i-dle's Shuhua Heads to BIFF with 'Happily Ever After', Following Toronto Premiere

i-dle's Shuhua is stepping onto one of Asia's biggest film stages with her first lead role on the big screen.

Her debut feature, "Happily Ever After," has been officially invited to the 31st Busan International Film Festival, which runs from October 6 to 15.

The film will screen in the festival's A Window on Asian Cinema section, a program that spotlights new work from Asian directors. It marks the first time the movie will be shown anywhere in Asia.

Busan International Film Festival's profile has grown sharply this year. In March, the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) placed it on the "A-list" of festivals under its new certification standards, grouping it with Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.

The Busan invite follows the film's earlier selection for the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, giving Shuhua back-to-back appearances at major international festivals as she moves deeper into acting.

"I never imagined that my first film as an actor would take me to a festival this big," Shuhua said. "It feels familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. I'm truly grateful to the director and the crew for trusting me with this role. Getting to appear at festivals around the world through this film, this character, and this performance feels like a dream come true."

"Happily Ever After" follows two sisters with opposite personalities whose quiet routine starts to crack after a stray cat wanders into their home. The film is directed by Peng Yi-Fiona Roan, a filmmaker whose past work has been recognized at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards.

Shuhua plays Lin Ja-chi, the bright-tempered younger sister, a character whose worldview slowly shifts over the course of the story.

"Happily Ever After" is set to open in theaters in 2027.