Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Film Festival

Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Film Festival

A view of the Virginia Theatre's marquee in 2014 for Roger Ebert's Film Festival
Status Active
Genre Film festival
Frequency Annually
Location(s) Champaign, Illinois
Country United States
Years active 1999–present
Founder Roger Ebert
Previous event 18th Annual Ebertfest
April 13–17, 2016
Next event 19th Annual Ebertfest
April 19-23, 2017
Capacity 1,500 (Virginia Theatre)[1]
People Roger Ebert
Chaz Ebert
Website
ebertfest.com

Roger Ebert's Film Festival, originally known as Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival but commonly referred to as simply Ebertfest, is an annual film festival held every April in Champaign, Illinois, United States, organized by the College of Media at the University of Illinois. Roger Ebert was a native of the adjoining town of Urbana, Illinois and is an alumnus of the University.

Selection criteria

Unlike typical film festivals, Ebertfest[2] does not accept submissions. Roger Ebert, the TV and Chicago Sun-Times film critic selected films for the festival which in his opinion are excellent, but have been overlooked by the public or by film distribution companies. All films are selected from those that Ebert saw in the course of his normal reviewing work.

The original purpose of the Overlooked Film Festival, as reflected in the name, was to showcase films that had not been given enough attention by the public, film critics, or even distributors. Ebert had cheerfully admitted that he can bend the definition of "overlooked" to accommodate any film that he would like to include, since entire genres and formats can be overlooked as well as individual films. The selection philosophy is expected to continue, but with the name change there will no longer be a need to come up with a pretext for including any film.

70 mm

In most years the festival has included a film in the 70 mm format. The films may be major releases, like 2001: A Space Odyssey or Patton, or less well-known, like 2005's showing of the French film Play Time. These films were all chosen primarily due to their use of the 70mm process, which Ebert felt was overlooked.

Silent film

Each year a silent film is shown with live orchestral accompaniment. The films selected are generally well-known (for example, Nosferatu), but Ebert felt that silent films in general are overlooked by the majority of moviegoers. The festival also strives to include a musical film for the same reason. Performers providing live accompaniment have included the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra and the Alloy Orchestra.

Festival format

At the festival before each screening Roger Ebert would make a few introductory remarks. After the film is shown he will have a discussion on stage with the filmmakers or others connected with the film, sometimes hosting a brief panel discussion.

Twelve to fourteen films are presented at each festival, opening with a single film on a Wednesday night and concluding with a single movie the following Sunday. On each day during the interim four films are presented.

After Ebert lost his speaking voice due to cancer, his wife Chaz has taken on many of the hosting duties. Post-show panels are led by his "Far-Flung Correspondents" or other respected film professionals, such as film historian David Bordwell and film critic Christy Lemire.[3]

On April 4, 2013, Ebert died after a long battle with cancer.[4] Despite his death, the film festival went along as scheduled, simultaneously acting as a tribute to Ebert's legacy.[5] At the opening of the 15th annual Ebertfest, it was announced by Ebert's wife, Chaz, that his alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will be establishing a new Film Studies program within the College of Media in honor of his legacy. The program will be funded in part by a $1 million grant from Ebert and his wife to the University. The non-degree program will be both a collection of film-related seminars and classes as well as a platform for Ebertfest to continue.[6]

Admission

Festival goers can purchase tickets to individual shows or full-festival passes. As passholders do not necessarily attend every show, it is often possible to obtain tickets at the last minute after empty seats are counted.

Venue

Ebertfest is held at the Virginia Theatre, an old-time movie palace in Champaign now owned by the Champaign Park District. Ebert spoke of having attended films at the Virginia while growing up in Champaign-Urbana and attending the University.

