Same Same But Different
In Lauren Noll’s SXSW 2026 dramedy, Same Same But Different, we follow three Persian childhood friends: a personal trainer, a lawyer, and an aspiring writer, grappling with identity and their ever-evolving relationships.
Rana has had her visa application denied three times. Working as a home care nurse in order to stay in the country. When her wealthy client’s son, and part-time hookup, agrees to marry her for her green card, Rana invites her best friends to Cape Cod to support her sham wedding. This beach house weekend brings drama and all the feelings as each woman deals with unresolved feelings.
This ensemble cast hits every beat. You will love each one of them. Screenwriter Dalia Rooni delivers equal parts authenticity and genuine wit. The entire Bachelorette party is hilarious perfection. It is genuinely a lovely balance of chaos and laughs.
Three different women. Three varying personalities. Three best friends. All the insecurities, baggage, and unfiltered honesty mix to create a beautiful portrait of identity and growth.
There’s a shared catharsis and joy that only shows itself in the purest of female relationships. Same Same But Different is about letting go of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Stick around for some hilarious bloopers during the credits. Brilliant.
When Rana’s visa application is denied, she faces the reality of returning home to Iran. That is, until Adam – her wealthy boss’s son and her summer fling – proposes a green card wedding. Wrestling with the implications of his offer, Rana enlists help from a questionable shaman, Adam’s pure-hearted mom, and most importantly her two Iranian best friends Nadia and Setareh, who arrive on Cape Cod for a wedding weekend full of opinions, chaos, and drama with their own American boyfriends. Just as total disaster approaches, the three women come together in a transformative moment of acceptance, growth, and coming of age – evolving this weekend into one that will change them all forever.
Same Same But Different Credits
Director:
Lauren Noll
Executive Producer:
Emily Reach White, Chris White
Producer:
Dalia Rooni, Lauren Noll, Zein Khleif, Medalion Rahimi, Emily Reach White
Screenwriter:
Dalia Rooni
Cinematographer:
Nathaniel Krause
Editor:
Stephanie Williams
Production Designer:
Sadra Tehrani
Sound:
Sam Costello
Music:
Neuman Jody Mannas
Cast:
Medalion Rahimi, Logan Miller, Layla Mohammadi, Dalia Rooni, Richie Moriarty, Michael Baszler, Danielle Pinnock, Lauren Noll, Nicholas Coombe, Kevin Nealon, Joey Lauren Adams
For all things SXSW 2026, click here
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