Chicago Japanese Film Collective 2025
Backstreet Cinema Series Vol. 1

Thank you for waiting! Founded in 2021, the Chicago Japanese Film Collective will celebrate its 5th anniversary at the next festival in 2026. To give this milestone the attention it deserves, we’ve shifted our anniversary festival to next year. In the meantime, 2025 marks the launch of an exciting new initiative: the Backstreet Cinema Series. Free from the usual boundaries of release year or genre, this series highlights films that capture the spirit and scenery of Japan—works that evoke the same beauty and nostalgia as stumbling upon a hidden backstreet.

The first installment opens with CJFC’s very first anime feature, The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes. The story follows two high school students who discover a mysterious tunnel and the life-changing experiences that await them beyond. Immerse yourself in breathtaking rural landscapes and the tunnel’s dreamlike world—best experienced on the big screen.

The second feature is Laugh, Everyone!, a heartfelt comedy about a struggling second-generation rakugo storyteller trying to find his place in the world. Beyond family drama, the film offers a glimpse into the traditions of rakugo, the challenges of inheriting cultural legacies, and the vibrancy of Japan’s comedic arts, including manzai comedy. Another work not to be missed!