<\/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 11\/5: Nora McKirdie (actress, THE FAWN, Ten Wing Media, Chicago, IL) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n Dang. Well<\/em>. Drop the Report<\/strong>-ing ball for a month, and the tidbits and headlines pile up in regards to the movies of Champaign, Urbana<\/strong>, and the cities beyond. Luckily, we\u2019ve been saving notes and article links to much of what has been announced, revealed, and staged as of late that is relevant, so all we can do right now is pick away at sharing our film culture news with our dearest readers in the language of CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> as best and abbreviated as we can over the next month or so. When we hit the late December holiday skids, we do plan to pause on the highlights for January and February because \u2026 because.<\/p>\n So, to ramp up on catching up, we\u2019ll start with items connected to people, places, and happenings already present in today\u2019s Calendar<\/strong>, which will appear weekly through the winter in a spartan format. The birthday week of The Andrews \u2013 local storyteller and photographer Andrew Nygard<\/strong> and Champaign Movie Makers<\/strong> and Tabletop Central<\/strong> steward Andrew Stengele<\/strong> \u2013 always brings thoughts of the mirth and gentle mayhem of Pens to Lens<\/strong>, the screenplay workshop and short film clinic that they and other local creatives have brought back to prominence in the C-U. Recently, the newest batch of films based on the ideas and words of our local youth and premiered at the Virginia Theatre<\/strong> in August were uploaded to YouTube<\/strong> in this playlist<\/a><\/span>, and Stengele just announced the program is already accepting submissions for 2026<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n And, in special event news, we\u2019re about as stacked as we can get in our neck of the now-shorn cornfields. Hit the links below for more information about the Route 66 International Film Festival<\/strong>, the Champaign Urbana International Film Festival<\/strong>, and the Screaming Mad Film Festival<\/strong> of the Dark History & Horror Con<\/strong>, all of which happen to coincide this year. University of Illinois<\/strong> students are also at it with their self-contained 48-hour competition over the weekend, resulting in a semi-private campus showing on Monday, November 10<\/strong>. It could be a good thing the ramped-back-up Chambana Film Society<\/strong> is on a short hiatus in this moment, for we wouldn\u2019t want our heads to explode (or get too big) about all this cultural cinema coagulating at the same time! Chaz Ebert<\/strong> even announced today via the News-Gazette<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span> that \u201cEbertfest<\/strong>\u201d may get a one-time reprieve in 2026 if the interest and funding is there. Never say\u2026<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Maybe the most unique thing to transpire while we were looking but not journaling was the consecutive debuts of a half-dozen locally-connected films during the weekend of October 16-19<\/strong> that involved old friends like Matt HarsH<\/strong> and Shea Kelly<\/strong> and newer friends like Jill Greenlee<\/strong> and Chase & Shep<\/strong>. We\u2019ll begin recounting the eruption of media goodness in the next Calendar<\/strong> but, for today, we\u2019re giving the floor to yet another short subject, in the works for the last year-plus, that has finally received its private and public unveiling \u2013 THE FAWN<\/strong>, a folk\/rustic horror piece from Ten Wing Media<\/strong> and creator Jason Huls<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Filmed in the fall of 2024 on private property near Pontiac<\/strong>, THE FAWN<\/strong> involves a young woman played by Chicago<\/strong> actress Nora McKirdie<\/strong> who wanders an eerie burnt-orange forest and encounters strange objects and forces that hint at something way beyond human comprehension. Plot is nascent and the viewer can rationalize what they will from the combination of discreet special effects, uncanny color palettes, odd camera framing, and a creative sound track that set an unnerving tone. Erin Huls<\/strong>, who collaborates with her husband on the Ten Wings films and podcasts, appears on-screen as a hooded purveyor of decidedly dark arts; intercut with the woman\u2019s trek, her ceremony influences what is brewing even though the characters never share a scene. The earthly Fawn is fated to be caught in cosmic headlights.