July 25, 2019

The Ghost in the Shell: Ghost Chaser VR experience directed by Hiroaki Higashi is part of the Venice VR Competition selection at the 76th Venice Film Festival, to be held in Venice, Italy from August 28 to September 7, 2019. The exhibition in Venice marks the international premiere of the VR experience, and Ghost Chaser is the first ever Japanese project to be presented in the VR Competition: Linear section. Last year, Hiroaki Higashi and Nobumichi Asai's Ghost in the Shell: Virtual Reality Diver screened in the Best of VR programme.

Director Hiroaki Higashi released the following comment:
Following last year's invitation of Ghost in the Shell: Virtual Reality Diver, I'm absolutely thrilled that this time our new project is screening in competition at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. It really seems like yesterday, when at the end of the closing party at the Hotel Excelsior just a year ago, all team members promised to each other to come back again to the lagoon with something even more powerful.

For this new VR experience we tried to create the right balance between storytelling and the features of a ride attraction. We spent endless hours in polishing up every detail of this little film, as we were determined to create a new kind of VR entertainment. We are delighted to have the opportunity to show the result of our work to such a great audience.

Watch the trailer on YouTube.

Established in 1932, the Venice Film Festival is the world's oldest ongoing film festival, and it is considered one of the Three Big Festivals in the world along with Cannes and Berlin. The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote international cinema in all its forms as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue.

For further information, please check the 76th Venice Film Festival official website:
https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2019

hexaRide official website (English available):
https://www.hexaride.jp/en/en.html

©Shirow Masamune • Production I.G / KODANSHA • GHOST IN THE SHELL: THE MOVIE COMMITTEE