Hayley Kiyoko's Directorial Debut Explores Queer Youth Yearning

WHO:

Mashable - Hayley Kiyoko is the director of "Girls Like Girls."

Variety - Hayley Kiyoko is a pop singer and filmmaker.

WHAT:

Mashable - "Girls Like Girls" is Hayley Kiyoko's feature directorial debut.

Variety - The film is based on Kiyoko's song, music video, and novel of the same name.

Variety - The song "Girls Like Girls" was released in 2015 and features a statement of lesbian desire: "girls like girls like boys do."

WHERE:

Variety - The film is set in a coming-of-age context, though specific locations are not detailed in the articles.

WHEN:

Variety - The film's adaptation process began with the song's release in 2015.

WHY:

Variety - The film explores themes of adolescent melancholy and yearning.

HOW:

Variety - The film captures queer longing through its narrative and character development.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 01:50 UTC)

Hayley Kiyoko, known for her work as a pop singer and filmmaker, is making her feature directorial debut with the film "Girls Like Girls," which is based on her 2015 song and music video of the same name. Set in a coming-of-age context, the film delves into themes of adolescent melancholy and yearning, capturing queer longing through its narrative and character development. The song "Girls Like Girls" famously expresses a statement of lesbian desire, highlighting that "girls like girls like boys do."