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SHIVER — Kodo Performers’ Video Message Arrived!
A special greeting video from Shiver performers Kenta Nakagome and Yuta Sumiyoshi of KODO has just arrived! They’ve sent warm words to Chicago audiences—so get ready for the…
Director Message Arrived for the 12/14 Screening!
A special greeting from Jonathan Bellés, director of Ishirō Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director, has just arrived! It’s a perfect warm-up before joining us on December 14.…
Rhythm & Spirit: Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai Joins Us After the Screening!
After the immersive sound world of Shiver, stay with us for a special treat: a live performance by Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai!Their powerful drums and…
On Stage with NOBE Tomizo - A Rare Opportunity You Can’t Miss!
We are thrilled to announce that NOBE Tomizo, the lead actor of Laugh, Everyone!, will be joining us from Japan for the screening of this heartfelt drama at…
Director Spotlight: “Laugh, Everyone!”
Dir. SUZUKI Taichi鈴木太一 監督 …
Director Spotlight: “The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes”
Dir. SANGOUMI Midori田口智久 監督 …
News - Chicago Japan Film Collective
Akudama Drive, Kino's Journey, Kino no Tabi -the Beautiful World- the Animated Series Picture Drama, Kino's Journey -the Beautiful World- the Animated Series, Digimon: Digital Monsters
SHIRAISHI Koji Thanks Fans for SAYURI’s Amazing Win
A huge congratulations to SHIRAISHI Koji for House of Sayuri winning the CJFC 2024 Audience Award ! The director shared a…
The 2024 CJFC Audience Award Winners Are Here!
The votes are in, and we’re thrilled to announce that the 2024 CJFC Audience Award goes to House of Sayuri ! Directed by…
CJFC 2024 Wraps Up at Music Box!
Last night, we celebrated the finale of CJFC 2024 at the Music Box Theatre with the U.S. premiere of Qualia by Ushimaru Ryo. The post-screening networking…
CJFC 2024 Opening Night Report!
The 2024 CJFC kicked off in style at the Music Box Theatre with the U.S. premiere of House of Sayuri by Shiraishi Koji. This thrilling and…
Honoring Dir. FUKUMA Kenji: A Memorial Tribute Screening
Celebrate the life and artistry of the late Kenji Fukuma with a special screening of Not Born Yesterday , his poignant final work. This heartfelt tribute captures…
Documentaries at CJFC 2024: Music and Wrestling!
Get ready to be inspired! These two docs bring the fun of Minyo Crusaders’ playful music revival and the heartfelt spirit of Hokkaido’s amateur wrestlers. Laughter, tears, and…
Women Filmmakers Shine at CJFC 2024!
The 2024 CJFC highlights the artistry of women filmmakers with three international premieres. These thoughtful, women-centered stories explore resilience, identity, and connection. Don’t miss these poignant films.
Explore CJFC’s Online Lineup – Insights from Our Programmers! (Part 2)
We’re back with Part 2 of our programmer insights! Here are more films to help you explore the incredible Japanese stories in this year’s lineup:
Explore CJFC’s Online Lineup – Programmer Insights!
The 2024 CJFC online screenings are here! Dive into a diverse selection of films that bring compelling Japanese stories to life. Check out these must-watch highlights with insights…
Experience the Thrill of HOUSE OF SAYURI This Sunday!
Join us this Sunday, November 17, at the historic Music Box Theatre for a night to remember! The 2024 Chicago Japan Film Collective presents…
The 2024 CJFC is Here!
We’re excited to kick off this year’s Chicago Japan Film Collective, themed around “Co-existence.” Starting today, you can stream nine unique films from all across the U.S. on…
Grateful for ChicagoScreens' Grant Support!
