Calendar: June 20-26, 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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FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
Filing early on this week’s Report since Ye Ed is attending a wedding, so wethinks another textbook edition will fit the bill just fine. To start, Amy Penne of Smile Politely has once again delivered in the quest to document the current state of our film culture du C-U; her recent article discusses a significant aspect of the groundwork that Shatterglass Films, Flyover Film Studios, and their partners, such as Parkland College in this instance, have been laying for a sustainable production hub here in Champaign County, and that is a program to train a workforce of local residents to competently handle the necessary below-the-line jobs on a set or at the soundstage being developed up in Rantoul. Next, we caught a social media pitch by Ben Harl of Silver Compass Studios in Decatur for casting a proof-of-concept reel his team will be filming this summer for THE DARK ONES, a horror-in-a-cabin-in-the-woods story that can’t help but suggest Lovecraftian overtones; follow this dedicated Facebook account to get future announcements about casting and more. And, yes, we noticed, but the concept art is temporary in both cases according to the respective filmmakers on their own socials and will be replaced with appropriate visuals in due time…
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Then, we also caught fleeting glimpses on social media related to the surprise indie DARK SOUL RIVER, filmed in the late spring at Flyover and elsewhere, and decided to investigate; this Instagram account is promoting Vijay M. Rajan’s serial killer chamber piece, introducing us to the primary cast members and several behind-the-camera talents, while this Internet Movie Database entry has a selection of behind-the-scenes photographs that may be our dearest readers’ first look at movie sets constructed in the Flyover facilities, formerly one of the Octave Chanute Air Force Base hangars. To close, Mr. JaPan had a nice chat at the location shoot of Acrostar Productions’ PERFECT SOUL with Michele Hefner, a resident of Peoria and dedicated stage mother for her actress daughter Delilah “Dee” Hefner, who is putting on a producer’s hat for an upcoming episodic saga called PEORIA JOAN; the all-ages melding of Dora and Indiana Jones will star the younger Hefner as “Joni,” also known as “Peoria Joan,” who goes on a quest to keep the ruthless contractor “Victor Crane,” played by veteran Illinois stage actor Dave Krostal, from destroying the valuable history and secrets ingrained in Peoria River country. Some casting has been revealed on Facebook and additional roles need to be filled as detailed on this website. Go, Joan!
IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen
In today’s outing, inspired by Ye Ed’s set visit and brief participation in the filming of PERFECT SOUL this past week, we’ll share yet another example of promotional artwork for a project in the early goings, although S. J. Hermann’s adaptation of his own novel is clearly much further along than either THE DARK ONES or John Isberg and Swede Films’ BIG MUDDY. Debuted on Facebook at the Acrostar Productions fan group back in April, the devilishly eerie creation is by the artist Erik W. Wilson and based on a picture of lead actress Chloe Lutz taken by the movie’s director of photography, Ashley Hefner. (And, yes, you noticed; the Hefners are all related and very active in downstate filmmaking!) Immediately below, you will find an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at Lutz in costume as “Nikki Strange,” makeup effects artist Beth Metcalf, and Hefner snapped by yours truly in between takes of a pivotal sermon sequence. We’ll soon share more images with you in service of articles recounting the making of PERFECT SOUL this year – the production has a second round of filming scheduled at their rural Illinois location in the fall – and RETURN OF THE CORN ZOMBIES, which is on the cusp of commercial release through BayView Entertainment after its filming last year in Champaign County. Hopefully, it will be an interesting read about the life cycles of low-budget independent film creation as seen through the Acrostar lens, and we thank their producer Ann Myrna for being generous in accommodating us to experience what they do.
