Tracy Choi’s Girlfriends is a tender and reflective coming-of-age drama about love, memory and the search for identity.
The Cantonese-language film follows one woman through three important periods of her life, at 17, 22 and 34, showing how the relationships she experiences shape the person she becomes.
The story centres on Lok (also known as Xin in some descriptions), a filmmaker from Macau who is trying to find her place in life. Now living between Hong Kong and Macau, Lok is struggling with creative uncertainty, career pressures and a relationship that is moving towards a more settled future. Her girlfriend Bei wants stability, while Lok feels pulled between expectations and the desire to remain true to herself.
The film unfolds through a reverse timeline, taking audiences back through Lok’s memories: her adult life as a filmmaker, her university years in Taiwan at 22, and her teenage years in Macau at 17, when she experiences early love and self-discovery.
Rather than presenting romance as simple or predictable, Girlfriends explores how our past relationships continue to influence who we are.
Who stars in Girlfriends?
The film is directed by Tracy Choi Ian-Sin and features a cast of Hong Kong and Macau performers, including:
- Fish Liew Chi-Yu as Lok
- Jennifer Yu as Bei
- Elizabeth Tang
- Han Ning
- Natalie Hsu
- Eliz Lao
- Emilia Chen
Golden Horse Awards 2025 recognition
Girlfriends was recognised at the prestigious 62nd Golden Horse Awards, one of the major celebrations of Chinese-language cinema. The film received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Elizabeth Tang, highlighting the strength of the ensemble performances and the emotional depth of the story.
The recognition was significant for Tracy Choi’s film, which had already gained attention internationally after premiering at the Busan International Film Festival in 2025. The Golden Horse nomination placed Girlfriends among a selection of acclaimed Chinese-language films from the year.
When was Girlfriends released in the UK?
Girlfriends arrived in UK cinemas on 19 June 2026.
The film has been released as a Cantonese-language film with English subtitles. It also contains Mandarin dialogue.
How long is Girlfriends and what is the age rating?
The runtime of Girlfriends is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
In the UK, the film has a 15 certificate. The rating guidance includes strong sex and language.
Where can you watch Girlfriends?
The film is currently available in UK cinemas, including screenings through major cinema chains such as:
As a new release, streaming availability has not yet been widely announced, so cinema screenings are currently the main way to see the film in the UK.
Is it Worth a Watch?
Girlfriends is a quietly powerful film about growing older, looking back and accepting the different versions of yourself that exist along the way. Tracy Choi creates a deeply personal story about queer identity, creativity and relationships, one that asks whether becoming yourself means choosing between the life others expect and the life you truly want.
For audiences interested in LGBTQ+ cinema, intimate character dramas and thoughtful Asian filmmaking, Girlfriends is a film worth discovering.
Watch Trailer
About Director Tracy Choi
Tracy Choi (also known as Choi Ian Sin) is a Macau-born filmmaker known for creating deeply personal films that explore identity, relationships and the experiences of women and LGBTQ+ communities. Her work often focuses on ordinary moments and emotional details, using intimate storytelling to examine questions of belonging, family and self-discovery.
Choi studied film and developed her career in Hong Kong, becoming part of a new generation of independent Chinese-language filmmakers. Her previous work includes the award-winning feature Sisterhood (2019), a nostalgic drama about female friendship and memories of the past, which helped establish her reputation as a distinctive voice in contemporary Asian cinema.
With Girlfriends, Choi continues her interest in stories about women’s lives and personal histories. The film draws on themes that have appeared throughout her work: the tension between personal freedom and social expectations, the search for home, and the complicated ways people understand love over time.
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