We’ve added some encores to Howl’s Moving Castle, the acclaimed Studio Ghibli masterpiece, screening in its original Japanese language.
The film follows Sophie, a young woman who is mysteriously transformed into an elderly woman by a wicked witch’s curse. Seeking refuge, Sophie stumbles upon the magical, ever-moving castle of Howl, a reclusive wizard with a troubled past. As Sophie and Howl grow closer, they must confront not only the forces of war that threaten their world but also the personal battles that keep them from fully embracing their own potential.
With its masterful animation, imaginative world-building, and an all-star voice cast, Howl’s Moving Castle weaves themes of transformation, courage, and love into an unforgettable cinematic experience.
This film will be dubbed in its original Japanese language with English subtitles.
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Our first Volunteer Of The Month screening of April comes from Quinn, as they have chosen the haunting beauty of time and loss with David Lowery’s A Ghost Story from 2017.
The film follows a recently deceased ghost (Casey Affleck), draped in a simple white sheet, as he silently observes his wife (Rooney Mara) navigating life without him. Set in a secluded house, the ghost remains stuck in a liminal space, watching time unfold in unexpected ways, while grappling with his own inability to connect with the world around him.
Director David Lowery’s lyrical and meditative approach to storytelling transforms A Ghost Story into an introspective exploration of the impermanence of life and the eternal nature of memory. With its slow pace, breathtaking visuals, and an evocative score, the film has been highly influential across all genres.
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Our 4/20 Weekend takes a colorful turn as we presented the oft-maligned 2003 live-action version of The Cat In The Hat!
During a rainy day, and while their mother is out, Conrad and Sally, and their pet fish, are visited by the mischievous Cat in the Hat. Fun soon turns to mayhem, and the siblings must figure out how to rid themselves of the maniacal Cat.
Directed by Bo Welch (Production Designer on Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands) and shot by Emmanuel Lubezki (Children Of Men, Gravity, The Revenant, The Tree Of Life, Birdman), The Cat In The Hat was largely panned by critics upon its release despite its all-star cast, with many criticizing the film for not capturing the magic and whimsy of Dr. Seuss’s original story. But as we all know, cats have nine lives, and we’re willing to try to give it one more!
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Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents special 40th anniversary screenings of the cult classic Vampire Hunter D!
In the year 12,090 AD, technology and the supernatural have overtaken the world, leaving the land desolate and despotic. The remnants of humanity are scattered into small communities and live in fear of vampires who compose the ruling Nobility. When Count Magnus Lee tastes the blood of Doris Lang, she is forcibly chosen to be his next wife. In an effort to escape her ill-gotten fate, she hires a mysterious vampire hunter known only as D, who comes from a peculiar lineage.
This screening will be presented dubbed in English.
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Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents special 40th anniversary screenings of the cult classic Vampire Hunter D!
In the year 12,090 AD, technology and the supernatural have overtaken the world, leaving the land desolate and despotic. The remnants of humanity are scattered into small communities and live in fear of vampires who compose the ruling Nobility. When Count Magnus Lee tastes the blood of Doris Lang, she is forcibly chosen to be his next wife. In an effort to escape her ill-gotten fate, she hires a mysterious vampire hunter known only as D, who comes from a peculiar lineage.
This screening will be presented in its original Japanese language with English subtitles.
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Get ready for one of the wildest cinematic experiences of your life as Play It By Fear (@playitbyfear.33) kicks off their brand new Sunday Scaries series by screening Nobuhiko Obayashi’s 1977 surrealist masterpiece Hausu (aka House).
The story follows a group of schoolgirls headed to a haunted house for summer vacation, only for things to go from weird to…weirder. From floating pianos to killer stuffed animals, the film is an explosion of colors and chaos.
Join us for this Japanese cult classic (and certified Frida Cinema Favorite) that has become legendary for its bizarre special effects, haunting visuals, and wacky storytelling. It needs to be seen (on the big screen) to be believed.
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Altered Innocence invades The Frida Cinema for an early sneak peek screening of their new movie Queens Of Drama!
An outrageous lesbian pop musical satire inspired by the pop frenzy of the early 2000s, Queens Of Drama charts the rise and fall of new star Mimi Madamour and her passionate, rage-fueled love affair with punk icon Billie Kohler. Over the course of half a century we follow these drama queens as they top the charts and set sail on the course of mad queer love.
Featuring an iconic cast, including Asia Argento and Alma Jodorowsky, and containing hit songs like ‘Don’t Touch’ by Yelle and ‘Fisted to the Heart’, this film vividly dissects the turbulence of toxic relationships—whether between fans and their idols or within passionate queer love affairs. Director Alexis Langlois brings his trademark glittercore pop-punk aesthetic to create a vibrant, unforgettable spectacle of music and passion.
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The Frida Cinema’s In Defense Of… series for March circles all the way back to our Executive Director, Logan Crow, as he selects the 1992 Brad Pitt live action/cartoon hybrid Cool World!
A bizarre accident lands Frank Harris in Cool World, a realm of cartoons. Years later, cartoonist Jack Deebs, who’s been drawing Cool World, crosses over as well. He sets his lustful sights on animated femme fatale Holli Would, but she’s got plans of her own to become real, and it’s up to Frank to stop her.
Directed by legendary animator Ralph Bakshi, the film’s poor reception, coupled with its confusing narrative and mismatched tone, contributed to it being a major dud in the box office. While it has since gained a cult following (Logan included), general audiences still continue to reject it…until now!
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At Long Last Longworth continues with a very rare screening the 1993 film Arizona Dream!
Johnny Depp plays Axel Blackwell, a young man from New York City who is sent to Arizona to attend the wedding of his uncle Leo (Jerry Lewis), a car salesman who lives in the desert. While there, Axel finds himself tangled up in the eccentric lives of the people around him, including a passionate, somewhat unstable woman named Elaine (Faye Dunaway) and her stepdaughter, Grace (Lili Taylor), who has an unusual obsession with the idea of flying. Axel’s journey becomes a surreal exploration of freedom, longing, and the bizarre connections that people form in their lives.
Directed by Emir Kusturica and featuring an evocative soundtrack by Goran Bregović, the film strikes the perfect tone between a whimsical detachment and an almost-otherworldly feel. Set against the stark, colorful backdrop of the Arizona desert, it’s a perfect choice for those who enjoy a mix of whimsical fantasy and deep, introspective character studies.
At Long Last Longworth is a week-long guest programming takeover by author, critic, podcaster, and certified Frida Cinema favorite Karina Longworth. We gave her a promt for four different films: one of her “all-timers” (Trouble In Paradise), her favorite flop (At Long Last Love), a movie she thinks needs to be re-examined (Arizona Dream), and a movie she loves from her childhood (The Wizard Of Oz). Before each screening, there will be an exclusive introduction pre-recorded by Ms Longworth, with the exception of At Long Last Love, which will have an in-person conversation after the screening!
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At Long Last Longworth continues with the iconic Technicolor wonder of the original 1939 American masterpiece The Wizard Of Oz!
Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.
At Long Last Longworth is a week-long guest programming takeover by author, critic, podcaster, and certified Frida Cinema favorite Karina Longworth. We gave her a promt for four different films: one of her “all-timers” (Trouble In Paradise), her favorite flop (At Long Last Love), a movie she thinks needs to be re-examined (Arizona Dream), and a movie she loves from her childhood (The Wizard Of Oz). Before each screening, there will be an exclusive introduction pre-recorded by Ms Longworth, with the exception of At Long Last Love, which will have an in-person conversation after the screening!
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