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n A modest effort compared to past film outings<\/a><\/span>, THE FAWN<\/strong> still prances in the realm of its director\u2019s interests of high fantasy, dark horror, and the Lovecraftian unexplainable, which he has also expressed through short story writing that has appeared in several anthologies and online publications. Those interested can learn about Huls\u2019 work at his Substack<\/strong> account<\/a><\/span> where he has also talked about this film and the preceding production from Ten Wing, THAT DAMNED YELLOW RAINCOAT<\/strong>. THE FAWN<\/strong> was premiered for subscribers to his Substack the week of October 20<\/strong> and will have its first festival screening this Sunday, November 9<\/strong>, in the Screaming Mad Film Festival<\/strong> sideline of the Dark History & Horror Con<\/strong> to be held at the Orpheum Champaign<\/strong>. Enjoy it in the 2:30 p.m.<\/strong> block and then watch for future dates, when the short can be seen at other festivals or online, by visiting Huls\u2019 social media accounts<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n THE FAWN<\/strong> is directed, edited, and written by Jason Huls, who also rendered the visual effects. Huls produced with Paul A. Brooks<\/strong>. The cinematography was handled by Paul G. Lyzun<\/strong>, and Ryan Aldrich<\/strong> contributed the sound design, music score, and voice work. Along with Nora McKirdie, who also acted in Brooks\u2019 feature HUNTING FOR THE HAG<\/strong>, and Erin Huls, THE FAWN<\/strong> stars Chris Hutson<\/strong>, the gruff and reluctant hero of the studio\u2019s original adventure from twenty (!) years ago, LATE AFTERNOON OF THE LIVING DEAD<\/strong>. 2025, color, 9 minutes.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL<\/strong> @ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ The Orpheum Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, 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> @ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, 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 Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL<\/strong> @ Golden Ticket Cinemas Ale House, Bloomington, IL<\/strong> @ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong> BACK OPEN! @ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL<\/strong> @ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL<\/strong> @ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Midwest<\/strong><\/p>\n @ CineCity Studios, Chicago, IL<\/strong> @ Gene Siskel Film Center, SAIC, Chicago, IL<\/strong> @ The Hi-Pointe Theatre, St. Louis, MO<\/strong> For detailed and curated listings of Chicago-area film presentations and related events, please visit the fine folks at<\/em> Cine-File<\/strong> and subscribe to their definitive \u201cCine-List\u201d weekly blast<\/a><\/span>. And for northern Illinois industry news, be sure to read<\/em> Reel Chicago<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span>,<\/em> Screen Magazine<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span>, and the <\/em>Chicago Reader<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMING SOON | Area-wide Events<\/strong><\/p>\n 11\/21<\/strong> NEW! 11\/28<\/strong> NEW! 12\/6<\/strong> NEW! 12\/7<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area<\/strong><\/p>\n Chambana Film Society presents \u201cThe Savoy Arthouse\u201d<\/strong> Illini Union Board presents \u201cFall 2025 Weekend Films\u201d<\/strong> ~~~~~<\/p>\n Compiled by Jason Pankoke.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cCalendar du C-U\u201d Select movie listings for November 7-13, 2025 in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond! Don\u2019t forget to peruse this week\u2019s Field Report! And, did you take a peek at the Images of the week?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,869,68,314,1286,19,15,13,30],"tags":[870,2496,2632,146,3049,144,1055,72,255,2643,2828],"class_list":["post-16726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-area-festivals","category-calendar-du-c-u","category-champaign-movie-makers","category-competition-du-c-u","category-for-the-children","category-images-du-cu","category-media-coverage","category-public-events","category-roger-ebert","tag-cinema-calendar","tag-cu-international-film-festival","tag-dark-history-and-horror-convention","tag-jason-huls","tag-nora-mckirdie","tag-paul-a-brooks","tag-pens-to-lens-screenwriting-competition","tag-roger-eberts-film-festival","tag-route-66-international-film-festival","tag-ten-wing-media","tag-the-fawn"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16726"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16740,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16726\/revisions\/16740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n11\/10: Andrew Stengele (filmmaker, MISSING, Pens to Lens 2025, Champaign-Urbana, IL)
\n11\/10: Andrew Nygard (filmmaker, THE MAN IN THE MOON, Pens to Lens 2025, Champaign-Urbana, IL)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n24th Route 66 International Film Festival* (11\/7-118) Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nIllini Film & Video* 48 Hour challenge (11\/7, 4:30 p.m., Room 1002)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Film & Video* \u201848 Hours Award Ceremony and Film Screening\u2019 (11\/10, 7 p.m., Room 1002)<\/p>\n
