Singaporean filmmaker Ang Geck Geck Priscilla brings her deeply personal coming-of-age drama AH GIRL to the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for its North American premiere. Selected as a Centrepiece title at this year’s festival, the film offers an intimate look at childhood, family separation and the complicated choices children are sometimes forced to navigate.
Set in 1990s Singapore, AH GIRL sees the world through the eyes of a seven-year-old girl whose family is being pulled apart. Rather than presenting family breakdown from an adult perspective, the film focuses on how these changes are experienced by a child who is still trying to understand the world around her.
Ah Girl
- Director: Ang Geck Geck
- Starring: Xuan Jing Ong, Sydney Wong, Carrie Wong, James Seah, Doreen Toh
- Genre: Drama
- Runtime: 99 mins
- User Rating: ★ 7
Plot
In Singapore in 1994, seven-year-old Ah Girl is beginning primary school while adjusting to life after her parents’ separation.
She lives in a modest flat with her younger sister Ah Tian, her father, who works night shifts, and her grandmother, who looks after the children. Her mother visits on weekends, bringing food, gifts and affection into their lives.
But Ah Girl’s world becomes increasingly complicated when her mother asks her to make an enormous decision: would she rather live with her mother?
Although Ah Girl wants to make her mother happy, choosing her would mean leaving behind her father and younger sister. As her parents begin new relationships and the family’s circumstances continue to change, Ah Girl gradually realizes that her childhood is far from ordinary.
With money becoming increasingly tight and the future of her family uncertain, she is forced to confront problems far beyond her years.
At its heart, AH GIRL is a story about growing up too quickly and the emotional impact that family separation can have on a child.
A Story Told Through a Child’s Eyes
One of the film’s most compelling elements is its perspective. Instead of concentrating solely on the adults and their decisions, AH GIRL places the audience alongside a young girl attempting to make sense of circumstances she cannot fully control.
The result promises to be an emotionally grounded portrait of childhood, family and the messy realities of adulthood. The film also captures a particular period of Singaporean life, using its 1990s setting to explore changing family structures, financial pressures and the everyday experiences of children growing up in a complicated home.
AH GIRL Cast
The film stars:
- Ong Xuan Jing
- Sydney Wong
- Doreen Toh
- James Seah
- Carrie Wong
Director and Production
AH GIRL is written and directed by Ang Geck Geck Priscilla, with Charlyn Ng and Wendy Lie producing.
The film is presented by Aggregate Films, IFA Media and Kusu Films.
TIFF 2026 and Festival Recognition
AH GIRL arrives at TIFF following an impressive festival run. The film has already received recognition at several international festivals, including:
- Youth Jury Award Winner – International Film Festival Rotterdam 2026
- Golden Firebird Award for Best Actress (Chinese-Language) – Hong Kong International Film Festival 2026
- New Hope Award Winner – Malaysia International Film Festival 2026
- Official Selection – Shanghai International Film Festival 2026
- Official Selection – Melbourne International Film Festival 2026
- Official Selection – Munich International Film Festival 2026
- Official Selection – Far East Film Festival 2026
- Official Selection – Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2026
Its selection as a TIFF 2026 Centrepiece title gives North American audiences an opportunity to discover a Singaporean coming-of-age drama that has already attracted considerable attention on the international festival circuit.
AH GIRL TIFF 2026 Screening Schedule
The North American premiere of AH GIRL will take place at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
Venue: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Address: 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
All times EDT
- Friday, September 11 – 9:35 PM — Press & Market
- Wednesday, September 16 – 12:00 PM
- Thursday, September 17 – 6:20 PM
- Sunday, September 20 – 10:15 AM
AH GIRL Release Details
Title: AH GIRL
Director: Ang Geck Geck Priscilla
Country: Singapore
Year: 2026
Runtime: 99 minutes
Languages: Mandarin, English and Hokkien
Subtitles: English
Format: Colour
Rating: Not Yet Rated
TIFF Status: Centrepiece / North American Premiere
