19 Apr – It was revealed that for the first time in history, the Cannes Film Festival will be honouring a whole studio its coveted Palme d'Or. Announcing the good news recently, Cannes Festival president Iris Knobloch and general delegate Thierry Frémaux revealed that they will give their highest honour to Studio Ghibli this year.
"For the first time in our history, it's not a person but an institution that we have chosen to celebrate," they said, adding that the anime house is filled with characters who populate imaginations with prolific, colourful universes and sensitive, engaging narrations.
In response to the honour, producer Toshio Suzuki said, "I would like to thank the Festival de Cannes from the bottom of my heart. Forty years ago, Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and I established Studio Ghibli with the desire to bring high-level, high-quality animation to children and adults of all ages. Today, our films are watched by people all over the world, and many visitors come to the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, and Ghibli Park to experience the world of our films for themselves." "We have truly come a long way for Studio Ghibli to become such a big organisation. Although Miyazaki and I have aged considerably, I am sure that Studio Ghibli will continue to take on new challenges, led by the staff who will carry on the spirit of the company. It would be my greatest pleasure if you look forward to what's next."
Known for animated features such as "Porco Rosso", "My Neighbor Totoro", "Spirited Away", "Howl's Moving Castle" and "The Wind Rises" among others, its latest project was the Hayao Miyazaki directed "The Boy and the Heron".