Kristen Stewart Embraces IndieWire’s Maverick Award with a Bold Appeal to ‘Revitalize’ the Industry

Kristen Stewart has consistently demonstrated a fearless approach to artistry, effortlessly blending instinct and creativity in ways many actors strive to achieve over a lifetime. At the 2025 IndieWire Honors held Thursday at Nya West in Los Angeles, Stewart accepted the Maverick Award and shared insights into the bold mindset behind her work. Hey, guys, I got some Chapstick. Im not thirsty. Lets fucking do this, she joked, setting the stage for an electrifying and candid speech.

The Maverick Award highlights Stewarts unique career trajectory, bridging mainstream fame and independent cinema. From her blockbuster beginnings in Twilight to her critically acclaimed role in Spencer, Stewart has become a versatile figure in film. This year marks a new chapter as she steps confidently into filmmaking. Her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, premiered at Cannes, signaling her arrival as a storyteller unafraid to challenge boundaries.

Following your vision, not what you think others want, is the path to transcending mediocrity, Stewart said. It changes the way we collectively think. Sharing your perspective opens doors.

Stewart developed The Chronology of Water over nearly ten years, despite being advised against adapting Lidia Yuknavitchs memoir. One line, omitted from the final film because lead actress Imogen Poots already screams it, became a guiding principle: when accused of being selfish for seeking independent lives, the characters respond, We wanted selves.

This inspiration fueled Stewarts exploration of desire, vulnerability, and the pressures faced by those outside Hollywoods mainstream narratives. The crushing weight of conventional expectations on marginalized voices? Fuck off and fuck you, she declared to applause. Art comes from wanting something.

She also celebrated chosen family, intuition, and courage in creation. Nothing inside you is completely original. But by expressing your deepest truths, you find your community, Stewart emphasized.

Closing on a note of optimism and determination, Stewart rallied the audience: Tonight is the night to be profoundly thankful and energized. Lets break some things. Lets rebuild. We can take it.

The awards evening featured an intimate cocktail reception and recognition ceremony in Los Angeles on December 4, 2025, showcasing Stewarts transformative vision for the industry.

Author: Ava Mitchell