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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 8\/15: Chuck Koplinski (movie journalist, The Illinois Times<\/span>, Springfield, IL) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n The Report<\/strong> is on hiatus until August or September. Thank you for your readership, CUvians and Agents!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n An archetypal CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> posting for today, if we may. Back to school in Champaign-Urbana<\/strong> means back-in-the-saddle for the organizers behind our annual and perennial homegrown events, and we couldn\u2019t be more grateful for normal movement on that front after the last few years. For example, this Saturday, August 17<\/strong>, marks the public return of Pens to Lens<\/strong> at the Virginia Theatre<\/strong> in downtown Champaign after the last half-decade of scaled-down activity; child-written, adult-produced short films from the minds and hands of creative CUvians<\/a><\/span> will debut on the big screen in a showcase, now overseen by 40 North 88 West<\/strong> along with Champaign Movie Makers<\/strong>, that begins at 3 p.m.<\/strong> and is hosted by the veteran Pens composer and actress Cara Maurizi<\/strong>. Later tonight, Friday, August 18<\/strong>, the \u201cArthouse Experience<\/strong>\u201d series that is sponsored by Illinois Public Media<\/strong><\/a><\/span> and hosted by the Virginia will present Yorgos Lanthimos<\/strong>\u2019 award-winning period dramedy THE FAVOURITE<\/strong>, starring the great Olivia Colman<\/strong>, at a showing set for 7 p.m.<\/strong> You can also plan ahead for the next Chambana Film Festival<\/strong><\/a><\/span> screening on Sunday, August 25, 4 p.m.<\/strong>, at the Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX<\/strong> in Savoy<\/strong>, which will be the border-crisis drama THE WINGWALKER<\/strong> from director Alonso Alvarez-Barreda<\/strong>. And finally, as if sensing the upswell of movie karma du C-U, the folks behind a new local favorite, the CU International Film Festival<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, announced yesterday the date for their third extravaganza will be on Saturday, February 15, 2025<\/strong>, taking place once again at Knight Auditorium<\/strong> in the UI Spurlock Museum of World Cultures<\/strong> on campus. Do your part and be<\/em> aware, be<\/em> there, and be<\/em> annually and perennially supportive of our film friends and neighbors.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 100 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Saturday, August 16, 1924:<\/em> Following its first eight years in business when it had been fraught with ownership changes, unfulfilled plans, and an influenza outbreak, the Avon Theater<\/strong> of Decatur<\/strong><\/span><\/a> reopens today under new management and with a brighter outlook. Assuming control over the Avon from the Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, which decided to not invest further in the ornate Water Street<\/strong> movie house and temporarily closed in in June, are local businessmen Christian<\/strong> and Gust Constanopoulos<\/strong> and their cousin George Stevens<\/strong> of Chicago<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. The Constans had previously been managers of another Balaban and Katz property up the block from the Avon, the Empress Theatre<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, as well as several downtown confectionaries. They and brothers Angelo<\/strong> and Theodore<\/strong> would bring stability to the Avon, retiring the vaudeville offerings to concentrate on quality film presentation and modernizing the facilities, and successfully operate it for more than 40 years along with several other venues in central Illinois<\/strong>. Some believe Gust, the Constan most synonymous with the Avon during this time, appears in the upper balcony and hallways to this day<\/span><\/a> even though he passed away in 1965. