Kristen Stewart to make directorial debut with short film about female power dynamics

Kristen Stewart will make her directorial debut with an upcoming short film commissioned by female-focused digital publisher Refinery 29.

The actor is one of 12 female directors, writers and animators the company are working with for its ShatterBox Anthology series — a collection of short films that “explore the dynamic of power”, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The first project to result from the collaboration is Kitty by Chloe Sevigny. The short is slated to premiere at Cannes, where Stewart stars in the Woody Allen opener, Cafe Society. Stewart’s effort is currently titled Water; nothing else is known about the project.

For Stewart, Water marks her second time directing, following her 2014 music video for Sage + The Saints’ song Take Me to the South.

Also joining Stewart and Sevigny in the anthology series is Oscar-nominee Gabourey Sidibe, who is making her directorial debut with a short titled A Tale of Four Women.

The actor, who currently stars in the hit TV show Empire, spoke on Monday at Refinery 29’s launch event for the series.

“Everything I do, my image and who I am and what I feel represents me is in the hands of a man, usually a white man,” she said, speaking of her acting career. Sidibe explained that she made the move to direct after realising “very recently that I want to be the one that decides what image I show the public”.

In addition to Cafe Society, Stewart has Personal Shopper — her second film with French film-maker Olivier Assayas, following Clouds of Sils Maria — debuting at Cannes this year. Her role in that film earned her a Cesar award, making her the first American female actor to win one.