It's the fourth year of the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival, and since y'all know I love me some horror and fantasy movies, y'all also know that I am beyond excited. 

This year the fest is screening 5 features and over 40 shorts that focus on action, animation, fantasty, horror, and science fiction. You can get an entire festival pass for only $60 and see EVERYTHING, or pick individual screenings for $10 a pop. Tickets and passes will be availalbe at both venues: The SIFF Film Center and SIFF Cinema Uptown, or you can grab 'em online here. 

Among the features I'm personally exicted about are The Human Race, which has sort of a Series 7: The Contenders vibe to it, but likely WAY bloodier, as it involves way more people (the trailer is pretty wicked), and The Big Black, about heaven/hell/angels/demons - I don't know. It just looks awesome! There are too many great-looking shorts to mention, but I encourage you to peruse the schedule and pick a package that speaks to you. 

{Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival | Oct. 5-7 | SIFF Film Center, SIFF Cinema Uptown | $60 full series pass, $10 individual screenings (and shorts packages)}

Ohmanohmanohman. SIFF has put together one of my favorite programs, EVER with Castles in the Sky: Miyazaki, Takahata, and the Masters of Studio Ghibli.

They’ve lined up screenings of all these amazing animated films from Tokyo's Studio Ghibli IN NEW 35mm PRINTS! And screenings in both English dubbed and Japanese w/subtitles versions! You guys! That is awesome. I’ve been slacking in catching up on the newer Studio Ghibli films, so this is going to give me a chance to experience them on the big screen at SIFF Cinema Uptown.

All of these films are SO beautiful, funny, and just plain fantastic. I highly recommend scooping up some tickets to My Neighbor Totoro (The umbrella scene! The cat bus! So much insane grinning!), Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke AND MORE to delight your inner imaginary child. Or even, your actual, uh. children. If you have them.

{Castles in the Sky: Miyazaki, Takahata, and the Masters of Studio Ghibli | SIFF Cinema Uptown | June 22-July 5 | $10 | $5 SIFF Members | $9 Youth (20 & under) and Seniors (65+) Matinees: $7 | $5 SIFF Members | Click here for full schedule and tickets}

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