Forever Young: Youth in the films of Studio Ghibli

Join critic, curator and co-author of Ghibliotheque Michael Leader for an in-depth investigation into the theme of youth in the films of Hayao Miyazaki and his world-renowned animation company, Studio Ghibli. Responding to this year’s festival focus on the Japanese studio on their 40th anniversary, this masterclass will delve into works such as My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away to explore how these films focus on the lives of young protagonists, respect their fears and anxieties, inspire the child within us all, and ultimately celebrate just how powerful and precious the perspective of youth is.

Michael Leader is a culture writer, broadcaster and curator with a lifelong passion for cinema. He is the co-creator and co-host of one of the UK's leading film podcasts, Ghibliotheque, which began its life as an accessible and insightful guide to the world of Japanese animation legends Studio Ghibli, and has since blossomed into a multimedia project that embraces and celebrates animation in all its forms. Michael has curated film screenings and special events that have filled cinemas around the UK. He was Series Producer for the BBC iPlayer video essay series Inside Cinema and Inside Games, and he is currently a curator at the BFI National Archive.