After her father’s death, Kana returns home to care for her ailing mother. Soon, she begins experiencing vivid dreams and strange premonitions. When a dream about a high school classmate jumping in front of a train comes true, Kana’s anxiety spirals.
Her classmate’s death is only the beginning of a series of disturbing events that seem connected to her mother’s strange behaviour and her papier-mâché dolls. Is a dark curse looming over the family? Kana finds herself at her sister’s house, urgently warning her about the sinister power threatening her little nephew, Yuta.
From the opening scene, Zenzo Sakai’s debut feature establishes a hauntingly serene atmosphere. With a bright, soft colour palette and a slow, deliberate pace, the film meanders between disturbing and soothing beauty, masterfully building suspense while balancing psychological horror with family drama. Supported by strong performances, IAI offers a fascinating blend of slow-burning tension and tender emotional depth.
– kijA
Film details
- Country of production
- Japan
- Year
- 2026
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2026
- Length
- 90'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
- Language
- Japanese
- Premiere status
- World premiere
- Principal cast
- Rio Yamashita
- Director
- Sakai Zenzo
- Producer
- Tokio Omori, Kotaro Fujiyama, Yusuke Suzuki
- Screenplay
- Keisuke Miyazaki, Sakai Zenzo
- Cinematography
- Ryotaro Kawaguchi
- Editing
- Keisuke Miyazaki
- Production design
- Kyoko Matsui
- Sound design
- Keita Sato
- Music
- Akihiko Yoshikawa
- Production company
- Drunken Bird
- Sales / World rights holder
- Rights Cube
Shows of "IAI"
-
Press & IndustryCinerama 6In-personEnglish subtitledPress & IndustrySoon available
-
Cinerama 1In-personwith Q&AEnglish subtitledSoon available
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Pathé 7In-personwith Q&AEnglish subtitledSoon available
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Pathé 2In-personEnglish subtitledSoon available