STUDIO GHIBLI FEST Returns to U.S. Cinemas Throughout 2018

Series Highlights Nine of Studio Ghibli’s Most Treasured Films on the Big Screen Source: GKIDS Inc., Fathom Events press release Official Site: ghiblifest.com After a successful series in 2017, GKIDS and Fathom Events continue their collaboration to bring a new line-up of treasured films to U.S. cinemas throughout 2018. Starting in March, STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2018 gives fans an opportunity to see nine of Studio Ghibli’s revered animated masterpieces on cinema screens nationwide (offering both dubbed and subtitled versions), along with some very special surprises for Fathom Events attendees only. Tickets are on sale now at ghiblifest.com. PONYO (崖の上のポニョ, Gake no Ue no Ponyo, 2008) 10th Anniversary Mar 25 (Dubbed), Mar 26 (Subtitled), Mar 28 (Dubbed) Run Time (Feature + Extras): 1 hour 41 minutes From Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes a heartwarming family adventure. When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea. Miyazaki’s breathtaking, imaginative world is brought to life with an all-star cast, featuring the voices of Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Lily Tomlin, Liam Neeson, and more. THE CAT RETURNS (猫の恩返し, Neko no Ongaeshi, 2002) Apr 22 (Dubbed), Apr 23 (Subtitled), Apr 25 (Dubbed) Run Time: 1 hour 25 minutes From the legendary Studio Ghibli comes a charming and magical adventure that will delight the entire family. Haru is walking home after a dreary day of school when she spies a cat with a small gift box in its mouth crossing a busy street, and she jumps in front of traffic to save the cat from an oncoming truck. To her amazement, the cat gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely. But things take an even stranger turn when later than night, the King of Cats shows up at her doorstep in a feline motorcade. He showers Haru with gifts, and decrees that she shall marry the Prince and come live in the Kingdom of Cats! PORCO ROSSO (紅の豚, Kurenai no Buta, 1992) May 20 (Dubbed), May 21 (Subtitled), May 23 (Dubbed) Run Time: 1 hour 45 minutes From the legendary Studio Ghibli comes a dazzling aerial adventure set in and above the scenic port towns of the Adriatic Sea. Porco Rosso is a world weary flying ace-turned-bounty-hunter, whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell. When he infuriates a band of sky pirates with his heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a hotshot American rival, to get rid of him. But with the help of the teenage girl Fio, an aspiring airplane designer, and sultry lounge singer named Gina, Porco takes to the skies for what may be his final high-flying showdown. POM POKO (総天然色漫画映画 平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ, Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pompoko, 1994) Jun 17 (Dubbed), Jun 18 (Subtitled), Jun 20 (Dubbed) Run Time: 2 hours 10 minutes From Academy Award-nominated director Isao Takahata comes an action-packed ecological fable about the clash between nature and human civilization. The tanuki (raccoon dogs) of Tama Hills find their fun-loving community under attack when their quiet woodlands are threatened by encroaching developers looking to create still more houses and shopping malls. Desperate to survive, the tanuki band together and learn the ancient art of transformation, shape-shifting into a comical variety of humans and spirits as they undertake a last-ditch plan to scare away the humans and save their home, in this deeply-affecting, funny and heartfelt look at what it means to live in the modern world. PRINCESS MONONOKE (もののけ姫, Mononoke Hime, 1997) Jul 22 (Dubbed), Jul 23 (Subtitled), Jul 25 (Dubbed) Run Time: 2 hours 25 minutes From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes an epic masterpiece that has dazzled audiences worldwide with its breathtaking imagination, exhilarating battles and deep humanity. Inflicted with a deadly curse, the young warrior Ashitaka heads west in search of a cure. There, he stumbles into bitter conflict between Lady Eboshi, the proud people of Iron Town, and the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the humans from destroying her home and the forest spirits and animal gods who live there. Featuring the voices of Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Billy Bob Thornton. GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (火垂るの墓, Hotaru no Haka, 1988) Aug 12 (Dubbed), Aug 13 (Subtitled), Aug 15 (Dubbed) Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes Directed by Academy Award-nominated Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli’s Grave of the Fireflies has been universally hailed as an artistic and emotional tour de force. As the Empire of the Sun crumbles upon itself and a rain of firebombs falls upon Japan, the final death march of a nation is echoed in millions of smaller tragedies. This is the story of Seita and his younger sister Setsuko, two children forced to fend for themselves in the aftermath of fires that swept entire cities from the face of the earth. Their struggle is a tribute to the human spirit. Presented in its digitally remastered and restored format, Grave of the Fireflies is one of the rare films that truly deserves to be called a masterpiece. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (となりのトトロ, Tonari no Totoro, 1988) 30th Anniversary Sep 30 (Dubbed), Oct 1 (Subtitled), Oct 3 (Subtitled) Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes Celebrate the 30th anniversary of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, from Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki. When Satsuki and her sister Mei move with their father to a new home in the countryside, they find country life is not as simple as it seems. They soon discover that the house and nearby woods are full of strange and delightful creatures, including a gigantic but gentle forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen by children. Totoro and his friends introduce the girls to a series of adventures, including a ride aboard the extraordinary Cat Bus, in this all-ages animated masterpiece featuring the voices of Tim Daly, Lea Salonga, and real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, in a classic tale of magic and adventure for the whole family. SPIRITED AWAY (千と千尋の神隠し, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, 2001) Oct 28 (Dubbed), Oct 29 (Subtitled), Oct 30 (Subtitled) Run Time: 2 hours 15 minutes Winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Hayao Miyazaki’s wondrous fantasy adventure is a dazzling masterpiece from one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animation. Chihiro’s family is moving to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastical spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, SPIRITED AWAY became a worldwide smash hit, and is one the most critically acclaimed films of all time. CASTLE IN THE SKY (天空の城ラピュタ Tenkuu no Shiro Rapyuta, 1986) Nov 18 (Dubbed), Nov 19 (Subtitled), Nov 20 (Dubbed) Run Time: 2 hours 15 minutes CASTLE IN THE SKY is a timeless story of courage and friendship, with stunning animation from acclaimed Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki. This high-flying adventure begins when Pazu, an engineer’s apprentice, spies a young girl, Sheeta, floating down from the sky, held aloft by a glowing pendant. Both Sheeta and Pazu are searching for the legendary floating castle, Laputa, and they vow to travel there together to unravel the mystery of the luminous crystal. But their quest won’t be easy, as soon they are being pursued by greedy air pirates, the military, and secret government agents, who all seek the power Sheeta alone can control. The English-dubbed cast includes the vocal talents of Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Mandy Patinkin, and more!

