Calendar: Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2025

Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.

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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!

1/30: Eric Watkins (composer/engineer, Studio E, Decatur, IL)
1/31: Paul Scrabo (video technician, NBC Studios, New York, NY, retired)

 

PASSINGS | You Will Be Missed

1/19: David Gilmore, 84 (professor/chair, Cinema and Television, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, retired)

 

FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said

After we posted last week’s Calendar, Ye Ed called an audible and today’s Report will be a mishmash of topics that we want to talk about before our Report hiatus. Some of the subject matter might even have to do with the movies of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond! This will be the most flavorful crock pot of verbiage we’ve cooked up in a while … that said, gentle friends, let’s broaden our minds. Lawrence?

Show business is good business to go with first. The Entomology Graduate Students Association at the University of Illinois announced the details for the next Insect Fear Film Festival late yesterday, Thursday, January 30, and the star attractions will be tarantulas, professional Hollywood “bug wrangler” Steven Kutcher, and a showing of the 1990 thriller-comedy ARACHNOPHOBIA with Jeff Daniels and John Goodman; per the tradition long established by EGSA and entomology department head Dr. May Berenbaum, the 42nd IFFF will bug us on Saturday, February 22, at Foellinger Auditorium starting at 5 p.m. with educational and art activities for the whole family before the films begin at 7 p.m. One event that will not happen is the INSIDIOUS-branded “live experience” we previously told you about. The page on the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts website that had been promoting the show set for next Friday, February 7, is now removed. Word is that customers seeing the show in other cities over the last few weeks have been very critical about its misleading marketing and overall quality, feeling ripped off by the experience and cost; this news segment aired on WXYZ-TV in Detroit goes over the gripes. And, Confidential agent C-Day tipped us about the Heart Theater of Effingham, designated as a historic landmark in 2023, being donated by its owner Amy Van Bergen to a new non-profit group, The Heart Theatre, Inc., which is tasked with renovating and reopening the space for community use in the future.

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Movie business is good business to chat up as well. Building on our mention last week of the extras casting that will be hosted in the afternoon tomorrow, Saturday, February 1, at Parkland College by Bokeh Background, we caught this News-Gazette interview with the firm’s founder, Sarah Cayce, in which she describes what applicants can expect from the process; a handful of folks who live in east central Illinois provide anecdotes about their on-set experiences after they were selected by Bokeh to participate in local production. CUBlog was also sent a very special link by Normal resident and indie filmmaker Paul A. Brooks (HUNTING FOR THE HAG) who recently picked up the Saturn’s Core Audio & Video release of the low-budget C-U movie DOGS IN QUICKSAND. His patient and generous unboxing video of the package can be viewed here on his YouTube channel while, along the bottom of the product page at Vinegar Syndrome, you will find brief opinions from some of the customers who’ve given DOGS a chance since its re-release; the late Nineties dark comedy from Mike Trippiedi and friends is practically a blind buy for them all. Back over to Bloomington, we could not help but notice on a recent Facebook post the performing arts program at Illinois State University is now apparently called the “School of Theatre, Dance, and Film.” Ho-ho! One look at their spring semester calendar, however, and one would be hard-pressed to know cinema was a facet of their curriculum other than as live event bling. We’ll have to look into it…

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Tangential business is good business from which to consider the “what if” possibilities. Sal Nudo of Smile Politely recently interviewed the C-U native Sarah Lariviere, who currently lives in Los Angeles and decided to move from social work to professional writing in her career; Riot Act, published last summer by Alfred A. Knopf/Penguin Random House, is her current book and a fictional tale about theater kids in Champaign growing up in 1991 and going up against an autocratic regime that rules the land. Gee, think we might have reasons to check it out and look into its lessons? A copy now resides at MFHQ Deux, thanks to the team at Prairie Fox Books of Ottawa, and we plan to read it before the sequel novel arrives next year and wanton compromise trickles down to this American life. (Yes, the thought is obvious – could Riot Act make for a good RIOT ACT movie that’d reach millions?) We’ve also neglected to mention that Champaign Movie Makers’ Andrew Stengele is think-tanking with your humble editor to identify all the C-U-leaning film productions that we can in the hopes of entrusting legitimate copies of them with one or more applicable places in Champaign County, such as local libraries and historical groups; contact Andrew via CMM on Facebook if you’d like to learn more or offer your materials for the cause. And, to cap the Report in both an archival and rebellious manner, we’ve seen this evergreen scene making the social media rounds and encourage all our brothers and sisters to wield their Blues wisely. Hit it!

