You’re Macao-born and raised. What is it about the city that instantly feels like home?
Macao is where I grew up and where everything started, including how I fell in love with film. But I think it’s more about the people than any particular place. My family is here, and a lot of my friends are involved in filmmaking. It’s a network and a community where we all know each other. There are still people here fighting to create a film industry, working together to see what’s possible. That’s what makes Macao special to me.
If Macao were a movie, what genre would it be – and who would be the main character?
A musical, because of all its contrasts. You have the glamorous integrated resorts alongside the old town and its streets. I’ve always imagined some crazy scenarios there – you could turn a corner and suddenly break into song. Recently, I was walking somewhere, looked up and suddenly there was someone singing fado. It really is like a musical. The main character would be a local working at an integrated resort. They would spend their day working in one of the most glamorous places in the city, yet their home could be tucked away in one of the historic alleys.
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| Name | Tracy Choi Ian Sin Age | 37 Title | Film director Place of birth | Macao Macao in one word | Home |
Where in Macao would you shoot the perfect movie scene?
Really, anywhere. But we’re always looking for new places because we want to show a different side of Macao. For my first feature, “Sisterhood” (2016), we chose places that were more connected to daily life, such as the areas behind the Ruins of St Paul’s. Then, in “Girlfriends” (2025), we wanted the Macao locations to show the old alleys and hilly areas. Because we grew up here, we’re always looking for a perspective that might be different from an outsider’s view.
A film-loving friend is visiting Macao for the first time. Where do you take them?
I’d start by taking them to the old part of Macao and walking around. Macao is a very walkable city, so we might go from the Ruins of St Paul’s down to Senado Square and then on to Rua da Felicidade.
Forget the usual tourist checklist: what’s one Macao spot you think everyone should discover?
The Three Lamps District and the areas around the market. They may not get a lot of tourists, but they’re really interesting. It feels very local, while also having a real mix of cultures. There’s quite a lot of Southeast Asian food there, which I like, and so many things to discover. That cultural mix is one of Macao’s signatures. You have different cultures living quite peacefully together.
Macao has a vibrant food scene. What should visitors try?
There’s a lot to recommend. You definitely need to try at least one Portuguese or Macanese restaurant. There’s also Chinese food like dim sum, and the Southeast Asian food around the Three Lamps District is really good. We always joke that when friends come to Macao, they will never get hungry. There’s food everywhere, at any time.
Now the speed round: they’ve only got two hours in Macao. Where do you send them?
I’d take them around the city centre and then drive to one of the resorts in Cotai. And maybe fit in a meal too.
Where do you go in Macao when you’re looking for inspiration or a fresh perspective on the city?
I don’t really have one specific place. When we accompany different productions scouting locations around Macao, I sometimes discover places I hadn’t noticed before or find new perspectives on the city. I really enjoy that.
What’s one corner of Macao you haven’t put on screen yet, but would love to capture in a future film?
I’d actually like to try shooting inside one of the casinos. I know a lot of people have done it already, but I don’t think we’ve really seen it from the perspective of a local Macao film. Everyone here has friends or family working in the gaming industry, so it’s something that’s very close to us. I hope that in a future project we can show a little of that world from our own point of view.
(Photos by Oswald Vas)
