Kristen Stewart capped the 2026 Nouvelles Vagues International Biarritz Film Festival on Saturday, June 27, appearing onstage to celebrate Paloma Schneideman’s Grand Prix win for “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”
Kristen Stewart stepped into the closing ceremony spotlight on Saturday. June 27. in Biarritz. France—and the moment was built around someone else’s triumph. The 36-year-old actress and filmmaker appeared onstage with Paloma Schneideman. whose movie Big Girls Don’t Cry earned the festival’s Grand Prix.
Stewart wasn’t there as a passing visitor. She served as president of the jury for the fourth edition of the 2026 Nouvelles Vagues International Biarritz Film Festival. The festival. which focuses on international features centered around stories of youth. lists Stewart’s jury role as leading the group reviewing the International Feature Film Competition.
For the event, the Oscar-nominated star wore a Chanel outfit.
Big Girls Don’t Cry was part of the festival’s Feature Film Competition and screened as a French premiere. The festival listing names Paloma Schneideman as director and notes that actress Ani Palmer was also in attendance. The film was described by Sundance as a New Zealand coming-of-age story about 14-year-old Sid Bookman navigating desire. identity. and the internet during a transformative summer in rural New Zealand.
Stewart had arrived earlier in the week to begin her jury duties. By the time the festival’s final night came around, she was no longer reviewing the stories—she was helping mark the one that rose to the top.
Her Biarritz appearance also lands as her next chapter continues to take shape. The Twilight alum is set to star in the upcoming film The Wrong Girls with Alia Shawkat, directed and written by Kristen’s wife Dylan Meyer.
As the cameras turned toward the final moments of the fourth edition. the festival’s emphasis on youth stories felt even more personal—Stewart’s spotlight onstage ended not with a quiet bow. but with a Grand Prix awarded to Paloma Schneideman and a film that traces what it means to grow up in a world that never stops changing.
Kristen Stewart Biarritz Film Festival Nouvelles Vagues International Biarritz Film Festival 2026 Grand Prix Paloma Schneideman Big Girls Don’t Cry Ani Palmer Chanel The Wrong Girls Dylan Meyer Alia Shawkat
Stewart just being there like always right? lol
Wait so she’s president of the jury but the article says she wasn’t just visiting?? I’m confused. Also Chanel outfit?? like what does fashion have to do with film prizes.
Big Girls Don’t Cry sounds like a movie about like social media drama or whatever. I swear I saw something like that on Netflix… but maybe not. Anyway Kristen seems to always show up at these festivals and then somehow another movie wins. Coincidence?
So Paloma Schneideman won the Grand Prix and Kristen Stewart was the jury… which means she picked it? That’s what I’m hearing. And then it says the film is a New Zealand coming-of-age story about a 14-year-old but the director part is all mixed up in my head. Also The Wrong Girls with Alia Shawkat—didn’t Alia used to date somebody famous? why is everyone tied to everyone lol