Now that we’ve stuffed the last few Reports to the seams with plenty of interesting and entertaining prompts for you, dearest reader-citizens, to use to your hearts’ content, we will come back next week with a Special Report of the MICRO-FILM persuasion and then take leave for a couple of months to spend time working hard on other areas of our Confidential world. Make sure you keep visiting CUBlog for our weekly Calendars and a few bonus articles that we’re crafting. They will sober us up a bit. Onward…

 

LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers

@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting: “Directing Workshop” (2/3, 7 p.m., Room 1090)

@ Lincoln Square, Urbana, IL
Champaign Movie Makers* 48 Hour Film Competition (1/31, 7 p.m., to 2/2, 7 p.m.)

@ Market Place Shopping Center, Champaign, IL
Quad Con presents Champaign Comic & Toy Show (2/1-2/2, free, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Victoria’s Secret wings)

@ Parkland College, Champaign, IL
Bokeh Background* casting call (2/1, 12-4:30 p.m., Parkland Theater)

@ Peoria Camera Shop, Peoria, IL
“Cash 4 Cameras Event” (2/6-2/7, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.)

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX
Beard Culture Barbershop & Gallery presents THE EVOLUTION OF THE BARBER* premiere screening (2/1, 6 p.m.)

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Festival* screening series feat. The IRLMovieClub Screening: THE THINKING GAME (documentary) (2/2, 4 p.m.)

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX
Champaign Movie Makers* 48 Hour Film Competition screening (2/4, 7 p.m., free)

@ Route 66 Motorhead’s Bar and Grill, Springfield, IL
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois and Spencer Films* present FIELDS OF GOLD* fundraiser (6:p.m. cocktails, 6:30 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. film)

@ Top Cat’s Chill & Grill, Springfield, IL
Central Illinois Film Commission* meeting (2/6, 7 p.m.)

 

NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area

@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
COMPANION, CREATION OF THE GODS II: DEMON FORCE (in Mandarin with English sub), DETECTIVE CHINATOWN 1900 (in Mandarin with English sub), DOG MAN (animation), LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH* (music documentary), VALIANT ONE, BRAVE THE DARK* (faith film), THE BRUTALIST, FLIGHT RISK, MOANA 2* (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NICKEL BOYS*, NOSFERATU*, ONE OF THEM DAYS, PIECE BY PIECE* (animation), PRESENCE*, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3*, WICKED*, WOLF MAN* (1/31 on), GREEN AND GOLD (2/2, 4:30 p.m.), AX Cinema Nights presents COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE (animé) (2/5-2/6, 7:30 p.m.), HEART EYES, I’M STILL HERE (in Portuguese with English sub), LOVE HURTS (2/6 on) *single screenings daily

@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
COMPANION, DOG MAN (animation), GREEN AND GOLD, VALIANT ONE, BABYGIRL*, BRAVE THE DARK* (faith film), THE BRUTALIST, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, FLIGHT RISK, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU, ONE OF THEM DAYS, PRESENCE, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WICKED, WOLF MAN* (1/31 on), DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA* (1/31, 2/3-2/6), The Metropolitan Opera: Aida (2/1, 1 p.m., recorded), GONE WITH THE WIND (2/2, 3 & 7 p.m.; 2/5, 7 p.m.), HELLRAISER (2/5-2/6, 7 p.m.) *single screenings daily

@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents VENOM: THE LAST DANCE (1/31-2/1, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)

Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!

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NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond

@ AMC Classic Springfield 12, Springfield, IL
Springfield Art Association presents the 31st annual Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series feat. CROSSING; (2/2, 1 & 4 p.m.; 2/4, 7 p.m.)

