What is the V-Cinema movement in Japan?

V-Cinema was a direct-to-video film movement that exploded in Japan in the late 1980s, giving directors unprecedented creative freedom and birthing a generation of filmmakers who defined modern Japanese cinema.

Which directors are associated with the V-Cinema movement?

Some of the influential V-Cinema directors include Miike Takashi, Nakata Hideo, Kurosawa Kiyoshi, and Aoyama Shinji.

What kind of films will the IFFR's V-Cinema Focus showcase?

The IFFR's V-Cinema program will feature a range of cult classics and genre-bending titles, including the "Crime Hunter" trilogy, the psychological noir "Betrayal Tomorrow," and Miike's hyperviolent "Fudoh: The New Generation."

Home / Arts and Entertainment / IFFR Spotlights Japan's Thrilling V-Cinema Movement

IFFR Spotlights Japan's Thrilling V-Cinema Movement

7 Nov

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Summary

IFFR to showcase V-Cinema, Japan's direct-to-video film movement
Includes cult classics like "Fudoh: The New Generation" and "Suit Yourself or Shoot Yourself!! VI: The Hero"
Highlights pioneering directors who defined modern Japanese cinema

IFFR Spotlights Japan's Thrilling V-Cinema Movement

In November 2025, the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is preparing to shine a spotlight on Japan's V-Cinema, a groundbreaking direct-to-video film movement that exploded in the late 1980s and profoundly influenced the country's contemporary cinema.

The festival's V-Cinema Focus, curated by Tom Mes, will run as part of the 2026 edition from January 29 to February 8. Originating with Toei's "Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage" in 1989, V-Cinema responded to Japan's booming home video market by producing low-budget, high-speed films that bypassed theaters entirely. This unconventional approach gave directors unprecedented creative freedom, birthing a generation of filmmakers who went on to define modern Japanese cinema, including Miike Takashi, Nakata Hideo, Kurosawa Kiyoshi, and Aoyama Shinji.