Origins

The festival is a direct descendant of a program put on at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1997 called Cyberfest which used the supposed birthday of HAL (the computer in the 2001 film) to highlight the University's involvement in the history of computers and computing. The film was to be shown as part of Cyberfest, Roger Ebert had agreed to host and actor Gary Lockwood was a special guest. It was suggested that the film should ideally be shown as it was originally, in 70 mm format. The original plan was to have the screening at the University's performing arts center but time constraints vs. the need to install projection equipment and elaborate six channel sound made this impossible. Someone suggested looking at the Virginia Theatre, as 70 mm films had been shown there in the past. At this point the theatre was in the hands of a local live theatre group and had not run films since sold by a theatre chain. All concerned were pleasantly surprised to learn the chain had left behind not only what is reputed to be the finest 35/70 mm projector made but also the screen and speakers. The rest of the equipment was brought in for the special showing which went perfectly.

Growth

Since that time, through generous donations, the Virginia has been able to fully equip its projection and sound system with a second projector, the latest in digital sound equipment and top quality lenses.

Instrumental in these upgrades has been notable Chicago-based projection expert James Bond who doubles as one of the projectionists during the festival.

Name change

In April 2007 it was announced that beginning in 2008 with the tenth festival "overlooked" would be dropped from the name and subsequent events would simply be known as "Roger Ebert's Film Festival." This does not necessarily indicate any change in the philosophy or theme but will simply eliminate the need to explain when current or even unreleased films are included which has sometimes been the case. They have sometimes been jokingly referred to as "pre-overlooked."

Films

The following is an incomplete list of films presented at Ebertfest.

2016

[7]

Title Director Year Starring Notes
Everybody Wants Some!! Richard Linklater 2016 Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin, Ryan Guzman Free student screening on University of Illinois campus. Post-film Q&A included Stephen Feder (executive producer), Glen Powell (actor), and Juston Street (actor)
Crimson Peak Guillermo del Toro 2015 Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston Post-film Q&A included del Toro
Grandma Paul Weitz 2015 Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden Post-film Q&A included Weitz and Andrew Miano (producer)
Northfork Michael Polish 2003 James Woods, Nick Nolte, Daryl Hannah, Anthony Edwards Post-film Q&A included Polish
The Third Man Carol Reed 1949 Joseph Cotten, Orson Welles, Alida Valli Post-film Q&A included Angela Allen (script supervisor)
Disturbing the Peace Stephen Apkon, Andrew Young 2016 Chen Alon, Sulaiman Khatib Special premiere. Post-film Q&A included Apkon, Young, Alon, Khatib, and Marcina Hale (story consultant)
L'Inhumaine Marcel L'Herbier 1924 Georgette Leblanc, Jaque Catelain, Philippe Hériat Alloy Orchestra played live accompaniment. Post-film Q&A included two members of the Alloy Orchestra
Eve's Bayou Kasi Lemmons 1997 Samuel L. Jackson, Lynn Whitfield, Jurnee Smollett Post-film Q&A included Lemmons
Force of Destiny Paul Cox 2015 David Wenham, Shahana Goswami, Jacqueline McKenzie USA Premiere. Post-film Q&A included Cox
Radical Grace Rebecca Parrish 2015 Sister Simone Campbell, Sister Jean Hughes, Sister Chris Schenk Post-film Q&A included Parrish, Nicole Bernardi-Reis (producer), Heather McIntosh (composer), and Father Michael Pfleger (social activist)
Love & Mercy Bill Pohlad 2014 John Cusack, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth Banks Post-film Q&A included panel of film critics
Blow Out Brian De Palma 1981 John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow Post-film Q&A included Allen
Body and Soul Oscar Micheaux 1925 Paul Robeson, Mercedes Gilbert, Julia Theresa Russell Renee Baker and the Chicago Modern Orchestra Project played live accompaniment, composed by Baker. Post-film Q&A included Baker

2015

[8]

