CJFC Backstreet Cinema Series 2025 Opening Report!
On Saturday, September 6 at 11:30 AM, CJFC proudly opened its Backstreet Cinema Series Vol. 1 with The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago.
On a beautiful late-summer morning in Chicago, the theater filled with an enthusiastic audience for this special matinee screening. While the film has already touched audiences elsewhere, our festival longed for the chance to bring it to the big screen here in Chicago. Experiencing its luminous landscapes and tender story of youth and memory in a theater setting was deeply moving—not only for the audience, but also for us as organizers.
As CJFC’s very first anime presentation, this screening marked a meaningful milestone. The film’s nostalgic beauty and emotional resonance reminded us why cinema matters: to connect hearts, to inspire reflection, and to carry us into other worlds.
This memorable morning set a truly beautiful tone for CJFC’s 2025 season.
Photo courtesy of Yukako Wrenn