[Busan = E-Daily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Director Yeom Gyu-bok of the animated film "The Long, Long Night" shared the behind-the-scenes story of how he cast actress Suzy.

Director Yeom drew attention on the 9th during a press conference for “The Long, Long Night” in the competition section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), held at BIFF Hill in Haeundae-gu, Busan, when he remarked that he and Suzy had “shared a long-standing connection.”

“A Long, Long Night” is an animated film that depicts life, loss, solidarity, family, and the courage to carry on. It garnered attention because actress Suzy participated in the narration and the original soundtrack (OST).

Director Yeom, a former renowned commercial director, said of Suzy, “We have a connection through commercials,” adding, “We’ve known each other for a long time, and I really went out of my way to reach out to her based on that connection.”

He added, “Suzy responded surprisingly quickly. She got back to me right away without hesitation, and she was very open-minded during the direction process; it was a comfortable collaboration.”

The original work, *The Long, Long Night*, is the Grand Prize winner of the 21st Munhakdongne Children’s Literature Award. It tells the story of “Norden,” the last remaining white-rock rhinoceros on Earth, and a young penguin hatched from an abandoned egg as they embark on a journey to find the sea.

Director Yeom is an advertising director who has directed commercials for global brands such as Samsung Electronics, BMW, and Canon, and has overseen the design and direction of corporate brand characters. With this project, he took on the challenge of directing a feature-length animated film.

The 31st Busan International Film Festival will be held throughout Busan until the 15th at venues including the Busan Cinema Center, CGV Centum City, Lotte Cinema Centum City, the Korean Film Council’s Standard Screening Room, the Sohyang Theater Woori Bank Hall, and the Busan Viewers’ Media Center Public Hall.