According to the Taipei Timesthis marks the first time in 12 years that a Taiwanese film has been selected to compete for the festival’s top honor. The 82nd edition of the Venice International Film Festival is scheduled to run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 7, 2025.

In a statement, Shu expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the cast and crew of “Girl,” while noting that most details about the film are still being kept under wraps. The only confirmed cast members are Taiwanese actor Roy Chiu and singer 9m88.

Shu credited legendary filmmaker Hou Hsiao Hsien as a key influence in her journey to the director’s chair.

“I would like to thank director Hou the most,” she said. “Without him, there wouldn’t be ‘Girl’.”

Producer Yeh Ju Feng revealed that Shu was inspired to step behind the camera after serving as a juror at the 80th Venice Film Festival in 2023. Watching the work of emerging filmmakers reignited her passion for storytelling and led her to pursue directing.

Born Lin Li Hui, 49-year-old Shu began her entertainment career as a teenager, initially appearing in softcore adult films before rising to prominence in the Hong Kong and Taiwanese film industries, according to the South China Morning Post. Her breakout roles in “Viva Erotica” and “Bishonen” in the mid-1990s paved the way for a successful acting career.

She later gained international fame with performances in “The Transporter,” “So Close,” “Three Times,” “My Wife Is a Gangster 3,” and “Love.”