After fighting to enter her film director era, Hayley Kiyoko isn’t done calling the shots

There are passion projects, and then there’s Hayley Kiyoko‘s feature directorial debut, Girls Like Girls. “It’s basically been an eleven-year journey of hardship to convince the world that our stories matter,” says the musician-turned-director, whose fans have long called her ‘Lesbian Jesus‘. Kiyoko’s sweetly nostalgic, sun-dappled coming-of-age drama tracks the burgeoning romance between grieving teenager Coley (Maya da Costa) and sexually conflicted Sonya (Myra Molloy). Coley’s mother has recently passed away, so she’s had to move to Oregon to live with her estranged father (Scrubs icon Zach Braff). In a new and somewhat sleepy rural town, friendly and confident Sonya is a welcome solace. Girls Like Girls, which opened in UK cinemas last week (October 2), is especially notable for its authentic and nuanced queer representation. While Coley isn’t fazed by her feelings, Sonya seems frightened by her evolving sexuality and is stuck in a toxic situationship with cocky Trenton (Levon Hawke). If the story feels warm and well rounded – it’s set in 2006, so there’s lots of flirty banter on AIM Messenger – that’s because it’s had time to bake. Girls Like Girls is – deep breath – a feature...