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Twilight Actress Kristen Stewart Promotes 2 New Films At Sundance

by amyellensoden | January 22, 2010 at 01:34 pm

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Twilight's leading lady Kristen Stewart finally gets to take a break from the endless interviews and promotions for the popular vampire franchise to attend Sundance 2010. The 19-year-old actress is currently in Park City, Utah to promote her two upcoming film releases for The Runaways and Welcome To The Rileys. Both films are opening at the Sundance Film Festival this year, and Stewart is subsequently a hot topic for discussion as the scope of her acting career is getting some more attention outside of Twilight.

The Runaways opens at Sundance this Sunday January 24. The biopic stars Stewart as female rock icon Joan Jett and also has Dakota Fanning portraying the role of Cherie Curie. Fanning recently joined the ranks of the Twilight cast to play the evil vampire Jane in New Moon, the second installment of The Twilight Saga. The Runaways tells the story of the formation of the real-life band of rock chicks and boasts real musical performances from the leading actors.

Joan Jett herself is set to be in attendance as the Sundance film festival opens this weekend. She will be performing with The Blackhearts at Harry O's, a venue in Park City. Stewart is scheduled to attend the live show. A reliable source of Twilight intel can confirm that Stewart will be at the venue to see Joan Jett rock out on stage:

There has been buzz that Stewart and Fanning will also attend Jett’s performance with The Blackhearts on Saturday night at Harry O’s in Park City, Utah. Gossip Cop can confirm that Stewart does plan to be there, as does Fanning.

But another rumor cropping up has Robert Pattinson hitting Sundance for the premiere of Stewart’s new film, and Gossip Cop can report that there is not truth to that speculation.

As well as The Runaways, Stewart will be be promoting a second film at Sundance entitled Welcome To The Rileys. Stewart portrays the role of a stripper opposite James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo. The storyline follows a couple whose marriage is suffering after the death of their teenage daughter. The husband (Gandolfini) leaves for New Orleans to do some soul searching and meets Stewart's character Mallory. Throughout the course of the film, the couple forms a kinship with Mallory and regains some semblance of meaning in their lives as they also help a young girl on a lost path.

Welcome To The Rileys opens at Sundance this Saturday January 23. It is also set to screen at the Berlin Film Festival running February 11-21. There are many relatively young actors in attendance at Sundance this year including Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford who is promoting the film Twelve, America Ferrera who is in Dry Land, and Natalie Portman in Hesher.

Stewart's indie film career will hopefully get some more attention by way of Sundance 2010. She has worked with the likes of Sean Penn, Jodie Foster and Robert DeNiro who have all sung her praises. While Twilight may have thrown her into the spotlight, she definitely has been honing her craft for many years now and is getting some well deserved attention within the film industry.

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miss (not verified)

at 14:06 on January 22nd, 2010

I love you kristen

=) (not verified)

at 06:47 on January 23rd, 2010

kristen's caracter in welcome to the rileys is named mallory not lisa!

amyellensoden

at 14:08 on January 23rd, 2010

I think I was in a typing frenzy on Friday, no idea why I have Lisa instead of Mallory! Anyways, thank you. I am really excited for this film and The Runaways, Kristen all the way.