New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival is absolutely thrilled to announce the most anticipated event of the summer: the Special Pre-Release Screening of Ponyo, the latest tour de force from animation master Hayao Miyazaki and his Academy Award ® winning Studio Ghibli. Perfect for audiences of all ages, Ponyo is a return to the innocent pleasures of My Neighbor Totoro, with dazzling and entirely hand-drawn visuals that start simply and build into fluid, cascading symphonies of color. Event takes place Sunday, August 9 at Symphony Space. Tickets available at www.gkids.com and 212-349-0330.

NYICFF director Eric Beckman said, ‘We are delighted to give East Coast audiences the first look at Ponyo. The movie is brimming with visual splendor and showcases Miyazaki’s unparalleled warmth and humanity. To get to the ocean’s surface to be with the boy she loves, the magical little goldfish Ponyo hides within diaphanous jellyfish and rides shape-shifting spirit-fish that erupt in a tsunami of waves-unleashing a Cambrian-like explosion of undersea life that is simply wondrous to behold. Miyazaki’s new film is graphically stunning, wildly imaginative, and emotional resonant-a beautiful, heartfelt story of friendship and devotion.’