Maggie Gyllenhaal shared her joy of directing and the transition from acting to directing during a conversation with journalists at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Gyllenhaal noted that directing is similar to motherhood, stating, "Suddenly, you are responsible for another person's life. It's both incredibly exciting, powerful, and frightening."

Highlighting the weight of responsibility in directing, Gyllenhaal expressed that this aspect is much more interesting than producing and acting. She also mentioned enjoying the process of thinking about the film with her cinematographer and creating a dream world together. "Being on set with a plan and a language we've created together is very enjoyable for me," she added.

Gyllenhaal also addressed the position of female directors in the industry. She remarked, "Directing has historically and still is predominantly a male-dominated field," emphasizing that she feels respected in this area and that it is a new experience for her. Additionally, regarding her daughter Ramona being among those detained during a protest at Columbia University last year, she stated, "My daughter is her own woman."

Finally, Gyllenhaal announced that she has chosen to collaborate with Warner Bros. again to develop Rachel Kushner's novel "Creation Lake" as a directing project. She will also take on a role in producing this project.