Actress-turned-filmmaker Kristen Stewart’s directing debut, The Chronology of Water, has found a domestic distributor in The Forge, an independent company based on Vashon Island. Having premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Stewart’s long-awaited adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir is positioned to elevate The Forge’s profile significantly.
Founded in 2019 by producer-turned-distributor Mark Sayre, The Forge has quietly built a reputation for releasing acclaimed but lesser-known independent films in the United States. Past notable projects include Noémie Merlant’s dark comedy The Balconettes and Josephine Stewart-Te Wihu’s coming-of-age drama We Were Dangerous. The company’s recent acquisition of Stewart’s film marks a pivotal moment as The Forge steps into the spotlight within the indie film scene.
The Forge’s Approach and Industry Positioning
The Forge has crafted its identity as a boutique distributor focused on working closely with filmmakers to realize their vision while connecting with specific audiences. Mark Sayre described the company’s philosophy, emphasizing collaboration and quality in selecting films.
“We’re looking to cement ourselves as one of the premier boutique distributors in the United States that’s known for having a high-quality slate,”
said Sayre, speaking from The Forge’s Vashon Island offices.
“I think it will ultimately emulate, to some degree, models that have been pioneered by companies like A24 and Neon as we start to acquire or internally produce titles that would be at a similar level.”
— Mark Sayre, Founder of The Forge
Sayre’s background includes extensive experience in film acquisitions and marketing, having started his career in 2006 with Xenon Pictures, a company run by family friend Leigh Savidge. This foundation provided Sayre with insight into the entire film lifecycle from production through release. After years of independently producing microbudget films, he became frustrated by challenges in distribution and sales that limited smaller projects from reaching their potential audiences.
“Little bit of a leg up, because I understood the half-life of a film, with respect to it physically being produced, but also with respect to it being released,”
said Sayre.
“What are the pain points I’m experiencing on the distribution and sales side of things, and what are the ways to resolve them in a way that I felt was more equitable and more fair to an independent filmmaker?”
— Mark Sayre, Founder of The Forge
When the COVID-19 pandemic halted production worldwide, Sayre reassessed his focus, leading to a shift from producing to concentrating entirely on distribution. He began acquiring films from third-party producers and found growing interest from contemporaries for his services in acquisitions and releases. Today, distribution is his primary occupation.
“Fast forward a couple years — now it’s all I’m doing,”
Sayre said.
The Philosophy Behind The Forge’s Name and Mission
Sayre views the company’s name as symbolic rather than a direct reference to products. He explained that a forge is a place where materials undergo intense heat and pressure to emerge stronger, which parallels the filmmaking process and The Forge’s goals as a company.
“A forge is a place where things are made under pressure and heat, shaped deliberately, and released into the world stronger than when they went in,”
he said.
“That felt like an honest metaphor for filmmaking, and for what we’re trying to do as a company.”
— Mark Sayre, Founder of The Forge
The Forge primarily operates as a North American distributor, with secondary activity as an international sales agency. Its acquisition criteria are flexible but driven by a passion for high-quality films with unique perspectives, along with a willingness for collaborative partnerships with filmmakers. Sayre acknowledges the unpredictable nature of boutique film distribution, noting that audience preferences shift continually.
“The temperature on things that work versus things that don’t is always shifting,”
he noted.
“You try to do your best on the front lines of distribution and sales to keep a pulse on the market, and you know what the audience is looking for or not looking for to keep that in mind.”
— Mark Sayre, Founder of The Forge
The Forge has positioned itself in a niche for prestige indie films, aiming not only for box office success but also strong award-season campaigns. This approach fits well with Stewart’s film, which carries significant anticipation in the indie film community.
Acquiring Kristen Stewart’s Film: A Disruptive Move
The Forge’s success in securing domestic rights to The Chronology of Water over other interested distributors, many of which showed strong interest after Cannes, illustrates its growing credibility. Sayre identified Stewart as a disruptor in the industry, a quality he saw reflected in The Forge’s own ambitions.
“I saw (Stewart) as a disruptor, and I see us as a disruptor, and so I thought it would behoove us to enter the fray,”
he said.
I wrote a letter to Kristen, sent it to (her representatives at the agency) WME, and they were kind enough to pass it to her. And then we wound up having a conversation.”
— Mark Sayre, Founder of The Forge
This dialogue not only led to the distribution deal but also aligned The Forge’s trajectory with the star’s emerging career as a filmmaker, which Sayre believes may ultimately define Stewart’s legacy.
Engagement Beyond Distribution: The Vashon Island Film Institute and Festival
Besides heading The Forge, Sayre also leads the Vashon Island Film Institute and organizes the Vashon Island Film Festival. These roles connect him deeply to the film industry and provide additional platforms to program and showcase films distributed by The Forge.
“Outside of being able to program films that The Forge has, it also lends some credibility and legitimacy … to be able to program other films, certainly during the regular programming of the (island’s) theater and featuring interesting guests but definitely at the film festival as well,”
Sayre said.
Over recent years, the festival has grown into a cornerstone event in the Northwest, while the Institute has launched The Quartermaster Lab, a film incubator designed to support the development, financing, and sales of local projects. These initiatives benefit directly from the company’s distribution experience, creating a symbiotic relationship between the arms of Sayre’s work.
“Those systems wouldn’t exist if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing at The Forge,”
he explained.
The Path Forward for The Forge and Regional Film Culture
With The Chronology of Water enhancing its visibility, The Forge is well-positioned to support more high-profile indie movies and expand its influence. Although Vashon Island’s limited number of theaters and reliance on ferry access restrict physical growth of the film festival, Sayre hopes to attract diverse talent and audiences to strengthen the festival’s draw beyond the local community.
The Quartermaster Lab aims to nurture additional projects over time, expanding regional filmmaking opportunities while maintaining the indie spirit at The Forge’s core. Sayre regards cinema as a cultural foundation and appreciates the opportunity to work daily in an industry he is passionate about.
“To me, being able to wake up every morning and work in an industry that revolves around the thing I love most,”
he said,
“feels like a real blessing and a privilege.”
— Mark Sayre, Founder of The Forge
