Q&A with Filmmaker Sophia Conger, Writer-Director of BIG NOSE

Sep 18

Written By mark wantoe

Sophia Conger’s comedy BIG NOSE, making its New York Premiere at the 2026 Bushwick Film Festival, follows a teenage scholar-athlete whose response to ridicule over her appearance takes an unexpected and radical turn. As Tori’s enlarged nose becomes the unlikely source of her popularity, the film considers the strange bargains embedded in self-reinvention.

An NYC-based writer-director whose work moves between drama and comedy, Conger brings a bold, colorful sensibility to a story rooted in a deeply personal observation about beauty standards. She discusses satire, the risks of making a “junk-drawer short,” and the creative conviction behind going big.

Tell us about the moment this film began for you.

After directing a series of short films written by other people, I realized it was time to make something that was written in my own voice and uniquely me. I therefore experimented with writing short stories. The first short story I birthed was based on a personal experience that has followed me all my life (detailed below) in some small ways and not-so-small ways.

What scene, character, image, or idea was the key that unlocked the film for you?

At fourteen, my self-conﬁdence was shattered when a peer told me I had a big nose. That single comment forever altered how I viewed my face and sparked a lifelong fascination with how society arbitrarily deems certain physical attributes as desirable while rejecting others.

BIG NOSE Trailer

Why did this story feel important for you to tell now?

Right now, we're living in an era where social media and cosmetic procedures have created a culture of facial homogenization—everyone is altering their faces to look like the exact same filter or template. Big Nose was made now as a satirical response to this pressure. Rather than bowing to the pressure to conform and shrink herself to fit the standard mold, our protagonist Tori takes the urge to modify her face to its ultimate absurdist conclusion by making her nose bigger—reclaiming her identity by refusing to blend in.

What was the biggest creative challenge or risk you took in making the film?

I think the biggest risk I took in making this film was making what my producer and I call a "junk-drawer short." Big Nose is funny, but maybe the humor is a bit too juvenile for most film festivals' tastes. It's erotic— that's strange for a high school/coming-of-age story. It takes place over several days, has a lot of action, and is less dialogue-driven—unlike most shorts. That's because it's expensive to make and maybe a lot to squeeze in. But the theme of this movie is big. And the best compliment I keep getting when people see it and they know me is that they say it's very "me." And my style is a risk I'm willing to take!

Was there a point when you weren’t sure you would finish the film? What kept you going?

There was never a point where I wasn't going to finish the film, but we struggled with the ending—the film was always meant to comment on the complex and bittersweet truth about the trade-offs we make when we change ourselves… I'm not sure I was able to successfully communicate that with my ending (specifically with Tori's loss of her swimming career). But maybe I did.

What surprised you most about the film as it evolved from the original idea to the finished work?

The most stressful scene to film on our shoot has become everyone's favorite scene when watching.

What do you hope audiences take away from experiencing the film?

Big Nose is ultimately supposed to make you laugh, cringe, and experience some sort of catharsis, all while offering a sincere look at body image and self-love. It is a story about the power of transforming an insult into a revolutionary act of self-definition.

Is there a particular scene or moment you’re especially excited for audiences to experience at BFF?

There's a comedic jump scare midway through the film that gets audiences every time...

Has showing the film to audiences changed the way you understand it? If so, how?

It's shown me that this film clicks for some, and for others, it doesn't really quite make sense. That's ok.

Is there anything about this film, its inspiration, production, or your own journey that you think audiences or journalists should know?

I went BIG with the story and production in line with the movie's theme, and I'm very proud of that!

What are you working on or developing next?

I'm developing a dark comedy feature called "Hello Harry" with my same producer, Allison Joy Gale, about a work-obsessed chef who falls in love with her death angel.

Based on your experience, what advice would you give to filmmakers just starting out?

Keep on making. That's how we improve as artists.

What film, TV show, or other piece of storytelling did you see this year that you absolutely loved?

"Pillion" directed by Harry Lighton rocked.

If you’ve been to Bushwick the neighborhood, what do you love most about it?

I love how you can absolutely never get bored in Bushwick. There are a bajillion things to do and characters to people-watch. I lived there for several years and it's the best.

What does “Make Time for Your Dreams” mean to you at this point in your creative life?

It means constantly being aware of your goals and whether you're hitting them. Taking a moment to recognize why you may feel unhappy or even ashamed of a particular piece of work in your past or your current lived experience. What are the active steps I need to take to feel proud of myself and my work? Often that means doing something scary. But for all we know, we have one life! Let's go y'all.

See BIG NOSE at BFF 2026

NEW YORK PREMIERE

Friday • October 9, 2026 • 8:00 PM

It Seemed Like A Good Idea

Williamsburg Cinemas

When a teenage scholar athlete gets mocked for her "big nose," she makes a radical surgical decision that unexpectedly transforms her life.

GET TICKETS → https://www.bushwickfilmfestival.com/tickets

The 19th Annual Bushwick Film Festival returns October 7–11, 2026, bringing filmmakers and audiences together for five days of independent film, conversation, and community across Brooklyn.

Sophia Conger is a NYC-based director/writer with a focus on narrative storytelling. Her films sit in the intersection of drama and comedy and her style is bold and colorful. Her films have been selected at festivals such as Palm Springs, HollyShorts and Nashville, and her writing has earned her quarter-finalist spots at Austin and HollyShorts respectively.

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SEE IT AT BFF 2026

BIG NOSE