From the Festival: Receiving support from ChicagoScreens marks a tremendous milestone for our festival. As a festival dedicated to Japanese independent feature films—and the first of…
Director Spotlight #11: “Till The Day I Can Laugh About My Blues”
Born in 1997, Takeda is a graduate of Tokyo Polytechnic University’s Department of Imaging Arts. Since her university days, she has worked on numerous professional and amateur film…
Director Spotlight #10: “Qualia”
Born in 1980, he first gained recognition as a finalist in the 1996 Junon Super Boy Contest, leading to work primarily as a model in advertising. In 2001,…
Director Spotlight #9: “Not Born Yesterday”
Born in Niigata Prefecture in 1949, FUKUMA Kenji was a widely active poet, critic, and translator. He became engrossed in cinema during middle school, influenced by directors such…
Director Spotlight #8: “New Nemuro Pro Wrestling Story”
Born in 1976 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, he graduated from the Nihon University College of Art, majoring in film directing. He has directed a wide range of television programming,…
Director Spotlight #7: “Leave in Summer”
Born in Hokkaido in 1996. “Tokeru” (2016) which Igashi made in college was officially selected for the 70th Cannes Film Festival, Cinéfondation category. She made her theatrical debut…
Director Spotlight #6: “House of Sayuri”
Born on June 1, 1973, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Shiraishi made his mark on the film scene with Violent Man (1997), co-directed with Akihiro Kasai, which won the Screenplay…
Director Spotlight #5: “The Girls”
Born on April 20, 1984, in Tokyo, the director debuted with Dynamite Graffiti (2016), exploring Japan’s GAL culture. His next feature, Goodbye Silence (2018), depicts young people discovering…
News - Chicago Japan Film Collective
Nichijou - My Ordinary Life, Nichijou - My Ordinary Life: Episode 0
Director Spotlight #4: “Esper X Private Detective Agency - Searching for Good-Bye -”
Born September 1, 1973, in Tokyo and raised in Saitama, Koba is known for his unique blend of comedy, sci-fi, and fantasy. He launched his feature film career…
Director Spotlight #3: “Copo a Copo”
Born in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. After working as an assistant director for notable productions, including the TV dramas like From the North Country '98, Private Detective Mike…
Director Spotlight #2: “Bring Minyo Back!”
Born in 1982, Moriwaki began his career in advertising after graduating from Waseda University and later moved into production editing, establishing his independent career in 2011. Based in…
Director Spotlight #1: “99% Cloudy... Always”
SANAGOUMI Midori is an actor and voice actor who began studying filmmaking in 2020. Her short film Under the Bridge won the newly introduced Special Jury Award at…
Introducing Our New Team Member: Yukako
Welcome, Yukako! We are excited to welcome Yukako Wrenn to the CJFC team! Yukako has been a key contributor as our festival photographer, capturing special moments…
Closing Presentation
Yesterday, we had another successful in-theater screening at the MUSIC BOX THEATER in Chicago, featuring our festival closing film Angry Son . Despite the heavy rain in…
Vote Now for the Audience Award: Celebrating the Best in Cinema!
Attention our wonderful audience! It's that time of year again when we invite you to participate in the CJFC audience award. The film that receives the most votes…
Directors’ Comments
As the film festival commences, the Directors of the 2023 official selection have sent heartfelt messages To all the cherished audiences. These messages carry the essence of the…
Opening Night!
Last night, we had a successful in-theater screening at the MUSIC BOX THEATER in Chicago, featuring the opening film Hoarder on the Border . It was well-received,…
Director Spotlight #9: “Twilight Cinema Blues”
Dir. JOJO Hideo (Twilight Cinema Blues) Born in 975 in Hachioji City, Tokyo. Jojo graduated from Musashino Art University and accumulated a career…
Director Spotlight #10: “Underdogs”
Dir. KUMETA Tsuyoshi (Underdogs) Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1969. Graduated from the Department of Sociology and Cultural Anthropology at…
Director Spotlight #7: “Resonance”
Dir. TANAKA Toshinori (Resonance) Born in 1981 in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, Japan, Tanaka is a Filmmaker, a Lecturer at Fukuyama University, and the…