Entertainment Awards Shows and Events Premieres Alexandra Hedison Beams Over Wife Jodie Foster's 'Amazing' Support as She Premieres Film at Sundance (Exclusive) PEOPLE spoke with the 'ALOK' director on Thursday at the Sundance Film Festival about the support from her fellow filmmaker and wife of nearly 10 years By Jen Juneau Jen Juneau Jen Juneau is a News and Movies Staff Writer at PEOPLE. She started at the brand in 2016 and has more than 15 years' professional writing experience. People Editorial Guidelines and Marisa Sullivan Marisa Sullivan Digital News Writer People Editorial Guidelines Published on January 19, 2024 10:53AM EST Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 18, 2024. Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Alexandra "Alex" Hedison is grateful for her wife Jodie Foster's support. PEOPLE spoke with the ALOK director, 54, on Thursday during the Sundance Film Festival's Opening Night Gala presented by Chase Sapphire, where she said she is "always open to getting advice from anyone who has [worked in the industry] for so long," including her Academy Award-winning wife. "If she’s going to give me advice, I’m going to listen. For sure," Hedison says about her wife of nearly a decade, who is accompanying Hedison on her first-ever Sundance appearance. Asked whether Foster, 61, did anything special to wish her good luck as her short film premiered at the festival, Hedison says, "Well, first of all, she flew in from New York. She’s on a major press tour, so she flew here at 4 in the morning to get to the festival, so that was amazing." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison at the Sundance Film Festival's Opening Night Gala in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 18, 2024. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Jodie Foster Says She 'Can't Wait' to Support Wife Alexandra Hedison at Her Sundance Premiere: 'Not About Me' "And I mean, she’s just so incredibly supportive and so happy for me and loves this festival," the filmmaker adds. "It’s just amazing she’s here." Foster was all smiles as she supported Hedison during the world premiere of ALOK at the festival on Thursday night. The two-time Oscar winner was dressed in a black peacoat, worn on top of a patterned back and white collared shirt, and accessorized with a Gucci purse. Hedison wore a velvet jacket in a dark shade of blue with a cream-colored long-sleeve blouse and a floral lapel pin. According to the Sundance website, Hedison's film is "a compelling portrait of Alok Vaid-Menon, acclaimed nonbinary author, poet, comedian, and public speaker," and is executive produced by Foster. Malia Obama Screens Short Film at Sundance, Hopes It Makes Audiences ‘Feel a Bit Less Lonely’ Hedison and Foster married after a year of dating in April 2014 in a top-secret ceremony. Foster previously sang her wife's praises on Wednesday's episode of the Today show, saying she's most proud of "the fact that Alex and ALOK are part of making people better instead of worse." "I think it's about freedom and being your best self and being free, and I have a lot to learn from it, so I'm excited for her," continued the Nyad actress. "And I can't wait to be there by her side and to have it not be about me." Among the stars debuting new films at Sundance this year are Steven Yeun, Pedro Pascal, Michael Fassbender, Saoirse Ronan and Foster's Panic Room costar Kristen Stewart. Close