@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
DOG MAN (animation) (1/31-2/2) [Reduced showings due to heating issues in the Avon Twins]

@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
COMPANION, DOG MAN (animation), BRAVE THE DARK (faith film), FLIGHT RISK, WOLF MAN (1/31 on)

@ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL
DOG MAN (animation), FLIGHT RISK (1/31 on)

@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (animation) (2/1, 2 p.m.), Kayla’s Chic Treats presents RUDY (2/6, 7 p.m., free)

@ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
COMPANION, DOG MAN (animation), GREEN AND GOLD*, VALIANT ONE, THE BRUTALIST, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN*, DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, FLIGHT RISK, KRAVEN THE HUNTER*, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU*, ONE OF THEM DAYS, PRESENCE*, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WOLF MAN (1/24 on), TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (animation) (1/31-2/2, 11 a.m.), DEVA (Hindi w/English sub) (1/31-2/4), IU: THE WINNING (concert film) (2/5, 7:30 p.m., IMAX), HELLRAISER (2/5-2/6, 7:40 p.m.), Blumhouse Movies: NOPE (2/5, 3 p.m.) and GET OUT (2/5, 6 p.m.), HEART EYES, LOVE HURTS (2/6 on) *single screenings daily

@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
ANORA (1/30-1/31, 2/2), CHASING CHASING AMY (documentary), 1-800-ON-HER-OWN (music documentary) (2/1), SNATCH (2/4), THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG (2/6)

@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
FLIGHT RISK (1/31-2/2)

@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (1/31-2/2)

@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
COMPANION, DOG MAN (animation), GREEN AND GOLD*, FLIGHT RISK, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, WOLF MAN* (1/26 on)

 

NOW PLAYING | Midwest

@ Norris University Center, NU, Evanston, IL
B-Fest 2025 (1/31, 6 p.m., to 2/1, 6 p.m.)

For detailed and curated listings of Chicago-area film presentations and related events, please visit the fine folks at Cine-File and subscribe to their definitive “Cine-List” weekly blast. And for northern Illinois industry news, be sure to read Reel Chicago and Screen Magazine.

 

COMING SOON | Area-wide Events

2/15
3rd annual CU International Film Festival*
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL

NEW! 2/22
42nd Insect Fear Film Festival*
@ Foellinger Auditorium, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m., free

3/27-3/29
2025 Big Muddy Film Festival*
@ The Varsity Center, Carbondale, IL

4/3-4/13
35th Onion City Experimental Film Festival, Chicago, IL

4/3-4/10
27th annual Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI

4/23/-4/25
25th Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL

5/29-6/2
The Chambana Film Festival
@ TBA, Champaign-Urbana, IL

 

COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area

Chambana Film Festival* screening series
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 4 p.m.
2/9: “Secret Test Screening” of film-in-progress; 2/16-3/2: The Oscar Nominated Shorts 2025 – Live Action (2/16), Documentary (2/23), and Animation (2/16, 3/2)

Illini Union Board presents “Spring 2024 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
2/7-2/8: CONCLAVE; 2/14-2/15: THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (animation); 2/21-2/22: GLADIATOR II: 2/28-3/1: SEPTEMBER 5; 3/7-3/8: WICKED; 3/14-3/15: MUFASA: THE LION KING; 3/21-3/22: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation); 3/28-3/29: PITCH PERFECT; 4/4-4/5: NOSFERATU; 4/11-4/12: WALL-E (animation); 4/18-4/19: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3; 4/25-4/26: THE WILD ROBOT (animation); 5/2-5/3: CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD; 5/4: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

Springfield Art Association presents the 31st annual Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series
@ AMC Classic Springfield 12, Springfield, IL, 1 & 4 p.m. Sunday + 7 p.m. Tuesday
2/9, 2/11: THELMA; 2/16, 2/18: TOUCH; 2/23, 2/25: THE LAST OF THE SEA WOMEN; 3/2, 3/4: THE TASTE OF THINGS

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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.

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