Kids Movie Night
Kids Movie Night
Kids Movie Night
Kids Movie Night
Another highlight of the evening was the refreshing peach kakigori (shaved ice), generously donated by Gaijin Chicago.
The kids absolutely loved it. It was the perfect summer treat!
The event was made possible thanks to the support of our wonderful partners, CJFC and Gaijin, and to the hard work of our Youth and Parent Volunteers who guided the children throughout the night.
We are so grateful to everyone who helped make our Kids Movie Night such a warm and memorable success.
We look forward to hosting more special programs for children in the future!
Moon of a Sleepless Night
Duration: 27 min
Movie Title Image:
Images from the film:
About the Director
Takeshi Yashiro
八代 健志
Takeshi Yashiro graduated from the Design Department at Tokyo University of the Arts. He began his career directing live-action TV commercials at Taiyo Kikaku and also explored various forms of stop-motion animation.
In 2015, he founded TECARAT, shifting his focus toward puppet animation. In addition to writing and directing, he is deeply involved in all aspects of production, including art direction, animation, and puppet modeling. His work emphasizes the unique textures and expressive qualities that emerge from handcrafted stop-motion techniques.
His acclaimed short film “GON, THE LITTLE FOX” (2019) received numerous accolades and was officially selected by over 160 international film festivals. His 2021 film, “Pukkulapottas and Hours in the Forest,” won the Ōfuji Noburō Award in the Animation Division of the Mainichi Film Awards and was named a Jury Recommended Work at the Japan Media Arts Festival.
He was responsible for puppet modeling and animation in “Hair Album” (produced for Takara Belmont), which earned the Yellow Pencil in the Animation category at the D&AD Awards 2022.
His latest work, “Haru-tsuge Fish and Fu-rai Boy” (part of NHK’s TinyTales: Stop Motion Shorts), is a poetic blend of flowers and puppets. The film won the Grand Prix in the Japanese Competition at Hiroshima Animation Season 2024 and received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 11th New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival. It continues to be screened internationally.
About the Chicago Japan Film Collective:
The Chicago Japanese Film Collective (CJFC), established in 2021, is the first and only Japanese film festival in the Midwest.
CJFC showcases the diverse voices of Japanese independent cinema through narrative, documentary, and animation. Our mission is to promote cultural exchange between Japan and the U.S., connect audiences across generations and backgrounds, and expand opportunities for international screenings.
Beginning this September, we will launch a special program titled the Backstreet Cinema Series at the Music Box Theatre, spotlighting the hidden gems of Japanese culture. Through film, we invite audiences to experience a deeper, more intimate encounter with Japan.
About Gaijin Chicago:
Gaijin by Chef Paul Virant is Chicago’s first okonomiyaki restaurant, offering both Hiroshima and Osaka styles of the savory Japanese pancake.
A self-described gaijin, or “outsider” in Japanese, Virant playfully embraces this perspective and honors traditional preparations and techniques, as well as his well-known passion for pickling and preserving.
Designed to deliver a lively and interactive culinary experience, the 60-seat space is anchored by a custom 12-foot griddle and chef’s counter and offers individual Hiroshima teppan griddles for table service.
The dessert menu features kakigori, a shaved ice dessert, along with mochi donuts and other Japanese-inspired treats.
The bar program showcases highballs and a focused selection of beer – including a Moody Tongue-Gaijin collaboration house lager, sake, Japanese whisky, and wine.
950 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607
