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, Festival Director)
坂本 有紀
Yuki Sakamoto Solomon was born in Chiba, Japan. She began making independent films in high school and later worked as a program director for Japanese public television after graduating from college. She is a Chicago-based film producer focused on mission-driven projects and the founder of Coyote Sun Productions. Her recent activities include serving as a juror for the Chicago International Film Festival Short Film Competition in 2024 and receiving a Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award in 2025 for a promotional project created in collaboration with the Chicago Cubs’ production team.
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).
Yukako Y. Wrenn (Project Coordinator/ 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）
Pono Design (Main Visual Designer)
https://www.pono.design/
NIIMI Chifumi (Calligraphy)
新見 知ふみ（書道題字）
http://calligraphy.kyoto.jp