Point of View Podcast – Ep. 24: Paloma Schneideman

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with writer-director Paloma Schneideman to discuss her debut feature, Big Girls Don’t Cry — a coming-of-age drama set in 2006 that follows 14-year-old Sid as she navigates identity, friendship, first love and the complexities of growing up in the early days of online culture.

From the nostalgia of the mid-2000s to the vulnerability of teenage life, Paloma explores the inspiration behind the film, her creative process and the challenges of bringing an intimate, emotionally complex story to the screen. The conversation delves into the film’s distinctive visual language, its portrayal of adolescence and the lasting impact of the experiences that shape us.

Following its appearance at Sundance, Big Girls Don’t Cry continues to put Aotearoa cinema on the international stage.

Film Highlights

• Grand Prix Winner – Biarritz Film Festival 2026
• Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Competition – 2026
• 🇳🇿 Opening Night Film – New Zealand International Film Festival 2026

What to Expect

• Feature Interview – Paloma Schneideman discusses the making of Big Girls Don’t Cry, from its coming-of-age themes and visual style to the memories and experiences that shaped her debut.
• View Screen – A look at films arriving in New Zealand cinemas this October.

Speakers

• Tom Augustine – Host (@thaugustine)
• Paloma Schneideman – Writer-director of Big Girls Don’t Cry

Stay Connected

• Facebook: @viewmagnz
• Instagram: @viewmagnz
• Website: viewmag.co.nz

Stay tuned for more conversations with the people shaping film, culture, and the arts.