Julia Roberts Says “Stand Up for What You Believe In” at After the Hunt Premiere
Saturday night at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures was one to remember. Julia Roberts, Michael Stuhlbarg, Lío Mehiel, and director Luca Guadagnino walked the carpet for the Los Angeles special screening of After the Hunt, joined by writer Nora Garrett, cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed, and producers Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody, and Allan Mandelbaum.
I had the chance to speak with Julia and Michael on the carpet, and what stood out to me most was how thoughtful and grounded they both were when talking about the film’s message — one that feels especially relevant right now.
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“You’ve always been about activism and making sure everyone’s voice is heard. This movie tells that story and deals with that. But how can we as a generation continue to do that for those voices that are not heard?”
Julia Roberts: “Oh, just stand up for what you believe in. Live out loud.”
Michael Stuhlbarg: “That’s wonderful advice. I would agree—especially nowadays. We need each other, and we need to listen to each other. And we can do that together.”
After our conversation, I told them, “That’s exactly why this movie hit me the way it did — it reminds us how powerful empathy and action can be when we choose to really listen.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 04: Julia Roberts seen at the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ “After The Hunt” at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 04, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Amazon MGM Studios via Getty Images) 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 04: (L-R) Director/producer Luca Guadagnino, Julia Roberts and Michael Stuhlbarg seen at the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ “After The Hunt” at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 04, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Amazon MGM Studios via Getty Images) 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 04: (L-R) Production designer Stefano Baisi, writer Nora Garrett, producer Jeb Brody, cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed, producer Allan Mandelbaum, Julia Roberts, director/producer Luca Guadagnino, Lio Mehiel and Michael Stuhlbarg seen at the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ “After The Hunt” at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 04, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Amazon MGM Studios via Getty Images)
I also caught up with cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed, who shared how meaningful this project was for him personally. He reflected on returning after 25 years and said how glad he was to be back behind the camera — and you can feel that passion in every frame of the film. The cinematography is layered and detailed, capturing emotion through movement and light in a way that makes it feel like he never left.
Writer Nora Garrett also spoke about how the story came together and where it all began, describing her process of weaving together themes of truth, accountability, and the gray areas in human relationships. Her words gave real insight into how After the Hunt became such a compelling exploration of moral complexity.
Luca Guadagnino’s direction ties it all together beautifully, balancing Nora’s intimate writing with Malik’s striking visual language. And Julia Roberts delivers a performance that reminds you exactly why she remains one of Hollywood’s most magnetic storytellers.
After the Hunt opens in New York and Los Angeles on October 10, and expands nationwide on October 17.
