Chicago Japan Film Festival New Year’s Screening
Young Filmmakers Series | Feb. 10th – 13th, 2022
Chicago, IL- The Chicago Japanese Film Collective (CJFC), the first Japanese film festival in the U.S. Midwest, will hold a virtual New Year’s screening featuring young Japanese filmmakers. Organized by the CJFC Executive Committee (founder SAKAMOTO Yuki (President of Coyote Sun Productions) and co-founder KONO Hiroshi (President of Mar Creation)), the four-day screening event is held in advance of CJFC’s May 2022 festival and will take place from February 10th to 13th.
The event introduces BACK TO THAT DAY, the commercial debut of MAEDA Seira, a 25-year-old director and former child actor, as well as TSUJIURA RENBO by ONO Daisuke, whose directorial debut, at age 28, won several awards. The screening marks the international premieres for both films.
The Chicago Japan Film Collective introduces the best in contemporary Japanese films that would otherwise be inaccessible to Midwestern and US audiences. The 2022 CJFC festival will be held from May 20th to 31st, 2022.
DETAILS:
Thursday, February 10th, 0:00 to Sunday, February 13th, 23:59 (Central Time, USA)
+ Available virtually nationwide
+ Film Festival Platform: Eventive CJFC Site
+ Ticket: Free
+ CJFC Website: https://www.cjfc.us
LINEUP:
- BACK TO THAT DAY by MAEDA Seira
Feature | Drama, Family, Theater | Japan | 2021 | 94 min. | International Premiere
Manami helps out at her family’s beauty salon and runs the unsuccessful “50% Theater Company.” One night, after missing a call from Nao, her sister, Manami discovers that Nao died that very night. After getting into a conflict with her mother, Manami and a friend set out for Tokyo in order to collect Nao’s things. There, through encounters and reunions with various people, Manami finally comes to face with herself.
- TSUJIURA RENBO by ONO Daisuke
Feature | Drama, Music | Japan | 2021 | 111 min. | International Premiere
Emi, a singer-songwriter left behind by the times, and her manager Shinta, have to deal with the idol business, FM radio assault, rent arrears, caring for elder agents, weddings, funerals, social network literacy, and part-time work shifts. Amidst a mountain of problems, the two meet various people and begin to wander down their own paths.
DIRECTORS’ BIO:
MAEDA Seira (BACK TO THAT DAY)
Born in Tokyo in 1996, she worked as a child actor in dramas, movies, stage shows, and talk shows until the age of 20. After entering university, she made her debut as a film director. The film, Itsuka kagayaite ita kanojo wa was exhibited at MOOSIC LAB 2018, and opened at UPLINK Shibuya and Kichijoji. Her talent has been highly praised by famous directors such as FUAKDA Koji and MOTOHIRO Katsuyuki. This film is her commercial directorial debut.
ONO Daisuke (TSUJIURA RENBO)
Born in Chiba in 1988, Daisuke graduated from The Film School of Tokyo in the narrative program. His first film, Sainara, BAD SAMURAI (2016) won the Grand Prix at the Kanazawa Film Festival. His second film, Wolf na Sissy (2005) won the Grand Prix and Best Actor at the 18th TAMA NEW WAVE. The following web drama “Astral Abnormal Suzuki-san” starring MATSUMOTO Honoka was released as a director’s cut theatrical version due to its popularity.