{
  "id": 5039391,
  "title": "What animated film's BIFF competition debut means",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/what-animated-films-biff-competition-debut-means",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T07:32:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20260902/what-animated-films-biff-competition-debut-means"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is set to showcase a groundbreaking animated film, marking a significant milestone in the global cinema landscape. This animated feature, \"Long Long Night,\" has been chosen for the main competition lineup, becoming the first animated title ever selected for this prestigious competition, which was initiated just last year.\n\nBIFF, a prominent event in the international film industry, has witnessed a surge in animated films topping the box office charts in Asia, notably in China and Japan. Last year, a Korean animated film adapted from a bestselling children's novel, \"Long Long Night,\" not only gained immense popularity but also proved that animated storytelling infused with cultural motifs can resonate with worldwide audiences.\n\nThe selection of \"Long Long Night\" for the BIFF competition came as a surprise to the festival's program committee, according to its director, Jung Han-seok. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, Jung expressed his astonishment, stating that this achievement was unexpected, especially considering that it's only the second year the competition section has been running. He emphasized that this selection signifies a major shift in the global film industry, highlighting the growing prominence of animated films on the world stage.",
  "summary": "Animation is no longer a peripheral genre in contemporary cinema, as it gains ground in the global film industry. Across Asia, animated features topped the box office in both China and Japan last year. Globally, Netflix's \"KPop Demon Hunters\" became a cultural phenomenon. It proved that animated storytelling infused with Korean motifs can captivate worldwide audiences. This global shift will be…",
  "key_points": [
    "Long Long Night chosen for BIFF main competition, first animated title",
    "BIFF, a year-old festival, showcases animated films' growing prominence",
    "Korean animated film's success signals cultural motifs' global appeal"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "What animated film's BIFF competition debut means",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/what-animated-films-biff-competition-debut-means-5045239",
        "published": "2026-09-02T08:22:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}