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NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
28 YEARS LATER, BRIDE HARD, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN 20th anniversary (re-release), ELIO (animation), SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR* (in Hindi with English sub), BALLERINA, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES*, LILO & STITCH, MATERIALISTS, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (6/20 on), Studio Ghibli Fest: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (animé) (6/22, 4 & 7 p.m., 6/24, 7 p.m., English sub; 6/23, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (6/23, 7 p.m.), F1 THE MOVIE sneak preview (6/25, 7 p.m.), F1 THE MOVIE, ME3AN 2.0 (6/26 on) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
28 YEARS LATER, BRIDE HARD, ELIO (animation), BALLERINA, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, THE LIFE OF CHUCK, LILO & STITCH, MATERIALISTS, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING. THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, SINNERS, THUNDERBOLTS* (6/20 on), Studio Ghibli Fest: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (animé) (6/22, 4 & 7 p.m., 6/24, 7 p.m., English sub; 6/23, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), TOP GUN (6/22, 3 & 7 p.m.; 6/25, 7 p.m.), “‘Critical Role’ Live” (role-playing game competition) (6/25, 7 p.m., simulcast from Sydney, Australia), F1 THE MOVIE (6/26 on)
@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad” feat. A MINECRAFT MOVIE (6/26, 9 p.m., free)
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
J-GEE & T Presents present “Jay & Silent Bob Aural Sects Tour” starring Kevin Smith & Jay Mewes (6/25, 7:30 p.m.)
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
@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
28 YEARS LATER, ELIO (animation), HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, LILO & STITCH, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (6/20 on), DESPICABLE 3 (animation) (6/25-6/26, 10 a.m., free)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (Screen 1), 28 YEARS LATER (Screen 2) (6/20 on)
@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (6/20-6/22)
@ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
28 YEARS LATER, BRIDE HARD, ELIO (animation), BALLERINA, FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, KARATE KID: LEGENDS, LILO & STITCH, MATERIALISTS, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (6/20 on), Indian cinema: 8 VASANTHALU* (Telugu w/Eng sub; 6/20-6/25), KUBERRA (Hindi, Tamil, or Telugu w/Eng sub; 6/20-6/25), and SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR* (Hindi w/Eng sub; 6/20-6/25), Studio Ghibli Fest: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (animé) (6/22, 3:30 p.m., 6/24, 7 p.m., English sub; 6/23, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), A SLOTH STORY (animation) (6/22-6/26, 11 a.m.), BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN 20th anniversary (re-release) (6/22, 6/25), Marcus “Mystery Movie” (6/25, 7 p.m.), F1 THE MOVIE sneak preview (6/25, 7 p.m.), “‘Critical Role’ Live” (role-playing game competition) (6/25, 7 p.m., simulcast from Sydney, Australia), F1 THE MOVIE, ME3AN 2.0 (6/26 on) *single screenings daily
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
GREASE “sing-a-long” edition (6/20, 7 p.m.), GREASE (6/21-6/22), A KNIGHT’S TALE (6/22), THE BFG (6/23, 6/25), THE GREAT OUTDOORS (6/26)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (6/20-6/22)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (6/20-6/22)
@ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, KARATE KID: LEGENDS (Screen 1), ELIO (animation), LILO & STITCH (Screen 2) (6/20-6/22, 6/24-6/25)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
28 YEARS LATER, ELIO (animation), BALLERINA, EYE FOR AN EYE*, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, LILO & STITCH, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (6/20 on), DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation) (6/25-6/26, 10 a.m.), F1 THE MOVIE, ME3AN 2.0 (6/26 on) *single screenings daily
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
@ Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema, Chicago, IL
RESCHEDULED: Chicago Filmmakers presents THE PREMIERE w/filmmaker Jon Silver in attendance (6/20, 7 p.m.)
@ Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema, Chicago, IL
Chicago Filmmakers presents “Picture ReStart” series, “Our Heavenly Bodies” program (6/21, 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
NEW! 8/16
Pens to Lens Gala 2025*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 3 p.m.
9/20-9/22
Champaign Film Society presents
the first CineSonic* music film festival
@ TBA, Champaign-Urbana, IL
11/8-11/9
Dark History & Horror Con 2025
@ The Orpheum Theatre, Champaign, IL
4/23-4/26, 2026
Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Champaign Park District presents “Moo-vie Nights at Prairie Farm”
@ Prairie Farm/Centennial Park, Champaign, IL, 8 p.m., free
6/27: OPEN SEASON; 7/11: BABE; 7/25: HOME ON THE RANGE; 8/8: CHARLOTTE’S WEB (2006)
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad”
@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 9 p.m. Thursdays, free
7/3: THE PATRIOT; 7/10: THE WOMAN IN THE YARD; 7/17: THE LEGEND OF OCHI; 7/24: DROP; 7/31: THUNDERBOLTS*; 8/7: LILO & STITCH; 8/14: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2025 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential
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