Cathy Yan sings praises of Charli xcx

Cathy Yan says Charli xcx brings a deep understanding of cinema to the screen, not just star power.

The director, who worked with the pop artist on the new film The Gallerist, praised Charli xcx’s knowledge and respect for filmmaking at the movie’s Sundance Film Festival premiere in Park City, Utah, on January 24. 

“She really knows the craft,” Yan told People about the 33-year-old singer. “She’s a cinephile through and through. She respects films, understands them, and brings a real maturity and insight to her work.”

Yan called The Gallerist, which also stars Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega, a dark satire set in the art world and said Charli xcx felt like a natural fit for the project. According to the director, the casting aligned not only creatively but also personally, as Charli xcx previously attended art school.

“There was a role that really suited her,” Yan explained. “Once I learned about her background and interests, it made even more sense that she connected to this story.”

In the film, Portman plays a powerful art gallery owner who pressures her overworked assistant, portrayed by Ortega, to sell a highly controversial piece of art.

The Gallerist wasn’t Charli xcx’s only Sundance appearance this year. She also premiered The Moment, a mockumentary inspired by her real-life Brat Tour, on January 23. The film was directed and co-written by Aidan Zamiri.

Speaking after that screening, Charli xcx acknowledged that her character mirrored parts of her own personality.

“I’m obviously quite related to my character,” she said, joking that while she hopes she’s not as difficult as her on-screen counterpart, her real managers in the audience might disagree.

She added that the character’s emotional spirals were familiar territory, noting, “I’m a volatile person as an artist, but I’m nice too.”