[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] The film "Gyeongju Journey," starring actors Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, and Lee Yeon, has been invited to film festivals in North America, Europe, and other regions, proving its artistic merit.

Set to open on the 26th of next month, “Gyeongju Journey” is a family revenge drama about four women—a mother and her three daughters—who, after eight years of waiting, embark on a “killer” trip for the sake of their youngest daughter, “Gyeongju,” who never returned from her school field trip.
“Gyeongju Journey” garnered attention during its world premiere at the 45th Hawaii International Film Festival, where it was highly praised as “a work that exquisitely combines dark humor with emotional depth.” It went on to win the Audience Award at the 24th Florence Korean Film Festival, captivating both critics and local audiences with its fresh approach that breaks the mold of traditional revenge dramas, thereby proving its artistic merit and popular appeal.
Following its invitation to the 30th Fantasia International Film Festival—North America’s largest genre film festival, which opened on the 16th—Nicholas Archambault, Director of Asian Programming, praised it as “one of my favorite films in this year’s lineup.” He went on to offer unreserved praise, stating, “Not only does it offer a wide emotional range that shifts between laughter, fear, and moving moments, but every element—from the actors’ performances to the direction and screenplay—is truly remarkable.”
Furthermore, the film has been invited to the 6th Barcelona Korean Film Festival, set to take place on September 2. Programmer Gloria Fernández praised it as “an intense and unpredictable dark comedy thriller that leaves no room for compromise, weaving together themes of love, loss, and revenge,” heightening anticipation for the film.
*Journey to Gyeongju* is the first commercial film by director Kim Mi-jo, whose directing skills were recognized with her debut film *The Seagull*. Even before its release, the film has been generating buzz after being invited to prestigious film festivals such as the Hawaii International Film Festival and the Florence Korean Film Festival. Notably, *Journey to Gyeongju* received critical acclaim at the 24th Florence Korean Film Festival held last March and was honored with the Audience Award.