<\/p>\n
Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday\/Saturday on <\/em>C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong> and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!<\/strong><\/p>\n 2\/25: Josh Schafer (publisher, Lunchmeat VHS<\/span> fanzine, Elmer, NJ) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n New items of relevance are popping all over in the social media sphere, and that will force my hand to resume writing so I can tell you about them. I won\u2019t attempt to distill it all into a Report<\/strong> since there is a bunch to account for and it would make for a very dense read. Even then, proof that film life is resuming in the C-U and beyond is evident in this week\u2019s Calendar<\/strong> listings; both of the long-running February marquee events of downstate Illinois<\/strong>, the Insect Fear Film Festival<\/strong> at UIUC and Big Muddy Film Festival<\/strong> at SIU-Carbondale<\/strong>, return this weekend, the yearly Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series<\/strong> wraps a few days from now in Springfield<\/strong>, and several spring attractions will be here shortly!<\/p>\n Before we break out the timely coverage, I plan to go introspective with the revival of our annual \u201cIn My Backyard<\/strong>\u201d address that used to post every year to coincide with the anniversary of the launch of C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong>, which went live 16 years ago today on Saturday, February 25, 2006<\/strong>. This isn\u2019t a good time for celebration, though, as we seriously need to consider what actions and resolutions are needed for CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> to effectively move forward as the last few years haven\u2019t been particularly golden.<\/p>\n We\u2019re well aware that nothing localized and cultural is guaranteed to last forever, even when allotted a fresh start by dedicated persons with lofty goals and admirable resolve, and that is made clear with today\u2019s Almanac<\/strong> reprint that is not<\/em> about CUBlog<\/span><\/strong>. I\u2019m happy to see our good friend Sanford Hess<\/strong> involved with bringing back \u201cthe arthouse experience\u201d at the Virginia Theatre<\/strong> in Champaign<\/strong> and that, at the least, our multiplexes make an effort to book select highbrow titles and ethnic genre films. However, it does not substitute for a dedicated space to art and film like what we once had at the Art<\/strong>. \u201cSomething is better than nothing\u201d sounds like a hollow concession, even in an age of wavering protocol with public gatherings.<\/p>\n Whether or not a viewing space coming soon to the University of Illinois<\/strong> campus and branded in Roger Ebert<\/strong>(fest<\/strong>) fashion will fill the void<\/a><\/span> depends on both its accessibility to campus and community audiences and how much its fare is predetermined by didactic motives. Other than the expected instructional components, College of Media<\/strong> and \u201cEbertschool<\/strong>\u201d staff, please allow the art of film to live, breathe, and most importantly, speak for itself<\/em>. When the house lights are down, that<\/em> is the \u201cexperience\u201d we truly need.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 16 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Saturday, February 25, 2006:<\/em> Opteryx Press<\/strong> of Champaign<\/strong> launches C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong>, an Internet adaptation of the \u201cC-U Confidential<\/strong>\u201d section from their flagship journal MICRO-FILM<\/span><\/strong>. In the first entry<\/a><\/span>, dated 8:57 p.m.<\/strong>, editor Jason Pankoke<\/strong> describes an intention of \u201c[making] a minor splash creating a community history through cinema, one that we can definitely call our own,\u201d with the forum as its potential epicenter. CUBlog<\/strong><\/span> has published local film-related content every single month since then. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n 35 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Thursday, February 12, 1987:<\/em> TURTLE DIARY<\/strong>, a quirky British comedy written by Harold Pinter<\/strong> and starring Ben Kingsley<\/strong> and Glenda Jackson<\/strong>, is shown at the New Art Theatre<\/strong> on opening night, according to The Art Theater: Playing Movies for 100 Years<\/span><\/strong> by Perry Morris<\/strong>, et al<\/em>. After reaching a deal on New Year\u2019s Day<\/strong> to purchase the vintage Park\/Art building at 126 W. Church St.<\/strong> in downtown Champaign<\/strong>, local entrepreneur John Manley<\/strong> enlisted Tom Angelica<\/strong> as general manager and Ron Epple<\/strong> as content programmer to help fix up the location and book quality international cinema for the area\u2019s movie lovers.<\/em> Manley rechristened the venue as the \u201cNew Art\u201d to differentiate it from a previous decade-and-a-half run as an \u201cArt Theater\u201d specializing in adult films. Despite the passing of both Manley and Epple within the next few years, Angelica would keep the New Art in business until February 2003. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Varsity Theater, etc., Carbondale, IL<\/strong> @ online Zoom<\/strong> @ Gregory Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ The Dublin Pub, Springfield, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong>
\n2\/26: Troy Michael (editor & publisher, Innocent Words<\/span> website, Oakwood, IL)
\n3\/2: Anne Lukeman (\u201cchief adventurist,\u201d C-U Adventures in Time & Space escape room, Urbana, IL)
\n3\/2: Kelly White (executive director, 40 North 88 West: Champaign County Arts Council, Champaign, IL)
\n3\/3: Tariq A. Khan (entertainment reporter, Fox News Channel, New York, NY)<\/p>\n
\nSouthern Illinois University presents the 44th annual Big Muddy Film Festival (2\/24-2\/27) Website with full schedule<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nUniversity of Illinois Entomology Graduate Student Association presents the 39th Insect Fear Film Festival, \u201cVenom,\u201d feat. Justin Schmidt, University of Arizona, w\/virtual petting zoo, Bugscope, art show, film and television clips, and more! (2\/26, 5-10 p.m., free) Registration required<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nIllini Film & Video* meeting, Room 223 (2\/28, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nCentral Illinois Film Commission* meeting (3\/3, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nBHEEMLA NAYAK, GANGUBAI KATHIWADI, STUDIO 666, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, THE CURSED, DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG, ENCANTO, JACKASS FOREVER, MARRY ME, MOONFALL, SCREAM, SING 2, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, UNCHARTED (2\/25 on), THE BATMAN (3\/3 on)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cSpring 2022 Weekend Films\u201d feat. ETERNALS, Pine Lounge, 1st floor (2\/25-2\/26, 7 p.m.; free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nCYRANO, STUDIO 666, BLACKLIGHT, THE CURSED, DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG, JACKASS FOREVER, LICORICE PIZZA, MARRY ME, SCREAM, SING 2, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, UNCHARTED (2\/25 on), SPACE JAM (2\/27, 3, 5, & 7 p.m.; 3\/2, 3 & 7 p.m.), PEACE RIVER (3\/3, 7 p.m.), THE BATMAN (IMAX event: 3\/1, 7 p.m.; 3\/3 on)<\/p>\n