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, 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> @ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/strong> Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional \u201cNow Playing\u201d and \u201cComing Soon\u201d listings appear after the jump!<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n @ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL<\/strong> @ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL<\/strong> @ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL<\/strong> @ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL<\/strong> @ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL<\/strong> @ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong> @ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL<\/strong> @ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL<\/strong> @ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL<\/strong>
\n8\/18: Jeff Brandt (owner, Exile on Main Street, Champaign, IL)
\n8\/19: Ken Lee (vice president, Michael Wiese Productions, Studio City, CA)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\n40 North 88 West, Champaign Movie Makers, CUDO, and the Champaign Park District present the 2024 Pens to Lens Gala* (8\/17, 2 p.m. doors, 3 p.m. show)<\/p>\n
\nChampaign Movie Makers* meeting (8\/19, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nALIEN: ROMULUS, CORALINE (re-release), MY PENGUIN FRIEND, RYAN\u2019S WORLD THE MOVIE (live action\/animation), SKINCARE, STREE 2 (in Hindi with English sub), VEDAA (in Hindi with English sub), BORDERLANDS, CUCKOO, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), IT ENDS WITH US, TRAP, TWISTERS (8\/16 on), BETWEEN THE TEMPLES, BLINK TWICE, THE CROW, THE FORGE (faith film), STRANGE DARLING (8\/22 on)<\/p>\n
\nALIEN: ROMULUS, CLOSE TO YOU, CORALINE (re-release), MY PENGUIN FRIEND, RYAN\u2019S WORLD THE MOVIE (live action\/animation), BORDERLANDS, CUCKOO, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON*, INSIDE OUT 2 (animation), IT ENDS WITH US, LONGLEGS, TRAP, TWISTERS (8\/16 on), UFC 305: Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya, more (mixed martial arts) (8\/17, 9 p.m., simulcast), BRING IT ON (8\/18, 3 & 7 p.m.; 8\/21, 7 p.m.), BLINK TWICE, THE CROW, THE FORGE (faith film) (8\/22 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nIllinois Public Media presents \u201cThe Arthouse Experience Film Series\u201d feat. THE FAVOURITE (8\/16, 7 p.m.), Pens to Lens* 2024 Gala (8\/17, 3 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nALIEN:ROMULUS, THELMA, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (8\/15-8\/18)<\/p>\n
\nALIEN:ROMULUS, IT ENDS WITH US, BORDERLANDS, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, TWISTERS (8\/16 on)<\/p>\n
\nIT ENDS WITH US, MY PENGUIN FRIEND (8\/16 on)<\/p>\n
\nNo movies this week!<\/p>\n
\nTWISTER, TWISTERS (Screen 1), ALIEN: ROMULUS, LONGLEGS (Screen 2) (8\/16-8\/18)<\/p>\n
\nALIEN: ROMULUS, CORALINE (re-release), MY PENGUIN FRIEND, RYAN\u2019S WORLD THE MOVIE* (live action\/animation), SKINCARE, BORDERLANDS, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), INSIDE OUT 2* (animation), IT ENDS WITH US, TRAP*, TWISTERS (8\/16 on), WONDER PARK* (animation) (8\/16-8\/22), CUCKOO* (8\/16-8\/17, 8\/19-8\/21), Indian cinema: DOUBLE ISMART* (8\/16-8\/17, 8\/20-8\/21, in Telugu with English sub), STREE 2* (8\/16-8\/21, in Hindi with English sub), THANGLAAN* (8\/16-8\/17, 8\/19-8\/21, in Tamil with English sub), and KHEL KHEL MEIN* (8\/18, 8\/20, in Hindi with English sub), A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984) (8\/19, 8:50 p.m.; 8\/20, 7:30 & 10 p.m.), SEVENTEEN TOUR \u2018FOLLOW\u2019 AGAIN TO SEOUL (concert film) (8\/21, 7 p.m., in Korean with English sub), BLINK TWICE, THE CROW, THE FORGE (faith film), STRANGE DARLING (8\/22 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nCLERKS (8\/16-8\/18), PULP FICTION (8\/17-8\/18, THE CIRCUS (1928) (8\/22)<\/p>\n
\nHAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON (8\/16-8\/18)<\/p>\n
\nDESPICABLE ME 4 (animation) (8\/16-8\/18)<\/p>\n
\nALIEN: ROMULUS, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (Screen 1), DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), TWISTERS (Screen 2) (8\/16-8\/17)<\/p>\n