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About Fathom Events

Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema with participating affiliate theaters in all 100 of the top Designated Market Areas, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events such as live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, dance and theatre productions like the Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre Live, sporting events like Copa America Centenario, concerts with artists like Michael Bublé, Rush and Mötley Crüe, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics film series and inspirational events such as To Joey With Love. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 896 locations and 1,383 screens in 181 DMAs. For more information, visit fathomevents.com.

About GKIDS

GKIDS is a producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. Since 2010, the company has scored an astounding nine Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations -- including THE SECRET OF KELLS, A CAT IN PARIS, THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA and BOY AND THE WORLD. GKIDS also handles North American theatrical distribution for Oscar winner Hayao Miyazakis famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the worlds most coveted animation collections with titles “Spirited Away,” “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Princess Mononoke” and others. GKIDS founder and CEO Eric Beckman is also co-founder of New York International Children’s Film Festival, an Oscar-qualifying event and North America’s largest film festival for children and teens.

About Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and is one of the most successful and well-respected animation studios in the world. Cultivating a creative force of talented directors, animators, and storytellers under the revered brilliance of Miyazaki and Takahata, Studio Ghibli’s films have been praised for their originality, dazzling animation, and epic storytelling. The films have become a beloved part of Japanese popular culture, and have garnered worldwide acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature of 2002 and in 2005 Miyazaki was named one of “the most influential people” by Time Magazine.