“I’ve been training to play this role my entire life, from the day I was born. In ways, it’s extremely method,” Charli xcx joked this afternoon during a Berlinale presser when quizzed about the character she portrays in The Moment.
The film, which debuted last month at Sundance, screens this week in Berlin as part of the Panorama section. Directed by Aidan Zamiri from a screenplay he wrote with Bertie Brandes, the film is based on an original idea by Charli xcx. The “Brat” singer-songwriter also stars in the film, which follows a rising pop star as she navigates the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena-tour debut.
The singer-actor reiterated during this afternoon’s presser that “the scenarios that we show in the film are not true scenarios” that have actually happened during her career.
“But given a different set of circumstances, they might have, and I have definitely come close to those circumstances, especially having been in the music industry for so long,” she added.
“I’ve definitely met characters that we touch on, and I’ve definitely reacted in ways close to the way that I react in the film. You know, have I had a breakdown in the back of a Viano while smoking a million cigarettes? Yes. So I definitely had a lot to draw upon.”
Later during the presser, Charli xcx was quizzed on why she decided to debut The Moment on the festival circuit, to which she told the room that she was honored to screen at both Berlin and Sundance, describing the festivals as places that “champion a wide variety of filmmakers with really important voices.”
“This festival in particular,” she said of Berlin, “is known for not shying away from political films and films that have a real social angle by directors who really are visionary and have something to say. For me, as a producer and actor, for Aidan, as a director, and David as a producer, those are the kinds of films we love.”
She added: “I feel passionate about working within these spaces.”
The Moment starring ensemble features Kylie Jenner, Rachel Sennott, Kate Berlant, Alexander Skarsgård, Rosanna Arquette, Jamie Demetriou, Arielle Dombasle, Hailey Benton Gates, Trew Mullen, Mel Ottenberg, Richard Perez, Isaac Powell, Rish Shah, Tish Weinstock, Michael Workéyè, Shygirl, and A.G. Cook.
Charli xcx also produced the film under her Studio365 label alongside David Hinojosa. Exec producers are Brandon Creed, Mikey Schwartz-Wright, and Zach Nutman.
Last month, A24 reported that The Moment is its fastest-selling limited release.
Berlin runs until Feb 22.
English (US) ·