In this recent photo, Hong Kong director Johnnie To (C) poses with actors from his latest film during a photocall for "Godly Detective" at the ongoing Venice Film Festival. [Photo: AFP/Christophe Simon]

Hong Kong film director Johnnie To's police thriller, "Godly Detective," has been named the surprise film of this year's Venice Film Festival.

The film managed to catch the last train to the festival, being selected as a Golden Lion competitor much later than other candidates.

The festival's director Marco Mueller said on the opening day that this year's surprise film would be from Asia, and since then the media never stopped suspecting that it would be To's late-comer.

Last year's surprise entry was Chinese director Jia Zhangke's "Still Life," which eventually garnered the Golden Lion award, the festival's top prize.

To's film was screened on Wednesday night to media members, where the audience did find surprises in the film's way of handling storylines.

A viewer was quoted by reports as calling the film "the best so far" from Johnnie To.