CHICAGO JAPAN FILM COLLECTIVE festival is coming May 25th - 31st

Japanese Film Festival Comes to the Midwest
Chicago Japan Film Collective | May 25th – 31st, 2021

Coyote Sun Productions and Mar Creation announced the inaugural Chicago Japanese Film Collective, the first ever Japanese film festival to be held in the Midwest. The virtual festival will feature nine films (seven narrative features and two documentaries), including two North American premieres.

Organized by SAKAMOTO Yuki (President of Coyote Sun Productions) and KONO Hiroshi (President of Mar Creation), the Chicago Japanese Film Collective will take place from May 25th – 31st, 2021.

“We’re excited to bring the best of contemporary Japanese cinema to the Midwest,” said Sakamoto, adding that “Our festival is designed to bring the American Midwest into conversation with Japanese culture.”

Supported by CATCH US Performing Arts (CUPA) and the Japan Foundation New York, the festival will use the Eventive platform for ticketing and screenings and is intended to spark conversations about culture and to facilitate understanding between Japan and the Midwest region.

According to Kono Hiroshi, “With the ongoing pandemic, we hope the Chicago Japanese Film Collective can provide a space where people from diverse backgrounds come together to appreciate art and to focus on our shared humanity.”

Among the festival's highlights is Hayashi Kaizo’s BOLT, a drama about the immediate aftermath of the earthquake that rocked Japan and resulted in the Fukushima nuclear disaster starring Nagade Masatoshi. Also, All About Chiaki Mayumura (provisional), a genre-bending drama about a musical celebrity who is much more than meets the eye. Other films include VIDEOPHOBIA, a black and white cyber thriller; Yan, shot on location in Japan and in Taiwan; The House of Seasons, a family drama about a teenager who overcomes her mental health challenges; and The Manga Master, a film about the life of manga artist pioneer Kitazawa Rakuten. In documentaries, the festival will feature Alone Again in Fukushima, a deeply human story about a man who stayed in the evacuation zone in order to care for animals left behind following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and Prison Circle, which provides an intimate look into one of Japan’s most notorious prisons.

The Chicago Japan Film Collective introduces the best in contemporary Japanese films—that would otherwise be inaccessible—to Midwestern audiences. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the inaugural edition will be held virtually, however plans are in motion to hold future festivals in person.

Details:
- Tuesday, May 25, 2021 - Monday, May 31, 2021, 23:59 (Central Time, USA)
- Virtual screening U.S. nationwide
- Watchsite Registration Fee: May 5th, 2021 on sale
- Early Bird: US $13 for all access, US$8 for one film (May 5th - 15th)
- Regular: US $15 for all access, US$10 for one film (May 16th - 31st)
- Student discount codes and promotional discount code are available
- Film Festival Platform: EVENTIVE
- Official Website: https://www.cjfc.us
- Audience Award: Votes for the Audience Award will be cast through Eventive and the award will be announced at the conclusion of the festival.