Executive produced by Jane Campion, this bittersweet slice of pre-smartphone nostalgia is a sensitive, unflinchingly honest portrait of queer youth on the precipice of self-discovery, coming direct from Sundance.

Fourteen-year-old Sid Bookman (Ani Palmer) is a stormy, rebellious teen desperate to reinvent herself before the annual influx of tourists hits her quiet beach town of Ōmaha. In a clumsy bid for connection, Sid begins catfishing her crush by impersonating her best friend’s brother on an instant-messaging app. While her reckless digital posturing rapidly alienates her family, it unexpectedly catches the eye of her older sister’s friend, Freya. Seeing straight past the rebellious facade, Freya recognises the raw vulnerability Sid is so fiercely trying to hide.

Set against the hazy, sun-drenched backdrop of a coastal New Zealand town over the summer of 2006, this debut feature from writer-director Paloma Schneideman is a quietly observed, intimate drama. Seamlessly blending nostalgia with a sharp emotional core, it beautifully bottles the cringeworthy angst, burgeoning curiosity, and tender chaos of growing up queer.

Awards and Festivals:
2026 Sundance Film Festival
2026 SXSW Film Festival
2026 Melbourne International Film Festival