<\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
Pull those curtains back, please!<\/em> It seems like it\u2019s taken from here to eternity for Roger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival<\/strong> to resume its show business at the Virginia Theatre<\/strong> in downtown Champaign<\/strong>, and this week the wishes of many will finally come true. While yours truly won\u2019t be trekking to the C-U for the 22nd iteration of the event, presented by the College of Media<\/span><\/strong> at the University of Illinois<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and emcee Chaz Ebert<\/strong>, I have little doubt the faithful staff and volunteers of the Champaign Park District<\/strong> will ensure that \u201cEbertfest<\/strong>\u201d and its fans receive a hearty welcome home at 203 W. Park Avenue<\/strong>, adhering still to pandemic protocols. The slate kicks off with a thunderous bang later tonight, Wednesday, April 20<\/strong>, with the Academy Award<\/strong>-winning music documentary SUMMER OF SOUL<\/strong> and will conclude 12 features later on Saturday, April 23<\/strong>, with a monochrome print of the Best Picture Oscar<\/strong> nominee NIGHTMARE ALLEY<\/strong>.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve summarized the program below for those who\u2019d like a quick refresher, culled from the schedule first announced<\/a><\/span> by Media back on Thursday, March 31<\/strong>, and Chaz Ebert\u2019s update about additional films, short subjects, and guests<\/a><\/span> that was published more recently on the Roger Ebert<\/strong> review website. Of course, the selections and personalities are profiled in depth at the official Ebertfest page<\/a><\/span>, and remember to consult the News-Gazette<\/span><\/strong> for daily coverage of the program<\/a><\/span>. If you\u2019re planning to attend and do not have proof of admission in hand, be sure to contact the Virginia\u2019s box office<\/a><\/span> for availability of passes and individual tickets through their own website or by calling (217) 356-9063<\/strong> between 10 a.m.<\/strong> and 5:30 p.m.<\/strong> on the weekdays. Other than that, please save us the symbolic aisle seat while enjoying:<\/p>\n Wednesday, April 20<\/span> Thursday, April 21<\/span> Friday, April 22<\/span> Saturday, April 23<\/span> Key festival guests for the 2022 engagement include Ramin Bahrani<\/strong> (THE WHITE TIGER), Terry Zwigoff & Thora Birch<\/strong> (GHOST WORLD), Michael Phillips<\/strong> (The Chicago Tribune<\/span>), Nell Minow<\/strong> (RogerEbert<\/span>.com), Dr. Eric Pierson<\/strong> (University of San Diego), and Michael Barker<\/strong> (Sony Pictures Classics). It was announced last night at the opening reception for sponsors and VIPs that Guillermo del Toro & Kim Morgan<\/strong> (NIGHTMARE ALLEY) would not be appearing in person as originally promoted. This year is dedicated to the great Sidney Poitier<\/strong>, who passed away on January 6<\/strong>, and the lovably divisive Gilbert Gottfried<\/strong>, who would have also been a guest this year but succumbed to complications from myotonic dystrophy on April 12<\/strong>. I hope all the stars in our own neighborhoods will emerge en masse<\/em> to make the Ebertfest scene an exhilarating place to be.<\/p>\n ~ Jason Pankoke<\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m.<\/em> SUMMER OF SOUL<\/strong> (2021, 118 min., Dir: Ahmir \u201cQuestlove\u201d Thompson)<\/p>\n
\n9:30 a.m.<\/em> THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN<\/strong> (2022, 106 min., Dir: Craig Roberts)
\n1:30 p.m.<\/em> THE 39 STEPS<\/strong> (1935, 86 min., Dir: Alfred Hitchcock)
\n4:00 p.m.<\/em> GILBERT<\/strong> (2017, 94 min., Dir: Neil Berkeley)
\n8:00 p.m.<\/em> FRENCH EXIT<\/strong> (2021, 113 min., Dir. Azazel Jacobs)<\/p>\n
\n9:30 a.m.<\/em> PASSING<\/strong> (2021, 99 min., Dir: Rebecca Hall)
\n2:00 p.m.<\/em> GOLDEN ARM<\/strong> (2021, 91 min., Dir: Maureen Bharoocha)
\n4:30 p.m.<\/em> THE WHITE TIGER<\/strong> (2021, 125 min., Dir: Ramin Bahrani)
\n8:30 p.m.<\/em> GHOST WORLD<\/strong> (2001, 111 min., Dir. Terry Zwigoff)<\/p>\n
\n10:00 a.m<\/em>. SIREN OF THE TROPICS<\/strong> (1927, 86 min., Dir: Henri \u00c9ti\u00e9vant, Mario Nalpas) Accompanied by Renee Baker and Chicago Modern Orchestra Project
\n1:30 p.m.<\/em> KRISHA<\/strong> (2016, 83 min., Dir: Trey Edward Shults)
\n4:00 p.m.<\/em> SOY CUBANA<\/strong> (2021, 79 min., Dir. Jeremy Ungar, Ivaylo Getov)
\n8:30 p.m.<\/em> NIGHTMARE ALLEY<\/strong> \u201cB&W Cinematic Version\u201d (2021, 150 min., Dir. Guillermo del Toro)<\/p>\n