Kristen Stewart criticises Hollywood studio system at Cannes

Kristen Stewart has voiced strong criticism of Hollywood’s studio system and corporate structure, describing it as increasingly restrictive for filmmakers and artistes. While promoting her new film “Full Phil” at the Cannes Film Festival, the 36-year-old actress spoke openly about her frustrations with how the American film industry finances, produces, and distributes films.

Stewart said the current model often prioritises commercial outcomes over creative expression, arguing that this approach limits artistic freedom for both actors and directors. Ahead of the Midnight Screenings premiere of “Full Phil”, she told Variety that the pressures of capitalism within the industry continue to shape and restrict what kind of films get made.

The actor explained that these constraints have pushed her toward collaborating more frequently with international filmmakers, where she believes there is often greater creative flexibility. Reflecting on her directorial debut, “The Chronology of Water”, which premiered at Cannes a year ago, Stewart said her passion for directing remains strong, even as she acknowledges that her artistic vision does not always align with Hollywood’s profit-driven system and rigid distribution structures.

Stewart revealed that she already has two additional directing projects in development, both of which she intends to complete on her own terms. She said she hopes to finish one film by the end of this year, with the second expected to wrap production by next April. Her focus, she emphasised, is not commercial success, but creating films for audiences who value artistic storytelling.

While she expressed openness to working with independent distributors such as A24 and Neon, Stewart said she does not see herself directing large-scale Hollywood blockbusters, believing they would compromise her creative independence.

Speaking further about her plans, the “Twilight” actor said she hopes to make a low-budget film with friends and release it online, reinvesting any returns into future projects to sustain a self-driven creative process. She also expressed frustration with industry gatekeeping and long development cycles, saying she prefers to begin projects quickly rather than wait years for financing decisions.

While acknowledging her appreciation for Hollywood and mainstream filmmaking, Stewart said she feels more drawn to experimental and unconventional work outside the traditional studio system. She described the current industry environment as overly constrained by bureaucracy and commercial expectations, which she believes can hinder bold or innovative storytelling.

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Overall, Stewart emphasised that the filmmaking system in the United States, in her view, does not fully support unrestricted artistic expression. She argued that commercial and administrative pressures often conflict with creative intent, making it difficult for filmmakers to produce work that feels truly original or risk-taking.