The Boy and the Heron, the final work of Oscar-winning Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, will open the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain next month, according to festival organizers.
The animated fantasy epic, which Miyazaki has claimed would be his last, will have its European debut on September 22.
A unusual double opening for two film festivals, the screening will take place barely two weeks after the movie debuts at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7.
A heartbroken child who finds an abandoned tower in his new town and enters a fantasy world with a talking grey heron is the main character of the movie.
The 82-year-old’s films still mostly rely on hand-drawing each frame, and they are known for their vibrant colors and loving renderings of landscapes.
His 2002 film “Spirited Away” was a big success around the world and received the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
For his lifelong contributions to the film industry, Miyazaki was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2014.
Spanish actor Javier Bardem will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the festival’s opening gala, which will take place on September 30.
San Sebastian, which was founded to celebrate Spanish-language films, has become one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.