\nDark History & Horror Con* 2025 feat. Screaming Mad Film Festival* (11\/8-11\/9) Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\n4th Champaign Urbana International Film Festival* (11\/8, 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show) Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nCHRISTY, DIE MY LOVE, GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE* (animation), NUREMBERG, PREDATOR: BADLANDS, SARAH\u2019S OIL (faith film), BACK TO THE FUTURE 40th anniversary (re-release), BLACK PHONE 2, BUGONIA, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), REGRETTING YOU, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE*, TRON: ARES (11\/7 on), AMC \u201cScreen Unseen\u201d (mystery movie) (11\/10, 7 p.m.), KEEPER, NOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON\u2019T, THE RUNNING MAN (11\/13 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nTHE CHRISTMAS RING (faith film), CHRISTY, GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE* (animation), NUREMBERG, PREDATOR: BADLANDS, SARAH\u2019S OIL (faith film), ANNIVERSARY*, BLACK PHONE 2, BUGONIA, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), REGRETTING YOU, ROOFMAN, STITCH HEAD (animation), SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, TRON: ARES, VIOLENT ENDS* (11\/7 on), Indian cinema: THE GIRLFRIEND (in Telugu with English sub; 11\/7-11\/12), THE GREAT PRE-WEDDING SHOW* (in Telugu with English sub; 11\/7-11\/9), and JADATHARA* (in Telugu with English sub; 11\/7-11\/12), The Metropolitan Opera: La Boh\u00e8me<\/span> (11\/8, 12 p.m., simulcast; 11\/12, 12 & 5:30 p.m., recorded), HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS (11\/9, 3 & 7 p.m.; 11\/12, 7 p.m.), VIRGIN PUNK: CLOCKWORK GIRL (anim\u00e9) (11\/11, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub; 11\/13, 7 p.m., English dub), THE RUNNING MAN (11\/13 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nRoger Ebert Center for Film Studies* presents HEREDITARY screening (11\/13, 7 p.m., free)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents FREAKIER FRIDAY (11\/7-11\/8, 7 p.m., free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nNo movies this week!<\/p>\n
\nTHE CHRISTMAS RING (faith film), CHRISTY, GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE* (animation), PREDATOR: BADLANDS, SARAH\u2019S OIL (faith film), BACK TO THE FUTURE 40th anniversary (re-release), BLACK PHONE 2, BUGONIA, REGRETTING YOU, ROOFMAN, STITCH HEAD (animation), SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE* (11\/7 on), NOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON\u2019T, THE RUNNING MAN (11\/13 on)<\/p>\n
\nTHE CHRISTMAS RING (faith film) (11\/7-11\/9), THE WIZARD OF OZ (11\/13-11\/14, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nTHE PRODUCERS (1967) (11\/7-11\/9), BIG SHARK\/THE ROOM double feature w\/Greg Sestero (11\/8, 7 p.m.), ISU School of Creative Technologies present \u201cAn Evening with Ian MacKaye\u201d w\/WE ARE FUGAZI FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. (documentary) (11\/411, 6:30 p.m.), \u201cQueering Horror Series\u201d feat. QUEENS OF THE DEAD (11\/13)<\/p>\n
\nSOUL ON FIRE (faith film) (11\/7-11\/9)<\/p>\n
\nTRUTH & TREASON (11\/7-11\/9)<\/p>\n
\nClosed for the season.<\/p>\n
\nMidwest Film Festival presents the 20th annual Best of the Midwest Awards (11\/13, 6-11 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\n31st Black Harvest Film Festival (11\/7-11\/16)<\/p>\n
\nCinema St. Louis presents the 34th Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (through 11\/16)<\/p>\n
\nChambana Film Society presents
\nThe Found Footage Festival Vol. 11
\n@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
\n\u2018Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam\u2019 presents \u201cRemembering [Robert] Redford\u201d
\nfeat. THE STING, THE WAY WE WERE, THE NATURAL w\/Chuck Koplinski & Pam Powell
\n@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL, 12-9 p.m.<\/p>\n
\nFischerFest presents \u201cCelebrating the Life & Legacy of Dick Van Dyke\u201d
\nfeat. national premiere of DICK VAN DYKE: 100 CELEBRATION
\n@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL, 5 p.m. doors, 6:30 p.m. program<\/p>\n
\nFischerFest presents \u201cCelebrating the Life & Legacy of Dick Van Dyke\u201d
\nfeat. BYE BYE BIRDIE, THE COMIC, MARY POPPINS w\/Chuck Koplinski
\n@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.<\/p>\n
\n@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 3 p.m. unless noted otherwise<\/strong>
\n11\/16: screening cancelled; 11\/21: The Found Footage Festival Vol. 11; 11\/30: THE LADDER; 12\/7: HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS; 12\/14: SONG SUNG BLUE (2008); 12\/21: Sanford Hess selection TBA; 12\/28: \u201cShort Docs\u201d program<\/p>\n
\n@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w\/i-card<\/strong>
\n11\/14-11\/15: DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE; 11\/21-11\/22: HIM; 12\/5-12\/6: CAUGHT STEALING<\/p>\n
\n\u00a9 2025 Jason Pankoke\/C-U Blogfidential<\/span>
\n[T \u221293]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"