Another Good Reason To Come to Gent, Belgium in October
The 36th Edition of Flanders International Film Festival Gent, Belgium October 6 through 17, 2009 will feature Anime as part of it's salute to the world of Asian cinema. A highlight of the festival will be a retrospective from the renowned Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli founded in 1985 by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata . Miyazaki, the creative force behind many of Studio Ghibi's films, has been able to transcend cultural boundaries with his themes of ethics, pacifism, and the relationship between humans and nature and his films are as well loved in the West as they are in Asia. The films by Hayao Miyazaki to be screened at the festival are: Castle in the Sky (1986), Spirited Away (2001), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), and Ponyo On the Cliff By te Sea (2008). I must admit that I am sad to see that Porco Rosso, my personal favorite, won't be shown. I would love a chance to see the mighty pig fly across the big screen again.