Calendar: April 10-16, 2026
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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THE BLOGFIDENTIAL TELETYPE | Film News You Can Use, C-U
What we’re seeing on our beat this week … Since we went full tilt and at length in the Teletype last week with our sojourn into Bloomington-Normal concerns, we’re going to bring it back home to our own fair Twin Cities and other nearby locales. Movie culture storylines are flowering like crazy here in April…
With the annual Boneyard Arts Festival, sponsored by the 40 North arts council of Champaign County, upon us this weekend comes the annual wondering of what time-based media might be on exhibit as part of the whole. Two artists and three projects have caught our eye. Champaign-Urbana resident Timothy J. Hickey has been recording with still photography the various textures of city streets in our neighborhoods and a 50-minute compilation of those studies, STREET PAVERS, will be presented daily as a continual loop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12, at the UI Spurlock Museum of World Cultures in Urbana. Also, Champaign-Urbana artist-about-town Matt Harsh had a pair of public displays on the schedule – an interactive light-and-sound installation on the third floor of the One Main building in downtown Champaign, part of the “One Main Art Group” of more than forty artists, and a window arrangement called “Tube Visionz” of older televisions and monitors displaying his creations at 125 W. Main Street in downtown Urbana, across the street from Cinema Gallery, that unfortunately seems to be postponed as of Saturday afternoon. The former can still be enjoyed during all three days, and a visitors’ guide to all the featured Boneyard displays and venues is available to peruse on this page…
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We’ve also kicked up a few other timely tidbits from wandering those streets and a few others, too:
Later tonight, Friday, April 10, the Fischer Theatre will return to showing movies with a special presentation of a new indie production, MANDATE (stylized as “ManDate”), which was written and directed by Danville native James J. Gutierrez. According to a Yahoo News article, this “test screening” is a way for him to share his show business career with the hometown folks and solicit honest feedback about the dramedy, which stars Don Worley, Jon Lovitz, Chris Kattan, Louis Lombardi, Andrew Keegan, and Tara Reid, before it is finalized and released. The story involves several individuals, including the main character “Don” played by Worley, who go on “ManDates” to help restore their self-confidence and an appreciation of their lives. Gutierrez states that theatrical play and distribution are both in the works…
Also, a new documentary about Defy Gravity, the pole fitness studio that is located in Urbana’s Lincoln Square, was recently unveiled at a private showing and its creator, Tori Beach, is looking for assistance to bring it to a wider audience. Celebrating ten years in business last fall, Defy Gravity trains their clientele to find strength and grace in who they are and what they can do while in the moment; Beach’s film, MAYBE IT’S THIS, mixes performance and practice footage of them with testimonials to paint their vibrant picture. The goal is to raise $5,000 to finish the film properly and afford costs related to festival submissions and promotions, while more information and a preview can be found on Facebook. Beach owns the firm Tori Beach Videography in Urbana and provides services through Mager Image…
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To close, here is a sobering note about how nothing lasts forever, yet never is everything lost. We can look to the successful revivals of the Normal Theater, which has been nurtured well over the last three decades by the Town of Normal as was noted last week, as well as the Virginia Theatre, which has been restored in stages by the Champaign Park District due to patience, grant money, and ticket sales from a consistent roster of events like Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, and the Lincoln Square Theatre, which has been jump-started by a game board of directors and avid live concert fans to become an entertainment bedrock in downtown Decatur once again, as examples of different approaches in how to make new use of older communal spaces with loads of historic and sentimental value that had fallen on hard times.
And yet, market forces continue to take their toll elsewhere in the area as other groups seek out the best ways to rebuild the vitality of other venues for the sake of other communities. In one instance that we have neglected to share until now, a regional family operation is refusing to give up on their own legacy after feeling the bottom drop out. On January 4 of this year, the Eagle Theaters chain announced that its locations in Clinton, Robinson, and Streator were closed after a run lasting twenty-two years. Since then, CEO Eric Gubelman has been posting notes on Facebook to their customers, describing in eloquent tones how his group is meeting with municipalities, investors, and more to find a solution to an operations model that had run its course, and it makes sense that all the possible options would require a steady patronage from the moviegoers in order for the doors to open again and stay that way. Can Eagle rise like a phoenix from the proverbial flames left after their last big opening, AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH? Stay tuned… and that’s what we can reveal for today. Always remember – this is not just movies, it’s our lives.
LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ Ames Library, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
“Festival of the Arts” presents IWU student film showcase (4/11, 3:45 p.m.)
@ Analog Wine Library, Urbana, IL, 7:30 p.m.
Film-Fanatic.Club presents Film Fanatic Movie Nights* feat. A SCANNER DARKLY (4/16, 7:30 p.m.)
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Society* presents Savoy Lumierè 2026* pre-shows feat. RELATIVE w/filmmakers (4/10, 7 p.m.)
