GKIDS and Fathom Events Team Up to Bring Five New Animated Titles to U.S. Cinemas in 2018

DENVER, April 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GKIDS, the acclaimed distributor of multiple Academy Award^®-nominated animated features, and Fathom Events, the leading distributor of event cinema, are proud to bring five all-new GKIDS animated titles to U.S cinema audiences in 2018. The first title to be announced is Akiyuki Shinbo's "Fireworks," which will be released in movie theaters nationwide starting July 3, 2018, in both its original Japanese version and a new English version produced by GKIDS. 

"Fireworks" is the newest release from Toho animation and producer Genki Kawamura, following the worldwide blockbuster "Your Name," the highest-grossing anime of all time. GKIDS will premiere the feature as a special Fathom event on July 3, with encore screenings July 5 and 7. The film will receive a theatrical release by GKIDS starting July 4. 

More details for "Fireworks," including show times, theater locations and ticketing will be announced in the coming weeks at www.FathomEvents.com and www.FireworksMovie.com.

Producer Genki Kawamura follows up his mega-hit "Your Name" with another tale of star-crossed teenage lovers and a sci-fi fantasy twist. "Fireworks" tells a simple story of adolescent longing that taps deep wells of emotion. It is a tale of youthful wistfulness, missed opportunities and long-ago dreams, of the urgency of young lovers, and the desire to create a separate universe, a magic place outside of time, where they can be together.

"We are excited to continue our partnership with GKIDS to offer brand new animated content in cinemas nationwide, starting with 'Fireworks'," Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt said. "Fans of all ages will have the opportunity to experience the best of animation on the big screen throughout the year in a communal environment."

"GKIDS is thrilled to present 'Fireworks' to anime and movie fans across the U.S. this summer, and to expand on our successful relationship with Fathom to bring more of the best animated films to the big screen throughout the year," GKIDS CEO Eric Beckman said. "Our goal is to create a unique and exciting cinema event experience for moviegoers to come and enjoy these amazing films together with friends and family."

GKIDS and Fathom Events have partnered previously on the premiere event for "Mary and The Witch's Flower," from Studio Ponoc, as well as the ongoing Ghibli Fest series of animated masterpieces from Japan's famed Studio Ghibli.

About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is the leading event cinema distributor with participating theaters in all 100 of the top Designated Market Areas^®, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events in theaters such as live performances of the Metropolitan Opera, top stage productions including Newsies! The Broadway Musical and George Takei's Allegiance, major sporting events such as Mayweather vs. McGregor, epic concerts with artists like Lady Antebellum and Sammy Hagar, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series, inspirational events such as Is Genesis History? and IN OUR HANDS: The Battle for Jerusalem, and popular anime franchises such as Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes for unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events' live digital broadcast network ("DBN") is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 917 locations and 1,440 screens in 181 DMAs. For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com. 

ABOUT GKIDS
GKIDS is a producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. Since 2010, the company has scored an astounding ten Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with "The Secret of Kells" in 2010, "A Cat in Paris" and "Chico & Rita" in 2012, "Ernest & Celestine" in 2014, "The Tale of The Princess Kaguya" and "Song of the Sea" in 2015, "Boy and the World" and "When Marnie Was There" in 2016, "My Life as a Zucchini" in 2017, and "The Breadwinner" in 2018. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world's most coveted animation collections with titles "Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro," "Princess Mononoke" and others. GKIDS recently launched ANIMATION IS FILM, an annual LA-based film festival. ANIMATION IS FILM embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of their work to the fullest range of expression that the medium is capable of.

SOURCE Fathom Events