Lauren Noll, Dalia Rooni, Medalion Rahimi, and Layla Mohammadi- Hot Seat Interview- Same Same But Different

It’s not every time that you get to interview nearly the entire team for a movie, and it’s not every time that it’s for a movie like Same Same But Different. The rom-com independent film had its world premiere at SXSW this past week, and it instantly became one of my favorite movies of 2026. Not just because it’s funny- which it is- but also because it has such an honest approach, you truly just don’t see movies like this anymore. It’s the story of three Iranian-American women, each dealing with their own issues of relationships and life, coming together for a weekend on Cape Cod, and finding more than just a lasting friendship. I was so grateful to be able to interview the team, which includes director Lauren Noll, writer/actor Dalia Rooni, and co-leads Medalion Rahimi and Layla Mohammadi. We talk about our favorite movies, getting screen chemistry right, working with Kevin Nealon, and finding the balance between the laughter and the drama. Watch it now: