’s early synopsis, “follows Lidia’s journey to find her own voice in an exploration of how trauma can be transformed into art through repossessing our own bloody histories, particularly those uniquely experienced by the bodies of women and girls.” The film’s cast also includes Thora Birch, Jim Belushi, Tom Sturridge and Gordon. In addition to directing, Stewart also co-wrote the screen adaptation with Andy Mingo.
“We are so thrilled to return to Cannes to host the incomparable Kristen Stewart and Kim Gordon and to celebrate our BTTL Action Grant finalists,” said the organization’s co-founder and executive director, Daphne Schmon. Of the organization’s long-standing partnership with Campari, Schmon added, “Campari’s support at the festival supports our fight for a more equitable film industry.”
As Schmon noted, the Cannes event marks the culmination of BTTL’s annual Action Grant program. Currently in its third year, the initiative supports five filmmakers with a feature film in late-stage development in the sum of €10,000. The application is open to any filmmaker who experiences marginalization due to their gender, including women and LGBTQIA+ directors.
Those selected enter into a year-long fellowship overseen by a jury of industry professionals (which has previously included actor Diane Kruger and top executives from studios like Netflix, HBO Max, Universal Pictures and Lionsgate) to receive guidance at festival markets, attend curated financier meetings and experience other mentorship opportunities. Applications for the next cycle open at this year’s Cannes.
“As filmmakers ourselves, we know that getting in front of key decision makers can be as difficult as getting a film financed. That’s why it’s important that we provide travel stipends for every finalist team,” said BTTL board member Liz Cardenas. (The stipend is supported by NeoGen.) “It’s an investment in visibility, in access, and in leveling the playing field.”
On Sunday, May 18, last year’s finalists will attend an exclusive pitch session at the Campari Lounge where they will present their projects to financiers, producers, and sales agents. The finalists who will present at the investor showcase include:
Emily Thomas – “The Dead Zone” (U.S., Documentary)
A piercing exposé on America’s broken pretrial detention system, following four reformers fighting to rewrite the rules of justice.
Olivia Peace – “In Case of Apocalypse” (U.S., Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
In a queer, technicolor Detroit, myth and rave collide in a creation story for the end of the world.
Erin Sayder & Rita Baghdadi – “Sidelines” [Working Title] (U.K., Documentary)
As a legal battle unfolds in Paris, a group of young Muslim women fight for the right to play football in hijabs — and for the right to be seen.
Damiana Acuña – “Lux Noctis” (Mexico, Drama/Horror/Magical Realism)
A teenage girl dares to disrupt the violent rituals of her matriarchal society, igniting a rebellion with love at its center.
Isabelle Mecattaf – “May You Outlive Us” (Lebanon/France/Belgium, Drama)
Four women. One house. Six days in Beirut. A poetic meditation on grief, resilience, and reinvention.
English (US) ·