Running from 27 August to 6 September was the prestigious <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Film_Festival">Venice Film Festival</a>, the oldest film festival in the world.
<em><strong>Hayao Miyazaki</strong></em> with his film '<em><strong>Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea</strong></em>' and <em><strong>Mamoru Oshii </strong></em>with his film '<em><strong>The Sky Crawlers</strong></em>' were both in the running for the festival's principal award, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Lion">the Golden Lion</a>. Although, ultimately, neither film won the Golden Lion (this prize was picked up by director Darren Aronofsky's '<em>The Wrestler</em>'), '<em>The Sky Crawlers</em>' <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-05/oshii-sky-crawlerswins-venice-fest-digital-award">did win</a> the 'Future Film Festival Digital Award' for its use of innovative digital technologies.
During the film festival, the BBC were profiling the films and directors in attendance, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7560610.stm">including an interview</a> with the legendary anime director <em>Hayao Miyazaki</em>; an article which reveals in-passing that '<em>Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea</em>' "will be released in the UK in April next year" (2009). No information was provided as to who the distributor may be, though <a href="http://www.optimumreleasing.com/">Optimum Releasing</a> with their history of releasing <em>Studio Ghibli </em>movies in the UK are no doubt favourites.
<em><strong>Hayao Miyazaki</strong></em> with his film '<em><strong>Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea</strong></em>' and <em><strong>Mamoru Oshii </strong></em>with his film '<em><strong>The Sky Crawlers</strong></em>' were both in the running for the festival's principal award, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Lion">the Golden Lion</a>. Although, ultimately, neither film won the Golden Lion (this prize was picked up by director Darren Aronofsky's '<em>The Wrestler</em>'), '<em>The Sky Crawlers</em>' <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-05/oshii-sky-crawlerswins-venice-fest-digital-award">did win</a> the 'Future Film Festival Digital Award' for its use of innovative digital technologies.
During the film festival, the BBC were profiling the films and directors in attendance, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7560610.stm">including an interview</a> with the legendary anime director <em>Hayao Miyazaki</em>; an article which reveals in-passing that '<em>Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea</em>' "will be released in the UK in April next year" (2009). No information was provided as to who the distributor may be, though <a href="http://www.optimumreleasing.com/">Optimum Releasing</a> with their history of releasing <em>Studio Ghibli </em>movies in the UK are no doubt favourites.