Calendar: July 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
We apologize for being incognito the last few weeks, even though we’ve otherwise been filling out the Calendar without fail, because we’ve had to let Ye Ed off the leash to hunt down a few solutions to various life issues that have begun to plague him in territories far away from east central Illinois. His on-and-off presence at MFHQ Deux may have to become a regular thing into next year, so we’ll work with it as best as we can while in the throes of delivering the content you come here to enjoy, dearest readers. Since he is back in-house and pent up at his desk in the CUBlog news room, we can summarize a good number of things in the current film culture du C-U over the month of July before we cut him loose again.
Starting with happenings that might already be in the past if you’re reading this admittedly late report, our Local Films & Events category is unusually stacked for a midsummer filing, isn’t it? As much as we try to bring you the pertinent dates and doings in advance, sometimes we don’t quite get it done and it’s a lesson that, for anything of interest you might read about in our postings, you should always be cross-checking with direct sources so that you can be effectively reminded of what is happening when. Luckily, every single item that we’ve mentioned below will or should be taking place again in the near future.
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So, what exactly do our friends and neighbors have in store? Under “film appreciation,” Chambana Film Society has returned to host a series of music-related feature films and shorts that will dovetail into their first-ever program as part of Pygmalion in September, while the team behind the 25th anniversary Route 66 International Film Festival in Springfield look to be organizing a string of public appearances in order to promote the milestone and recruit volunteers for putting on the show in November. Under “film history,” Perry C. Morris is teaching a new “theaters of Champaign-Urbana” class through the OLLI program at the University of Illinois with a multi-session version coming soon in the fall, while Paul A. Brooks tests your B-movie knowledge every other week with screenings and funsies in downtown Bloomington. Under “film production,” we heard that Bloomington-Normal actress Kat Johns has a desire to launch a movie and online media group for local creatives, while casting agent Sarah Cayce reached out and let CUBlog know the latest call for background talent was being held in Rantoul near Flyover Film Studios. And under “film music,” Przemek has been the airshifter for “Frame Noise” at WEFT 90.1 FM in Champaign since the program’s debut in 2023 and continues to share his love for cinematic music composition each week.
Then, what else do our friends and neighbors have in store? We’re alerting you in advance that Champaign Movie Makers will have their next meeting in a week on Monday, July 20, the last before Pens to Lens returns to the Virginia Theatre and gathers back its strength to pre-pandemic heights. We’re also suggesting that you keep an eye on your socials, especially if you’re friendly with Springfield folk, as there seems to be an attempt to revive the Central Illinois Film Commission a few months after the passing of its founder, Dean Williams. Our intent is to go over a handful of film business headlines from the last few months, discuss a batch of recent updates at the area movie houses, and pull a few rabbits and local-film tidbits out of our collective hat before we take another break with the Teletype. Cheers.
LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ Bloomington Public Library, Bloomington, IL
Filmmaking group meeting* hosted by Kat Johns (7/11, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.)
@ Cozy Dog Drive In, Springfield, IL
Route 66 International Film Festival* meet-up (7/10, 7-8 p.m.)
@ The Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL
Champaign Movie Makers* meeting (7/20, 7 p.m.)
@ Forge Film Acting*, Rantoul Business Center, Rantoul, IL
Bokeh Background Casting* open call (7/11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.) Information
@ Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, UIUC, Urbana, IL
“Champaign-Urbana’s Rich Theatrical History” class taught by Perry C. Morris (7/14, 12-1:30 p.m.) Register
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Society presents “2026 CineSonic Music Film Festival” feat. LIFERS: A LOCAL H MOVIE (documentary) (7/12, 2 p.m.)
@ Shake It Up Cocktail Lounge & Eatery, Bloomington, IL
“B-Movie Bingo” hosted by Paul A. Brooks* feat. SLEEPAWAY CAMP, BLAIR WITCH (7/16, 7 p.m.)
