Our Mission
The Chicago Japan Film Collective is proud to introduce Midwest to some of Japan’s most original voices and to provide unique international screening opportunities for these talented filmmakers. With a focus on work created by women, the LGBTQ community, and minority filmmakers, the festival aims to introduce Midwestern audiences to the best in independent Japanese cinema, including narrative, documentary, and animation. Through these films, we hope to connect Japanese and American cultures, create mutual understanding and respect, and expand exhibition and distribution possibilities within international, independent cinema.
Our Team
SAKAMOTO (SOLOMON) Yuki (Co-Founder)
坂本 有紀
Born in Chiba, Japan. Sakamoto began making independent films in a filmmaking club during high school years, and upon graduation from college, she started working as a program director for Japanese public TV. Since 2019, she has worked as a Special Projects Coordinator at the Chicago International Film Festival. She is also a film producer focusing on producing mission-driven films and is a founder of Coyote Sun Productions in Chicago.
KONO Hiroshi (Co-founder)
河野 洋
A native of Nagoya, Japan, moved to New York in 1992 and established a record company called Mar Creation, Inc. in 2003. Kono is the co-founder of a film festival, “New York Japan CineFest” (est. 2012), vice president of a 501(c)(3) organization, “Catch Us Performing Arts” (est. 2018), and co-founder of “Chicago Japan Film Collective” (est. 2020). He is also an advisor for Kadoma International Film Festival, a judge for Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival, and a freelance writer for U.S.-based Japanese newspapers such as YomiTime (NY) and Rafu Shimpo (LA).
Sydney Aiko Hamamoto (Project Coordinator)
Sydney Aiko Hamamoto has a background in history, English literature, and technology studies. She is currently pursuing a master’s in Library and Information Science, where she is cultivating her interest in the liberatory potential of information spaces and community-centered archival practices. Between work and school, she enjoys dabbling in different art mediums, researching plants, and thinking about her next cup of coffee. She also loves film festivals and enjoys participating in them in any capacity.
Yukako Y. Wrenn (Festival Photographer)
山中 Wrenn 庸華子
Born in Shizuoka, Japan. She was her mom’s best buddy to watch movies since she was little. Her photography started with a tiny digital camera & a toy film camera, LOMO. After moving to Chicago, she learned to develop B&W film-making prints in darkrooms and forgot the time of day and night. In 2021, she organized a film screening event by herself, leading to CJCF. She is also passionate about playing Sanshin (an Okinawan three-stringed instrument) and learning the Okinawan language.
Erika C. Kono (Logo Designer)
河野絵里香（CJFC ロゴデザイン）
Erika C. Kono (2023 Main Visual Designer)
河野絵里香（CJFC ロゴデザイン）
NIIMI Chifumi (Calligraphy)
新見 知ふみ（書道題字）
http://calligraphy.kyoto.jp