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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 #10: “Underdogs”
Dir. KUMETA Tsuyoshi (Underdogs) Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1969. Graduated from the Department of Sociology and Cultural Anthropology at…
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 #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…
Director Spotlight #8: “Toward Zero”
Dir. ITO Takashi (Toward Zero) ITO was born in Fukuoka in 1956. While studying in university, his experimental film SPACY(1981), premiered at MATSUMOTO…
Director Spotlight #6: “NOT BEER”
Dir. NAKAGAWA Hirotaka (NOT BEER) Hirotaka Nakagawa was born in Aichi Prefecture and studied film production at university in Japan. He has worked…
Director Spotlight #5: “I Quit Being “Friends””
Dir. IMAMURA Ayako (I Quit Being “Friends”) From Nagoya／President of Studio AYA Graduated from Aichi Education University, Faculty of Education／Studied film…
Director Spotlight #3: “Cafune”
Dir. KINEMURA Haruki (New Director) (Cafune) Born in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture in 2001, Japan. After enrolling in Osaka University…
Director Spotlight #4: “Hoarder on the Border”
Dir. KAYANO Hirotaka (Hoarder on the Border) Kayano graduated from the Department of Image Design, Faculty of Arts and Engineering…
Director Spotlight #2: “Backlight”
Dir. SUDO Ren (New Director) (Backlight) Born in Tokyo in 1996. While studying law at Keio University, he began working as a…
Director Spotlight #1: “Angry Son”
Dir. IIZUKA Kasho (Angry Son) Born in 1990 in Gunma Prefecture. He studied under film director NEGISHI Yoshitaro and screenwriter Masato Kato while…
Early Bird Passes are now available! (until June 15th!)
Early Bird Passes are now available! All-Access Pass (provides access to all 8 films for the duration of the festival): $23 3 Virtual Ticket Bundle…
Director’s Comment: The Takatsu River
Dir. NISHIKORI Yoshinari 錦織良成監督
Director’s Comment: The World of You
Dir. SHIOTA Akihiko 塩田明彦監督
Director and Guests’ Comments: Ainu - Indigenous People of Japan
Dir. MIZOGUCHI Naomi 溝口尚美監督
Director’s Comment: Actress Montage
Dir. MINAKUCHI Monzo 水口紋蔵監督
Opening Night!
Last night, CJFC had the very first in-theater screening at the Logan Theatre in Chicago with the opening night film, Japanese Style . Thank you so much…
Director Spotlight #13:
Dir. SHIOTA Akihiko (The World of You) Born in Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture in 1961, Shiota has been a regular participant in the…
Director Spotlight #12:
Dir. NISHIKORI Yoshinari (The Takatsu River) Film director and screenwriter. Born in January 1962 in Izumo, the birthplace of Kabuki, Sake and Sumo…
News - Chicago Japan Film Collective
Izumo, Nichijou - My Ordinary Life: Episode 0, Nichijou - My Ordinary Life
Director Spotlight #11:
Dir. SATO Yoshinori (Shinjuku Tiger) Yoshinori Sato was born in Aichi, Japan on February 1975. After graduating high school, he went to the…
Meet Director TANAKA Daiki
Born in Tokyo in 1994, freelance film director, Tanaka, is a graduate of Nihon University College of Art's film directing course. Tanaka’s genre-defying thesis film, Filament, won awards…
Meet Director UENISHI Yudai
Born in Osaka in 1964, actor, scriptwriter, film director, and president of 10ANTS, Uenishi has been active mainly on the stage in the Kansai region since the establishment…
Meet Director UMEZAKI Yo
Umezaki joined TV Tokyo in 1989. After working as a news and sports reporter, directed a number of nature documentaries on such places as the Himalayas and a…
Meet Director TSUTSUMI Yukihiko
Yukihiko Tsutsumi born in 1955 is one of the most successful film directors in the Japanese film industry. His 40-year career started as a director of TV programs,…