(G)I-DLE member Shuhua has taken a meaningful first step as an actor, with her first starring film receiving an official invitation to the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The film "Happy and Gay Days," starring Shuhua, has been officially invited to the Special Presentations section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 10 to 20.

The Toronto International Film Festival is a world-renowned film festival boasting the largest scale in North America. The Special Presentations section is a premier showcase introducing new works by globally acclaimed directors and actors. Previous Korean films invited to this section include director Bong Joon-ho's "Mother" and "Parasite," and director Park Chan-wook's "The Handmaiden."

Stepping onto the international film festival stage with her very first leading role, Shuhua shared her thoughts, saying, "I truly couldn't believe it when I first heard the news. It is a great honor to be heading to the international stage with such a wonderful team right from my very first project." She added, "I hope everyone who watches the film can find empathy and comfort through Lin Jiaqi's story, and feel the sincerity we poured into the work."

"Happy and Gay Days" depicts a story where the peaceful daily lives of two completely different sisters are shaken after a stray cat suddenly appears. The film is directed by Fiona Roan Feng-i, who won the Best New Director award, the FIPRESCI Prize, and the Audience Award at the Golden Horse Awards with her feature directorial debut, "American Girl."

In the film, Shuhua plays Lin Jiaqi, the bright and innocent youngest daughter. She is a character who experiences various emotions and grows through her relationship with her sisters after encountering a stray cat, taking on her first full-fledged silver screen acting challenge through this project.

Having debuted as a member of (G)I-DLE in 2018, Shuhua has consistently showcased unique performances and presence on stage. Through this film, she is expected to expand her scope of activities to the silver screen and demonstrate new potential as an actor.

Meanwhile, (G)I-DLE, the group Shuhua belongs to, will perform at the major music festival "Lollapalooza Chicago" in the United States on July 31 (local time). Following that, they are set to bring the grand finale to their world tour by holding the "2026 i-dle WORLD TOUR [Syncopation] IN MACAU" concerts at the Galaxy Arena in Macau on August 29 and 30.

Photo provided by Cube Entertainment, Toronto International Film Festival



(SBS Entertainment News, Reporter Kang Kyung-yoon)