@ WEFT 90.1 FM, Champaign, IL
“Frame Noise” film music program hosted by Przemek (7/15, 7-8 p.m.) Live Streaming | Archive
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
EVIL DEAD BURN, GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS, THE INVITE, MOANA, NIGHT NURSE, BACKROOMS extended cut, DISCLOSURE DAY, MINIONS & MONSTERS (animation), OBSESSION, SUPERGIRL, TOY STORY 5 (animation), YOUNG WASHINGTON (faith film) (7/10 on), Studio Ghibli Fest: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (animé) (7/11, 4 p.m., 7/12, 7/15, 4 & 7 p.m., English dub; 7/13-7/14, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), Fan Faves: THE LEGO MOVIE (animation) (7/13, 7/15, 2 p.m.), THE ODYSSEY (7/16 on)
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
EVIL DEAD BURN, GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS, THE INVITE, LENIN* (in Telugu with English sub), MOANA, BACKROOMS extended cut, DISCLOSURE DAY, JACKASS: BEST AND LAST* (mockumentary), MINIONS & MONSTERS (animation), OBSESSION, SUPERGIRL, TOY STORY 5 (animation), YOUNG WASHINGTON (faith film) (7/10 on), Studio Ghibli Fest: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (animé) (7/11, 4 p.m., 7/12, 4 & 7 p.m., 7/15, 7/15, English dub; 7/13-7/14, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), UFC 329: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway, more (mixed martial arts) (7/11, 8 p.m. simulcast), MAMMA MIA! (7/12, 3 & 7 p.m.; 7/15, 7 p.m.), THE ODYSSEY (7/16 on) *single screenings daily
@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad” feat. WICKED (7/16, 9 p.m., free)
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Champaign Park District and the Virginia present “Teens Only! CU Around the District” feat. GOOD BURGER (7/10, 6:30 p.m., free)
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 Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
MINIONS & MONSTERS (animation) (Screen 1), MOANA (Screen 2) (7/10-15), THE ODYSSEY (Screen 1), MOANA (Screen 2) (7/16)
@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL
MINIONS & MONSTERS (animation) (7/10-7/12), MOANA (7/16 on)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (7/10, 7 p.m.; 7/11, 3 p.m.; 7/12, 7 p.m.), SPIES LIKE US (7/10, 7 p.m.), THE SEARCHERS (7/11, 7 p.m.; 7/12, 3 p.m.), HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY (7/13, 1 p.m.; 7/15, 7 p.m.), AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (7/16, 7 p.m.)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
MOANA (7/10-7/12)
@ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL
MOANA, TOY STORY 5 (animation) (Screen 1), MINIONS & MONSTERS (animation), YOUNG WASHINGTON (Screen 2) (7/10-7/12, 7/15-7/16)
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
7/21-7/26
Heartland Film presents
9th Indy Shorts Film Festival
@ Living Room Theaters, etc., Indianapolis, IN
7/23-7/25
Midwest Film Festival presents “Midwest Royale”
feat. “Best of the Midwest” Film Festival
@ Ramova Theatre, Chicago, IL
7/25
Film-Fanatic.Club presents AMERICAN PSYCHO
@ The Literary, Champaign, IL, 10:30 p.m.
NEW! 8/15
Pens to Lens* gala 2026
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 3 p.m.
8/22
Halloran Family Foundation presents
FischerFest* “Big Stories, Short Films”
@ Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL, 3-10 p.m., free
9/7-9/17
44th Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
@ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema + Chicago Filmmakers, Chicago, IL
9/23-9/27
33rd Chicago Underground Film Festival
@ ACX Harper Theater – Hyde Park, etc., Chicago, IL
10/8-10/18
35th Heartland Film Festival
@ various venues, Indianapolis, IN
10/23
“Behind the ‘Scream’: A Live Conversation with David Arquette”
feat. 30th anniversary screening of SCREAM (1996)
@ Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, Bloomington, IL, 7 p.m.
10/27
An evening with ‘Partially Devoured’ author Daniel Kraus
feat. screening of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
11/5-11/15
Cinema St. Louis presents
35th Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival
@ The Hi-Pointe Theatre, St. Louis, MO
11/20-11/22
25th anniversary Route 66 Film Festival*
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Chambana Film Society presents “2026 CineSonic Music Film Festival”
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 2 p.m.
7/19: RESYNATOR; 7/26: JACK JOHNSON: SURFILMUSIC; 8/2: THE LAST CRITIC; 8/9: BROTHER VERSUS BROTHER; 8/16: “Shorts: Music Documentary”; 8/23: WE ARE FUGAZI FROM WASHINGTON D.C.; 8/30: RADIOHEART: THE DRIVE & TIMES OF DJ KEVIN COLE
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Films on the Quad”
@ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 9 p.m. Thursdays, free
7/23: COCO; 7/30: POWER BALLAD; 8/6: PROJECT HAIL MARY; 8/13: STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU
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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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