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Boneyard Arts Festival events: STREET PAVERS* film loop by Timothy J. Hickey (4/11-4/12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and FIVE MONTH TRIAL screening (4/12, 4:30 p.m.), Francophone Film Festival presents LE RETOUR (in French with English sub) (4/13, 6:30 p.m.), South Asian Studies Initiative, Illinois Global Institute, presents ZINDA BHAAG w/discussion (in Punjabi with English sub) (4/16, 7:30 p.m.) Information
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
BEAST, FACES OF DEATH*, NEWBORN, YOU ME & TUSCANY, BUNNY!!* (in Vietnamese with English sub), THE DRAMA, A GREAT AWAKENING (faith film), HOPPERS (animation), PROJECT HAIL MARY, READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME, THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (animation), THEY WILL KILL YOU (4/10 on), AMC “Scream Unseen” (mystery movie) (4/13, 7 p.m.), OVER YOUR DEAD BODY sneak preview w/bonus content (4/15, 7:30 p.m.), LEE CRONIN’S THE MUMMY, NORMAL (4/16 on) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
BEAST, DACOIT: A LOVE STORY (in Telugu with English sub), FACES OF DEATH, YOU ME & TUSCANY, THE DRAMA, DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE* (in Hindi with English sub), GOAT (animation), HOPPERS (animation), PROJECT HAIL MARY, READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME, REMINDERS OF HIM*, SCREAM 7, THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (animation), THEY WILL KILL YOU*, UNDERTONE (4/10 on), UFC 327: Jiří Procházka vs. Carlos Ulberg, more (mixed martial arts) (4/11, 8 p.m., simulcast), The Royal Ballet: Giselle (4/12, 3 p.m., 4/13, 7 p.m., recorded), LEGENDS OF THE LOST ARK (religious documentary) (4/12, 3:30 & 7 p.m.; 4/14-4/15, 7 p.m.), E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (4/12, 3 & 7 p.m.; 4/15, 7 p.m.), JERRY MAGUIRE 30th anniversary (4/12, 4/14-4/15, 6 p.m.) *single screenings daily
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Spring 2025 Weekend Films” feat. MERCY (4/10-4/11, 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
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
MANDATE test screening w/filmmaker James J. Gutierrez (4/10, 6:30 p.m.)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (animation) (Screen 1), PROJECT HAIL MARY (Screen 2) (4/3-4/4)
@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (animation) (4/10-4/12)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
ACLU of Central Illinois, etc., present THE LIBRARIANS (documentary) (4/10, 6:30 p.m., free), 2026 Jewish Film Festival in partnership with Moses Montefiore Congregation presents “Flesicher Studios Greatest Hits Volume One” (animation) (4/11, 10 a.m., free), JOJO RABBIT (4/11, 7 p.m., free), and SHTTL (4/12, 3 p.m., free), ISU Film Society presents PARIS, TEXAS (4/14, 7 p.m., free), DUCK SOUP (4/16, 7 p.m.)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (animation) (4/10-4/12)
@ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (animation), ANACONDA (Screen 1), PROJECT HAIL MARY, CRIME 101 (Screen 2) (4/10-4/11)
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
@ AMC Newcity 14, Chicago, IL
Sophia’s Choice presents 20th Asian Pop-Up Cinema festival (through 4/12) Information
@ Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema, Chicago, IL
Chicago Filmmakers presents 36th Onion City Experimental Film Festival (4/9-4/12) Information
@ Landmark Century Centre Cinema, Chicago, IL
International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago presents 42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival (4/16-4/27) Information
@ UW Cinematheque, etc., Madison, WI
University of Wisconsin-Madison presents 28th annual Wisconsin Film Festival (through 4/16) Information
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
4/17-4/18
26th Roger Ebert’s Film Festival: “The Last Dance”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
NEW! 4/20
Champaign Movie Makers* meeting
@ The Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
NEW! 4/21
School of Theatre Arts presents
2026 Phenom Productions Film Festival
@ Hansen Student Center, IWU, Bloomington, IL, 7 p.m.
4/23-4/26
2026 Foxtail Film Festival*
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
4/24-4/26
Horror Dadz Productions’ NIGHT TERROR* feature film premiere
@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL
4/29
Images in Motion Film Festival*
@ Kirkland Fine Arts Center, Millikin University, Decatur, IL, 6 p.m.
4/29-5/5
Chambana Film Society presents
the Savoy Lumierè 2026*
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
5/1
2026 Illinois Student Film Festival*
@ UI Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.
5/14
Vermilion County ROSC presents ROADS TO RECOVERY* docuseries
@ Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL, 5 p.m., free
9/7-9/17
44th Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
@ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema + Chicago Filmmakers, Chicago, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Chambana Film Society presents “Savoy Lumierè 2026 pre- and post-screenings”
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
4/24: BRIM* w/filmmakers (7 p.m.), 5/8: “Identities: Jewish American” short film program (7 p.m.), 5/15: “Identities: The Soul of Black Folk” short film program w/discussion (7 p.m.), 5/22: TIGHT & NERDY (documentary) w/burlesque performance (7 p.m.)
Illini Union Board presents “Spring 2025 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
4/17-4/18: 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2026 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential
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