Title Director Year Starring Notes
Goodbye to Language Jean-Luc Godard 2014 Héloise Godet, Kamel Abdeli, Richard Chevalier Post-film Q&A included Godet
A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence Roy Andersson 2014 Holger Andersson, Nils Westblom, Viktor Gyllenberg Post-film Q&A included Johan Carlsson (producer)
Moving Midway Godfrey Cheshire 2008 Godfrey Cheshire, Robert Hinton Post-film Q&A included Cheshire, plus Hinton via video call
The End of the Tour James Ponsoldt 2015 Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Ron Livingston Post-film Q&A included Ponsoldt and Segel
Girlhood Céline Sciamma 2014 Karidja Touré, Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh Post-film Q&A included Héloise Godet
The Son of the Sheik George Fitzmaurice 1926 Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Bánky, George Fawcett Alloy Orchestra played live accompaniment. Post-film Q&A included two members of the Alloy Orchestra
A Bronx Tale Robert De Niro 1993 Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato, Jr. Post-film Q&A included Palminteri, Jon Kilik (producer), Richard Roeper (critic) and Leonard Maltin (critic)
Wild Tales Damián Szifrón 2014 Darío Grandinetti, María Marull, Julieta Zylberberg Post-film Q&A included Zylberberg, Javier Braier (casting director), plus Szifrón via video call
Ida Paweł Pawlikowski 2013 Agata Kulesza, Agata Trzebuchowska, Dawid Ogrodnik Post-film Q&A included panel of film critics
The Motel Life Alan Polsky, Gabe Polsky 2012 Emile Hirsch, Stephen Dorff, Dakota Fanning, Kris Kristofferson Post-film Q&A included Alan Polsky
99 Homes Ramin Bahrani 2014 Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Laura Dern Post-film Q&A included Bahrani and Noah Lomax (actor)
Seymour: An Introduction Ethan Hawke 2014 Seymour Bernstein, Jiyang Chen, Ethan Hawke Post-film Q&A included Bernstein, Andrew Harvey (activist), and Leonard Maltin (critic)

2014

[9]

Title Director Year Starring Notes
The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three Joseph Sargent 1974 Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam Free student screening on University of Illinois campus. Post-film Q&A included Patton Oswalt
Life Itself Steve James 2014 Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert, Gene Siskel Post-film Q&A included James and Chaz Ebert
Museum Hours Jem Cohen 2012 Mary Margaret O’Hara, Bobby Sommer, Ela Piplits Post-film Q&A included Cohen
Short Term 12 Destin Cretton 2013 Brie Larson, John Gallagher, Jr., Frantz Turner Post-film Q&A included Larson
Young Adult Jason Reitman 2011 Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson Post-film Q&A included Oswalt
He Who Gets Slapped Victor Sjöström 1924 Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, John Gilbert 2011 restoration. Alloy Orchestra played live accompaniment. Post-film Q&A included two members of the Alloy Orchestra
Capote Bennett Miller 2004 Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins, Jr. Pre-film introduction included Michael Barker (Sony Pictures Classics)
Do The Right Thing Spike Lee 1989 Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Spike Lee Post-film Q&A included Lee
Wadjda Haifaa Al-Mansour 2012 Waad Mohammed, Reem Abdullah, Abdullrahman Al Gohani Post-film Q&A included Al-Mansour
A Simple Life Ann Hui 2011 Andy Lau, Deanie Ip, Paul Chun, Fuli Wang Post-film Q&A included Hui
Goodbye Solo Ramin Bahrani 2008 Souleymane Sy Savane, Red West, Diana Franco Galindo Post-film Q&A included Bahrani
Born on the Fourth of July Oliver Stone 1989 Tom Cruise, Willem Dafoe, Raymond J. Barry, Caroline Kava Post-film Q&A included Stone
Bayou Maharajah Lily Keber 2013 James Booker, Dr. John, Harry Connick, Jr. Post-film Q&A included Keber, Henry Butler

2013

[10]

