{"id":212419,"date":"2025-11-06T16:02:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T15:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/?p=212419"},"modified":"2025-11-06T17:58:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T16:58:09","slug":"blog-v-cinema-at-iffr-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/blog-v-cinema-at-iffr-2026","title":{"rendered":"Focus on Japanese direct-to-video phenomenon V-Cinema at IFFR 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IFFR has revealed its second Focus programme for the upcoming 55th edition of the festival, taking place from 29 January \u2013 8 February 2026. The dedicated programme will centre on V-Cinema \u2013 the Japanese direct-to-video phenomenon that emerged in the late 1980s and left a lasting mark on contemporary film culture \u2013 and feature early works by now-famous auteurs, through to discoveries that have rarely been seen outside Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The V-Cinema production model, which originated with Toei’s Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage <\/strong>(1989), responded to the rise of video rental, by producing films that were not released in cinemas. This approach allowed directors to work quickly, economically, and with remarkable creative freedom. It offered invaluable opportunities to an emerging generation of filmmakers who would go on to shape Japanese cinema \u2013 with Miike Takashi, Nakata Hideo, Kurosawa Kiyoshi and Aoyama Shinji all beginning their journeys here and testing the boundaries of genre, form and narrative in ways that still resonate today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IFFR\u2019s V-Cinema Focus Programme will feature a range of titles from Toei \u2013 including the high-octane action title Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage<\/strong> (1989) and the follow-ups Crime Hunter 2: Bullets of Betrayal <\/strong>(1989) and Crime Hunte<\/strong>r<\/strong> 3: Killing the Bullet<\/strong> (1990), in addition to Betrayal of Tomorrow<\/strong> (1990), the debut full-length work by Nakata Hideo Female teacher: Forbidden Sex<\/strong> (1995), and XX Beautiful Weapon <\/strong>(1993). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme will also spotlight the omnibus of ghost stories Scary True Stories: Second Night<\/strong> (1992); the found-footage investigation into a haunted pop song Psychic Vision: Jaganrei <\/strong> (1988) and Miike Takashi\u2019s gleeful celebration of excess Fudoh: The New Generation<\/strong> (1996). Additional titles include Tuff: Part I<\/strong> (1990), <\/strong>a violent, surreal gangland tale of a hitman\u2019s rise; Kurosawa Kiyoshi\u2019s yakuza comedy Suit Yourself or Shoot Yourself!! VI: The Hero<\/strong> (1996); the tale of a loan shark helping small business owners The King of Minami<\/strong> (1992) and archetypal action movie from Aoyama Shinji, A Weapon in my Heart<\/strong> (1996). <\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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