Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg Reunite at Sundance 15 Years After Adventureland: ‘He’s My Boy!’ (Exclusive)

Kristen Stewart received a major honor at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, presented to her by former colleague Jesse Eisenberg.

At the opening night of the festival presented by Chase Sapphire on Thursday, Stewart received the Visionary Award, recognizing her work as an “uncompromising artist, [her] contribution to the field of independent film and her long history with the Sundance Film Festival,” according to a previous press release.

Eisenberg, 40, showed up to honor his friend. The duo shot three films together: Adventureland (2009), American Ultra (2015) and Coffee society (2016).

“He’s my boyfriend!” Stewart told PEOPLE at the Eisenberg event, saying she felt “lucky” to receive the honor at just 33 years old. “That’s very nice.”

“People who make movies finally find their way [to Sundance], they’re like, psychotic,” he also jokes about the festival. “You have to be a little crazy to say, ‘I’m telling you, this is a good idea.’ Against all odds, like, ‘This probably won’t end well for anyone, but we have to try.’ ”

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Enter Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart Adventureland (2009).

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“So when I was younger and working with all these amazing directors, they instilled that in me,” Stewart continues in her conversation with PEOPLE. “I was so lucky. I was just a little kid. And now, I’m like, ‘Don’t make a movie if you don’t have to.’ ”

As Stewart presented the Visionary Award, Eisenberg said, “Kristen is one of those rare performers where she’s so committed, so authentic, so emotional, that you almost want to make sure she’s okay at the end of the day.”

“And it’s the kind of painstaking feeling that she brings to everything, which is such a gift to the audience because it gives us a real glimpse into the breath of our collective experiences,” he added. Social network star.

After the highlight of her film career was shown to the audience, Stewart addressed her friend: “Jesse, I adore you and your work and your whole life, just endlessly and for life – like, I’m going to do it for the rest of my life. I love you so much.”

“And I really love this festival. I’ve loved this festival all my life,” the Oscar nominee continued. “I came here for the first time 20 years ago, today I realized. I barely spoke English when they spoke to me. I got my first pair of Ugg boots and I was actually where the cool kids were. I knew that in my Bones, this was just a place full of yeses in a world full of nos and I still couldn’t understand why, but I knew it. And I know I was right.”

Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart at the opening night of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on January 18, 2024.

Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

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He continued Twilight alum, “Awards are only as meaningful as the people and places that give them to you, and to be accepted by a community that I’ve personally admired so much is so beautiful and invigorating, so timely. I need this. Thank you.”

Stewart has two films showing at Sundance this year: Love bleeds and Love me. Eisenberg, meanwhile, is there to throw himself out Real painwhich he wrote, directed and starred in alongside Kieran Culkin.

Last month, when it was announced that Stewart would receive the Visionary Award, she said in a statement: “Sundance’s purity, lack of fussy pretensions, and its commitment to supporting independence in an industry that doesn’t always value radical or sideways make it by far the most comfortable place for me to go. to watch, discuss and present films.”

“I am truly honored to be recognized by this beloved institution,” added Stewart.

The full program for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival can be found here. The festival lasts until January 28.

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