"The King’s Warden" to compete in Italy's Udine Far East Film Festival

▲ This poster of South Korean film "The King's Warden" is provided by Showbox Co. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean box-office hit "The King’s Warden" has been invited to the main competition section of the 28th Udine Far East Film Festival, its distributor Showbox said Friday.

Held annually in the northern Italian city of Udine, the Udine Far East Film Festival is the largest film festival in Europe dedicated to Asian cinema. A number of Korean films, including "The Night Owl," "Deliver Us from Evil" and "The Man Standing Next," have previously been invited.

Director Jang Hang-jun has ties to the festival, having won the audience award there with his previous film "Rebound."

Festival executive director Sabrina Baracetti praised the film, saying Jang and the cast created “a fantastic harmony and synergy,” resulting in a work that delivers deep resonance while remaining highly entertaining.

“Based on real events, the film strikes a balanced tone that allows audiences around the world to easily relate to and enjoy it,” she said.

The festival will run from April 24 to May 2.

Starring Yoo Hae-jin and directed by Jang, "The King’s Warden" follows the story of deposed Joseon King Danjong spending the final chapter of his life among villagers in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, where he was sent into exile.

As of Thursday, the film had surpassed 4.4 million admissions at the local box office.

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