| Big Girls Don't Cry | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Paloma Schneideman |
| Written by | Paloma Schneideman |
| Produced by | Vicky Pope Thomas Coppell |
| Starring | Ani Palmer Noah Taylor Rain Spencer Beatrix Wolfe |
| Cinematography | Maria Ines Manchego |
Release date |
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Language | English |
Big Girls Don't Cry is a 2026 film directed by Paloma Schneideman. [1] The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
The film is a coming of age film that focuses on a single summer in the life of Sid, a 14-year-old girl living in a small New Zealand town. Sid wants desperately to fit in with her older peers, particularly her crush Lana, so she begins to drink and smoke pot as well as flirt with boys despite a lack of interest on her part. Over time Sid also develops a crush on her sister's friend Freya, only to become heartbroken when she discovers Freya having sex with a boy. As the summer progresses Sid goes through a variety of events, both big and small, as she discovers more about herself.
Filming for Big Girls Don't Cry took place in Ōmaha, New Zealand during August 2025 and marked Schneideman's feature film directorial debut. [2] Of the film, Schneideman stated that she wanted the film to feel discomforting because she believed that "there was a real responsibility for young women or young queer folk to not look away or not avoid those more difficult aspects of coming-of-age". [3] She also chose to have the film end on an ambiguous note, as the directors wanted viewers to project themselves onto the situation instead of telling the viewer how they should feel. [4]
Big Girls Don't Cry had its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2026. [5] [6]
Out Magazine praised Big Girls Don't Cry, citing Ani Palmer's acting as a highlight. [7] RogerEbert.com's Marya Gates also praised the film, noting that "what really makes this film special is the way Schneideman subtly indicates how painful it was in that era to grow up queer without any real support system, even if you never experienced any actual violence." [8]