maya hawke draws notice at Sundance with new film appearance and music plans

Feb. 16, 2026 (ET) — Maya Hawke returned to the festival circuit this week with a dual focus: promoting a dramatic film that marks a tonal shift for the actor and revealing fresh details about a music project that fans have been awaiting. Her presence at the festival generated steady attention from critics and industry figures, highlighting an artist determined to expand the contours of a career built between acting and songwriting.

Festival spotlight: a dramatic turn

Hawke stepped onto the red carpet for the film’s premiere and participated in a wide-ranging Q&A, where she discussed the emotional demands of the role and her collaboration with the director. Festival coverage emphasized the maturity of her performance, noting a subtler screen presence and a willingness to lean into darker material than some of her earlier work.

In conversations with press at the festival, Hawke framed the role as one that required sustained attention to nuance—an approach she said came from a desire to avoid repeating herself as a performer. She explained that the part allowed her to explore more interior territory and to take risks she hadn’t taken previously on camera.

Industry attendees flagged the film as a potential career moment for Hawke, pointing to the combination of a challenging script and the high-profile festival platform. The film’s reception at the screenings included both praise for its ambition and notes about its uncompromising tone, with Hawke’s performance frequently singled out as one of the film’s strongest elements.

Music update: new material and a collaborative shift

Alongside the film press, Hawke used the festival stage to share news about her music. She confirmed plans to release new songs later this year and described a collaborative process that brought in a range of musicians and producers. While she stopped short of providing specific release dates, she emphasized that the new material moves beyond the folk-adjacent sound she had been known for, exploring denser arrangements and different production textures.

Hawke said the period of working on the film informed parts of the songwriting, noting that the emotional landscape of acting crept into the lyrical work. She also indicated an openness to performing live again later in the year, framing any tour plans as contingent on the film’s schedule and the rollout of new music. Managers and creative partners present at the festival described the plan as deliberately paced: release music, test a smaller number of live dates, then expand if the response supports it.

What this means for Hawke’s trajectory

The dual announcements at the festival underscore a broader trend among younger actors who balance multiple creative identities. Hawke’s recent choices suggest she is carving a path that keeps both acting and music in play, rather than letting either discipline eclipse the other. For audiences and industry watchers, the key questions now are how the new film will shape perceptions of her dramatic range and how the forthcoming music will position her within the current singer-songwriter landscape.

As the festival circuit continues, attention will turn to critical responses in the coming days and to whether the film finds distribution beyond the festival run. For her part, Hawke appeared focused on the work itself—promoting the film while also preparing for a slow-form music rollout that she says will allow her to remain involved in both worlds without compromising either.

Representatives for the film and Hawke’s creative team said they plan further announcements in the spring once festival dealings and scheduling settle into place.