Title Director Year Starring Notes
Days of Heaven Terrence Malick 1978 Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard, Linda Manz Post-film Q&A included Haskell Wexler (cinematographer)
I Remember (short) Grace Wang 2012 Lily Huang, Chris Chang Pre-film introduction included Wang and June Kim (director of photography)
Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh Paul Cox 1989 John Hurt, Marika Rivera, Gabriella Trsek
To Music (short) Sophie Kohn, Feike Santbergen 2013 Paul Cox, Roger Glanville-Hicks, Henriett Tunyogi, Tamás Vásáry Pre-film introduction included Kohn and Santbergen
In the Family Patrick Wang 2012 Sebastian Banes, Patrick Wang, Trevor St. John Post-film Q&A included Wang and St. John
Bernie Richard Linklater 2011 Jack Black, Shirley McLaine, Matthew McConaughey Post-film Q&A included Linklater and Black (via conference call)
Oslo, August 31st Joachim Trier 2011 Anders Danielsen Lie Post-film Q&A included Trier
The Ballad of Narayama Keisuke Kinoshita 1958 Kinuyo Tanaka, Teiji Takahashi, Yuuko Mochizuki Post-film Q&A included David Bordwell (film historian)
Julia Erick Zonca 2008 Tilda Swinton, Aidan Gould, Saul Rubinek, Kate del Castillo Post-film Q&A included Swinton
Blancanieves Pablo Berger 2012 Maribel Verdú Post-film Q&A included Berger
Kumaré Vikram Gandhi 2011 Vikram Gandhi Post-film Q&A included Gandhi
Escape from Tomorrow Randy Moore 2013 Roy Abramsohn, Elena Schuber, Katelynn Rodriguez, Annet Mahendru, Danielle Safady, Alison Lees-Taylor Post-film Q&A included Moore, Soojin Chung (producer), Abramsohn, Schuber, Mahendru
The Spectacular Now James Ponsoldt 2013 Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kyle Chandler Post-film Q&A included Ponsoldt and Woodley
Not Yet Begun to Fight Sabrina Lee, Shasta Grenier 2012 Navy SEAL Elliott Miller, Sgt. Erik Goodge, Col. Eric Hastings Post-film Q&A included Lee and Goodge

2012

[11]

Title Director Year Starring Notes
Joe Versus the Volcano John Patrick Shanley 1990 Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Lloyd Bridges, Abe Vigoda Post-film Q&A included Stephen Goldblatt (director of photography)
The Truth About Beauty & Blogs (short) Rosalyn Coleman Williams 2011 Kelechie Ezie Post-film Q&A included Kelechie Ezie, also writer and co-producer
Phunny Business: A Black Comedy John Davies 2011 Raymond Lambert Post-film Q&A included John Davies, Reid Brody (producer), Raymond Lambert (also writer and producer), Ali LeRoi (comedian featured in film)
Big Fan Robert Siegel 2009 Patton Oswalt, Kevin Corrigan, Michael Rapaport Post-film Q&A included Robert Siegel. Patton Oswalt was scheduled to attend, as well as introduce a public screening of Kind Hearts and Coronets, but was detained by filming commitments
Kinyarwanda Alrick Brown 2011 Hassan Kabera, Edouard Bamporiki, Cassandra Freeman Post-film Q&A included Alrick Brown, Ishmael Ntihabose (actor and executive producer), Darren Dean (producer), Tommy Oliver (producer), Deatra Harris (producer)
Terri Azazel Jacobs 2011 Jacob Wysocki Post-film Q&A included Azazel Jacobs and Jacob Wysocki
On Borrowed Time David Bradbury 2011 Paul Cox Paul Cox
Wild AND Weird: The Alloy Orchestra Plays 10 Fascinating and Innovative Films 1906–1926 1906–1926 Alloy Orchestra played live accompaniment
A Separation Asghar Farhadi 2011 Peyman Mouadi, Leila Hatami, Sareh Bayat, Shahab Hosseini, Sarina Farhadi Peyman Mouadi was scheduled to attend but did not. The post-film Q&A, moderated by blogger Nell Minow, included Paul Cox, blogger Omer Mozaffar and distributor Michael Barker of Sony Pictures Classics
Higher Ground Vera Farmiga 2011 Vera Farmiga, Joshua Leonard, Norbert Leo Butz, Donna Murphy Post-film Q&A included writer Carolyn S. Briggs, who based the film on her memoir This Dark World, with blogger Nell Minow
Patang (The Kite) Prashant Bhargava 2011 Seema Biswas, Nawazuddin Siddiqui Post-film Q&A included Prashant Bhargava, Vijay Bhargava (executive producer), James Townsend (writer), Seema Biswas, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Take Shelter Jeff Nichols 2011 Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain Post-film Q&A included Jeff Nichols, Michael Shannon, distributor Michael Barker of Sony Pictures Classics
Citizen Kane Orson Welles 1941 Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Ruth Warrick The film was shown using Roger Ebert's commentary track, recorded in 2006 (before Ebert lost his voice). The post-show Q&A featured scholar David Bordwell with audio commentary producer Jeffrey Lerner. Chaz Ebert was visibly moved, stating that although she had seen the film, she had never heard the commentary track, and felt lucky to hear her husband's voice again in the Virginia Theatre

