Kristen Stewart Voices Anger Over The Film Industry's Regression for Female Professionals

The renowned actress and filmmaker has declared she is “so angry” that progress for female directors in Hollywood have gone backwards after a brief period of improvement following the MeToo movement.

The Twilight star, who helmed the upcoming film her latest project, gave an emotional speech at a female-focused event in Los Angeles organized by the Academy behind the awards.

“The backsliding from a brief moment of advancement is statistically devastating,” she informed attendees. “A disappointingly low figure of films from the past year have been made by women.”

An annual report that monitors the numbers of female filmmakers revealed that 11 of the highest-grossing films of 2024 were directed by women, a decrease from 16 in the year 2020.

‘Male-Dominated Industry Model’

During her speech, Stewart remarked: “In a post-MeToo moment, it appeared likely that narratives made by and for women were at last receiving recognition. That we might be allowed or even supported to express ourselves and our common stories, every aspect of our lives unfiltered.

“However, I can confirm to the bare-knuckle brawling that it takes every step when the content is too dark, too controversial, when the honesty with which it presents insights about experiences commonly faced by females, often elicits disgust and rejection.”

She continued: “We can talk about pay disparities and menstrual product taxes and quantify the imbalance in many measurable forms. But the act of muting voices, it’s like we’re not allowed to feel rage. But I could devour this stand with a fork and [expletive] knife. I’m so angry.”

Attendees listening to Stewart’s address featured a number of well-known female stars.

Stewart was met with multiple ovations over the course of her seven-minute speech.

“I am thankful to you,” she said. “I am not grateful a male-centric industry framework that pretends to want to hang out with us while draining our assets and belittling our true perspectives. Let’s try and not be tokenised. Let’s start printing our own currency.”

Upcoming projects from a few women filmmakers are among those for the next Academy Awards, but the best director category is anticipated again to be male in majority.