Charli XCX Shares Her Passion for Film, According to Director Cathy Yan: She Truly Knows Her Craft

Cathy Yan; Charli XCX.
Credit :

C Flanigan/imageSPACE/Shutterstock; Dia Dipasupil/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Filmmaker Cathy Yan describes singer Charli XCX as a genuine “cinephile.”
• Yan directed Charli XCX in her new film The Gallerist, which also features Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega.
• The Gallerist had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

Filmmaker Cathy Yan believes Charli XCX’s talents extend well beyond the music industry, emphasizing her exceptional understanding of cinema.

Yan directed the 33-year-old singer in the upcoming film The Gallerist, which features Natalie Portman as an art gallery owner. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on January 24. During the red carpet event, Yan shared her admiration for Charli XCX, known for the hit song “Apple.”

“She is so good,” Yan stated. “She really knows the craft. She is a cinephile through and through. She really respects films, and I just find her so interesting and so mature and so insightful.”

Describing the film as a “dark satire set in the art world,” Yan noted that Charli XCX was a perfect fit for the role. She mentioned that Charli’s background included attending art school, creating a connection to the film’s themes.

“There just happened to be a role that I thought would really fit with [Charli]. And it turns out that she had gone to art school in the past, so there was a sort of overlap and interest,” Yan added.

In The Gallerist, Portman’s character recruits her assistant, portrayed by Jenna Ortega, to sell a controversial piece of art.

Jenna Ortega, Natalie Portman, Cathy Yan and Charli XCX at ‘The Gallerist’ premiere at Sundance on January 24, 2026.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Charli XCX’s appearance in The Gallerist marks her second premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this year, following the screening of her mockumentary The Moment on January 23. Directed and co-written by Aidan Zamiri, The Moment is inspired by her real-life Brat Tour.

“I’m obviously quite related to my character, so I had a lot of inspiration to pull from,” Charli XCX remarked during the post-screening discussion.

“I would like to think I’m not as much of a nightmare as Charli in the film, but my real managers are in the audience and they probably know the true answer to that,” she quipped, eliciting laughter from the audience.

In The Moment, she noted, her character experiences “spiral moments” that resonate with her own artistic journey. “I have been there. I think I am, as an artist, quite a volatile person. And nice though. I am quite nice too. Right?”

Zamiri quickly affirmed her sentiment, saying, “Yes, yes, confirmed,” leading to Charli XCX’s playful reply, “Too f—ing right.”

Charli XCX at ‘The Moment’ Los Angeles premiere on January 29, 2026.

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

At the Los Angeles premiere of The Moment, held on January 29, 2026, Charli XCX was joined by much of the film’s cast, including notable figures like Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Gates, and Alexander Skarsgård. The film also features a brief appearance by Kylie Jenner.