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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 4\/2: Will \u201cthe Thrill\u201d Viharo (movie columnist, Bachelor Pad Magazine<\/span>, Champaign, IL) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n For today\u2019s Report<\/strong>, we\u2019re shelving the numerous topics we had considered talking about this week so we can focus on a happening du C-U that we think will be worth your time and attentions. Ye Ed<\/strong> recently got back in touch with Nat Dykeman<\/strong>, an indie film connoisseur with whom he\u2019d first crossed paths nearly 20 years ago, and learned in confidence of his plans to bring his brand of cinema programming to our area. We\u2019re humbled that Dykeman is willing to offer this gesture to our community and believe the return of specialized public screenings meant to expand the depth of what \u201cmovie-going\u201d can entail for the folks of Champaign, Urbana<\/strong>, and the immediate cities beyond is long overdue. Let\u2019s discuss the plan thus far\u2026<\/p>\n Having relocated from the Chicago<\/strong> suburbs to small-town living not far from our fair Twin Cities, Dykeman already has his hands full in film. He is the founder, organizer, and promoter of the Lake County Film Festival<\/strong>, held up north in suburban Grayslake<\/strong> since 2004<\/span><\/a>, which is currently accepting entries to consider for its 14th showcase in October and November of this year. (An early-bird deadline of Friday, April 26<\/strong>, is approaching like a comet; don\u2019t let it pass you by, screen storytellers!<\/a><\/span>) He has also tried his hand at producing films, running a video store, and other related and creative activities over the years as detailed by UIUC professor emeritus Richard Leskosky<\/strong> in this nifty profile run a week ago<\/a><\/span> in the News-Gazette<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n At present, Dykeman wants to test the waters in Champaign County<\/strong> and has pulled together a three-show run under the \u201cChambana Film Festival<\/strong>\u201d umbrella<\/a><\/span> at the Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX in Savoy<\/strong>. The following titles will play on the last Sunday afternoon of each of the next three months with the series kicking off this weekend: QWERTY<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (2012; March 31, 4 p.m.<\/strong>), a romance between outsiders in the Windy City, played by Dana Pupkin<\/strong> and Eric Hailey<\/strong>, which eventually involves a Scrabble<\/strong> competition; TRAPPED BALLOON<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (2022, April 28, 4 p.m.<\/strong>), a bittersweet drama about a former teacher (Touko Miura<\/strong>), her estranged father (Kaoru Kobayashi<\/strong>), and a solitary fisherman (Masahiro Higashide<\/strong>) who gradually transform from their interactions on a Japanese isle; and, BIKE VESSEL<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (2023, May 26, 4 p.m.<\/strong>), a documentary about the inadequacy of health care for Black men in America and one individual, Donnie Seals, Sr.<\/strong>, who turned his life and wellness around after multiple significant surgeries and despite the odds. The respective directors are Bill Sebastian, Hiroyuki Miyagawa<\/strong>, and Eric D. Seals<\/strong>. Participants from all the films \u2013 Dykeman was a producer on QWERTY<\/strong>, FYI \u2013 will be invited to the screenings.<\/p>\n Depending on how \u201cChambana\u201d is received by, well, Chambana, the promoter has additional concepts including an expansion to a full-on event a la<\/em> Lake County in early 2025. To be fair and honest, and not to discount the great efforts made by everyone who has continued or revived the touchstones of our modern film culture like last month\u2019s Insect Fear Film Festival<\/strong>, next month\u2019s 25th anniversary Roger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival<\/strong>, and a proper Pens to Lens<\/strong> outpouring down the road a short way, part of what has been missing in the C-U is new blood to drive good ideas. We wish Dykeman all the best in channeling his experience and knowledge in our environs while trusting our dearest viewers to take the plunge and participate.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n HUNTING FOR THE HAG* streaming release:<\/strong> Tuesday, April 2, via Lion Heart Distribution, Santa Monica, CA\/Into the Night Motion Pictures, Normal, IL<\/p>\n @ Golden Corral, Springfield, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong> @ Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong>
\n4\/4: Kamelya Alexan (filmmaker, CHANGING THE DISCIPLE, Chicago, IL)
\n4\/4: Sara Benson (adjunct assistant professor, School of Information Sciences, UIUC, Champaign, IL)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\nCentral Illinois Film Commission* meeting (4\/4, 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. meeting)<\/p>\n
\nChambana Film Festival presents QWERTY (3\/31, 4 p.m., free admission)<\/p>\n
\nA CAT\u2019S LIFE, CREW (in Hindi with English sub), GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE, IN THE LAND OF SAINTS AND SINNERS, TILLU SQUARE (in Telugu with English Sub), ARTHUR THE KING, DUNE: PART TWO, GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE, IMAGINARY, IMMACULATE, KUNG FU PANDA 4 (animation), LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL, LUCA* (animation) (first US release) (3\/29 on), CABRINI (faith film), LOVE LIES BLEEDING (3\/29-4\/1), SOMEONE LIKE YOU (4\/2 on), THE FIRST OMEN, MONKEY MAN, WICKED LITTLE LETTERS (4\/4 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nGODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE, ARTHUR THE KING, CABRINI (faith film), DUNE: PART TWO, GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE, IMAGINARY, IMMACULATE, KUNG FU PANDA 4 (animation), LOVE LIES BLEEDING, LUCA* (animation) (first US release), ONE LIFE (3\/29 on), PRIDE & PREJUDICE (2005) (3\/31, 3 & 7 p.m.; 4\/3, 7 p.m.), THE ARK AND THE DARKNESS (religious documentary) (4\/1, 7 p.m.), SOMEONE LIKE YOU (4\/2 on), THE FIRST OMEN, MONKEY MAN (4\/4 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cSpring 2024 Weekend Films\u201d feat. THE COLOR PURPLE (2023), Pine Lounge, 1st floor (3\/29-3\/30, 7 p.m.; free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n