Big Girls Don't Cry (in-person & online)

Ani Palmer, Rain Spencer, Noah Taylor

Over one transformative summer in rural, early aughts New Zealand, a sex-curious 14-year-old explores her desires, her identity, and the internet as she imitates the people she longs to be accepted by. Writer-director Paloma Schneideman’s acclaimed debut is a queer coming-of-age portrait of the messiness, confusion and intensity of adolescence.

It’s the summer holidays and Sid (Ani Palmer) is adrift. She spends her days trying to avoid her distracted, alcoholic father (Noah Taylor) and her nights exploring the internet, using her older brother’s MSN Messenger logins as a passport. Caught between childhood and adulthood, she begins to model her behaviour after a group of older teens, seeking closeness to the girls she both wants, and wants to be. Executive produced by Jane Campion, Schneideman’s naturalistic, effortlessly compelling drama captures a time in life when desire and sexuality feel overwhelming but impossible to articulate, with a fearless performance from newcomer Palmer.