The Santa Barbara Film Festival delivered a Snow White and the Huntsman reunion on Friday night when Oscar winner Charlize Theron presented co-star Kristen Stewart with the American Riviera Award for her Oscar-nominated performance as Princess Diana in Neon’s Spencer.

Oscar-winner Theron praised Stewart’s “real commitment” to the craft, something that shows in everything she does. She saved special words for Stewart’s work in the Pablo Larraîn-directed film.

“It’s been so fun to watch the trajectory of your career,” Theron said. “Your most recent film, Spencer, I have to say is my favorite work of yours to date. It’s not an easy task to take on the most iconic figure in modern history, but you let us into this character. You gave us a glimpse into her soul in the most tactful and heart-wrenching way.”

 

 

Stewart accepted the trophy, saying she’s “in such a good place to receive it.” Before the lively presentation from Theron, a Chanel couture-clad Stewart sat for a Q&A about her career.

The event featured clips from her career including such films as Panic Room, Zathura: A Space Adventure, Into the Wild, Adventureland, Still Alice, The Runaways, Twilight, Happiest Season, Clouds of Sils Maria, Personal Shopper and Spencer.

The actor, who’s 31, has been in the public eye the majority of her life, but when asked to open up on the moment she knew just how famous she truly was, Stewart said it had a little something to do with paparazzi and marijuana. “Two days before Twilight came out, I remember I was sitting on my porch with my dog and I got papped for the first time…sitting there smoking a bowl,” she said. “I look back on that moment with fondness.”

Of Twilight, Stewart said, “All of its faults are its strength because we just wanted it to be the best it could be,” she told Thompson. “We were all so young.”

In addition to campaigning in a busy awards, Stewart admitted that she’s busy packaging a film that will see her make her feature directorial debut. “I’m trying to put a movie together right now,” she said. “I have a couple of balls in the air. I’ll tease you with that, but I’m very excited. The worst thing is when you can’t tell everything to everyone all at once.”

Stewart has been attached to direct The Chronology of Water, an adaptation of the memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch.

She next stars opposite Viggo Mortensen, Scott Speedman and Lea Seydoux in David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future. “I’m a masochist,” she revealed of acting. “I love how scary it is.”

The 37th Santa Barbara Film Festival, presented by UGG continues through March 12, with appearances to come from Will Smith, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Aunjanue Ellis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciarán Hinds, Caitriona Balfe, Ariana DeBose, Alana Haim, Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur and Simon Rex, among others.

See Stewart’s acceptance speech below.