[Busan = E-Daily Starin Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] “Until it was released, it was a really long, long night for me—a long, long night of nightmares.”

Director Yeom Gyu-bok, whose debut feature-length animated film was invited to the competition section of the Busan International Film Festival, shared his overwhelming emotions and opened up about the hardships he faced in completing the film.

At the press conference for “A Long, Long Night” held on the 9th at BIFF Hill in the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, as part of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Director Yeom shared his thoughts on being selected for the competition section: “I had no expectations, so I couldn’t believe my ears. I told them not to lie to me,” he said, adding, “It was such an honor, but the psychological burden was just as great.”

“A Long, Long Night” is a 3D animated film that explores life, loss, solidarity, family, and the courage to live again. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, it marks Director Yeom’s directorial debut in feature-length filmmaking and garnered attention by securing a spot in the BIFF Competition Section right from the start.

Reflecting on the long production process, Director Yeom shared his special feelings about the film, which premiered to domestic audiences on the 8th. “The production period was a ‘Long, Long Night,’” he said. “It felt like a night of nightmares, but yesterday was the first time I think I actually slept well,” he joked, adding, “I’ve just come back from a long, long night of deep sleep.”

The inspiration to direct the film came from the original book given to him by his daughter. Director Yeom explained, “I was preparing another series at the time, but I was so captivated by it that I couldn’t resist,” adding, “I tend to like redemption narratives, but this isn’t a typical superhero movie.”

The film utilized the Unreal Engine—considered a next-generation production method—to achieve realistic visuals and highly polished cinematography. However, the production team faced no small amount of challenges in bringing it to fruition.

Producer Jeong Gyeong-hee stated, “While working on this for about four years, we struggled a lot to produce the highest quality within a limited budget and timeframe,” adding, “Although there were difficulties during development, the final result is satisfying.”

Hearing this, Director Yeom remarked, “Actually, we argued a lot,” adding, “It was an endless cycle of the producer tightening the reins and me pushing the boundaries.” He then drew laughter by describing the production process as “a ‘Long, Long Nightmare.’”

The original novel, *A Long, Long Night*, won the Grand Prize at the 21st Munhakdongne Children’s Literature Award. It depicts the journey of “Norden,” the last remaining white-rock rhinoceros on Earth, and a young penguin hatched from an abandoned egg as they set out to find the ocean. Actress Suzy participated in the narration and the original soundtrack, and the film is scheduled to be released in South Korea early next year.

The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs through the 15th at venues across Busan, 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.