2011

[12]

Title Director Year Starring Notes
Metropolis Fritz Lang 1927 Brigitte Helm, Gustav Fröhlich, Alfred Abel, Rudolf Klein-Rogge 2010 restoration. Alloy Orchestra played live accompaniment
Natural Selection Robbie Pickering 2010 Rachael Harris Post-film Q&A included Robbie Pickering and Rachael Harris
Umberto D Vittorio De Sica 1952 Carlo Battisti Post-film Q&A included Ignatiy Vishnevetsky and Omer Mozaffar
My Dog Tulip Paul Fierlinger and Sandra Schuette Fierlinger 2010 Christopher Plummer (narrator) Post-film Q&A included Paul Fierlinger and Sandra Schuette Fierlinger
Tiny Furniture Lena Dunham 2010 Lena Dunham, Laurie Simmons, Grace Dunham, Alex Karpovsky, David Call Post-film Q&A included David Call and distributor Ryan Werner
45365 Turner Ross and Bill Ross IV 2009 Townspeople of Sidney, Ohio Post-film Q&A included Turner Ross and Bill Ross IV
Me & Orson Welles Richard Linklater 2009 Christian McKay, Claire Danes, Zac Efron Post-film Q&A included Richard Linklater
Only You Norman Jewison 1994 Robert Downey, Jr., Marisa Tomei, Bonnie Hunt Post-film Q&A included Norman Jewison
A Small Act Jennifer Arnold 2010 Chris Mburu, Jane Wanjiru Muigai, Hilde Back Post-film Q&A included Jennifer Arnold, Hilde Back and producer Patti Lee
Life Above All Oliver Schmitz 2010 Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane, Harriet Lenabe Post-film Q&A included Oliver Schmitz, Khomotso Manyaka and distributor Michael Barker
Leaves of Grass Tim Blake Nelson 2009 Edward Norton, Tim Blake Nelson, Susan Sarandon Post-film Q&A included Tim Blake Nelson
I Am Love Luca Guadagnino 2010 Tilda Swinton, Flavio Parenti, Edoardo Gabbriellini, Marisa Berenson Post-film Q&A included Tilda Swinton and Michael Barker
Louder Than a Bomb Jon Siskel and Greg Jacobs 2010 Kevin Coval, Adam Gottlieb, Elizabeth Graf, Kevin Harris and other students Post-film Q&A included Jon Siskel, Greg Jacobs, founder and artistic director Kevin Coval and Steinmetz High School poets Lamar Jorden, Charles Smith, She'Kira McNight, Kevin Harris and Jésus Lark

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Roger Ebert's Film Festival - About Ebertfest". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  2. ↑ http://www.ebertfest.com/
  3. ↑ Chamberlain, Craig. "'Days of Heaven,' Tilda Swinton and Jack Black all part of 2013 'Ebertfest'", "University of Illinois News Bureau", 22 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Steinberg, Neil. "Roger Ebert dead at 70 after battle with cancer", The Chicago Sun Times, 4 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Marcotte, Alison. "Ebertfest to continue as tribute to film critic", The Daily Illini, 8 April 2013.
  6. ↑ Lazare, Lewis. "Roger Ebert film studies program for University of Illinois", Chicago Business Journal, 18 April 2013.
  7. ↑ http://www.ebertfest.com/eighteen/schedule.html
  8. ↑ http://ebertfest.com/seventeen/schedule.html
  9. ↑ http://www.ebertfest.com/sixteen/schedule.html
  10. ↑ http://ebertfest.com/fifteen/schedule.html
  11. ↑ http://www.ebertfest.com/fourteen/schedule.html
  12. ↑ http://www.ebertfest.com/thirteen/schedule.html
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