The fourth annual celebration of the films of the iconic Japanese animation studio starts Sept. 11. New this year, fans can enjoy the films while helping families of children in cancer treatment go to the movies too<\/p>\n
Are you sad school is starting back up? Well, fear not! The first week of school ends with the start of the fourth annual Studio Ghibli North Festival at Sudbury Indie Cinema.<\/p>\n
This year, Sudbury\u2019s only not-for-profit arthouse cinema (find us at 162 Mackenzie St.) hosts the annual three-day celebration of the iconic films of Studio Ghibli from Sept. 11-13. Tickets for individual films, single-day passes and weekend passes are on sale now, with prices ranging from just $12 to $60 for a weekend pass.<\/p>\n
Simone Widdifield, Sudbury Indie Cinema programmer, said celebrating the works of Studio Ghibli is fun for audiences, but equally fun for the staff of the theatre.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a unique chance in our programming to show a different side of arthouse cinema,\u201d Widdifield said. \u201cAll of us on staff are big fans of Studio Ghibli films and it drives our passion. This year we wanted to craft an immersive experience that honours the whimsical and nostalgic settings of Studio Ghibli films.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while the films are certainly award-winning, they are also just really great stories, she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn top of their accolades, they are just super engaging and have a bit of ability to transport people of any age into their incredible worlds.\u201d Widdifield said.<\/p>\n
The Indie launched the Studio Ghibli North Festival four years ago for a few key reasons, Widdifield said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to come up with some really eye-catching and what we thought would be resonant family programming, specifically around September, where there are a lot of other bigger cinema-based, specifically Cin\u00e9fest, events going on in the community,\u201d she said. \u00a8And we wanted to provide something a little differently for the community at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n
A successful campaign on crowdfunding site Indiegogo raised an impressive $6,000 for the first year\u2019s festival, clearly demonstrating the popularity of Studio Ghibli\u2019s films with Nickel City audiences. The event was such a hit, it continues to this day.<\/p>\n
If you have never seen the animated masterpieces Studio Ghibli produces, it\u2019s important to keep in mind that while they might be cartoons, the stories told resonate with adults and children alike. They have the ability to connect different generations with moving storylines and gorgeous imagery. And of course, the best place to experience a Studio Ghibli film would be to come out to Studio Ghibli North and watch it on the big screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese films have a way of feeling familiar before you’ve ever seen them,\u201dsaid Casey McGee, Indie Cinema\u2019s venue logistics co-ordinator.<\/p>\n
Taking its name from an Italian military reconnaissance aircraft used during the Second World War, Studio Ghibli<\/a> is a Japanese animation studio that started in 1985, mainly to produce films by the now-legendary Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki.<\/p>\n The lineup for this year\u2019s festival is stacked with some of Studio Ghibli\u2019s most iconic films: \u201cSpirited Away<\/a>\u201d, \u201cPonyo<\/a>\u201d, \u201cTales from Earthsea<\/a>\u201d, \u201cNausicaa of the Valley of the Wind<\/a>\u201d, \u201cMy Neighbour Totoro<\/a>\u201d, \u201cKiki\u2019s Delivery Service<\/a>\u201d, \u201cCastle in the Sky<\/a>\u201d, and \u201cPrincess Mononoke<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n A piece of big news for the fourth annual event, Widdifield said, is that the Indie is very pleased to announce that finally, after four years of trying, this year\u2019s Studio Ghibli North Festival will be screening the highly requested film \u201cHowl’s Moving Castle<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Howl\u2019s\u2019 we’ve been demanded for years, and it was under this embargo,\u201d Widdifield said.<\/p>\n Dealing with distributors, scheduling and selecting films for a festival is no small amount of work, but it does come with perks, Widdifield said. It\u2019s not just the funds you have to worry about when planning a festival, with most festivals, you have to watch hundreds of submissions.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my favourite parts of my job is telling my co-workers, \u2018Hey, can’t come into the office today. Gotta sit at home and watch movies.\u2019 I really enjoy that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Hardcore fans can show off their knowledge with Studio Ghibli trivia on the Friday opening night at 9 p.m., after the screening of \u201cSpirited Away\u201d. Compete for bragging rights and great prizes (provided by local vendors) through X-number of Ghibli-knowledge-testing questions.<\/p>\n On Friday night, Gourmet World<\/a>, the Regent St. fine food business that has served Sudbury since the 1970s, will be there with surprise Ghibli-shaped treats for every attendee of the film \u201cSpirited Away\u201d. The Indie is excited to welcome back Kako\u2019s Kitchen<\/a>, which crafts authentic Japanese artisanal cuisine, also with Ghibli-inspired food. More vendors are expected to be announced in the coming days.<\/p>\n New for 2026, Sudbury Indie Cinema has partnered with the non-profit Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC) on a special initiative to help put smiles on the faces of families after a pediatric cancer diagnosis. When you purchase a pass to Ghibli Fest, you have the option to add-on a ticket for an NOFCC child to see a festival film for only $12.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you’re curious about why an independent cinema puts on this festival about a Japanese animation studio every year, come on out,\u201d Widdifield said. \u201cThere’s Oscar-winning films, there’s films that touch every single aspect of your heart.\u201d<\/p>\n