I’m Navida Stein, an actress, writer and producer based in New York City. In 2024, Big Pup Lil Pup Productions was born to create cinematic stories from an older woman’s POV and combat the “invisibility syndrome” that women in their 50’s and upwards experience. Since then, I’ve made 5 diverse short films: a drama, two comedies, a dramedy and a sci-fi romance and these shorts are now being submitted to film festivals. All these films were produced and written by me – and I act in four!

Writing projects – 1st drafts done! MidWest Motel a dark comedy elderly mother and daughter road trip and Resistance, Within a dystopian post-apocalyptic world where women are kept in cages.

Update on my latest short, Old Neighbors. Shot in the Hudson Valley in October 2025, it is nearing completion. Delighted to work again with actor D.C. Anderson and director & cinematographer Katy Frame! Composer/pianist David Gaines is writing the music for the film.

Thumbprint Cookies is an official selection 2025 for the Sugar Loaf Film Festival, 2026 Worldwide Women’s Film Festival, 2026 Fredericksburg Film Festival, 2026 Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE), 2026 Georgetown Film Festival (GTX) and 2026 Mystic Film Festival!

NOT IN IOWA ANYMORE is an official selection for the 2026 Iowa-Nebraska Film Festival.