<\/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\/14: Ross Snyder (co-owner, Saturn\u2019s Core Audio & Video, Bloomingdale, NJ) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n That felt good last week, right? Shaking off a little dust and extending those muscles a bit? Let\u2019s see how much reps we have for you this week, including a handful of tidbits that can be shared in advance of the respective happenings and not<\/em> after the fact. Still need to keep our coverage compact and to the point so we can touch a bunch of bases by the time that glittery ball drops on New Year\u2019s Eve<\/strong>. Also, we\u2019ve decided to theme our Images<\/strong> department for the duration with, for the lack of a better moniker, shorts stories. It\u2019s the vibe \u2013 short, shorter, and shortest in our long-distance dedication to the cinema du C-U.<\/p>\n To that end, our self-made short subjects take over the Report<\/strong>! Cribbing pages from the \u201carcane pop culture gathering\u201d manual followed by the recent Dark History & Horror Con<\/strong> is a new event, Mr. Willy\u2019s Dark Arts & Oddities Con<\/strong>, which is scheduled for this weekend on the Northern Illinois University<\/strong> campus in DeKalb<\/strong>. They have couched an Indie Horror Film Festival<\/strong> in their programing<\/a><\/span> on Sunday, November 16<\/strong>, and the selections include AN AFFAIR AT THE END OF TIME<\/strong>, starring Myles Valentine<\/strong> and Katherine Bokenkamp<\/strong> and produced in Champaign County<\/strong> by Chase Todd<\/strong> and Phillip Hazen<\/strong>. And, on the evening of Thursday, November 20<\/strong>, yet another brand-new short will be unveiled and toasted at Analog Wine Bar<\/strong> in downtown Urbana<\/strong>; this time, QUIET TONIGHT<\/strong> involves a pair played by Kimmy Schofield<\/strong> and Mathew Green<\/strong> who take pains to not upset whomever occupies the next room in a tense drama co-written by Green with director Thomas Nicol<\/strong>. The presentation is at 7 p.m.<\/strong> and, certainly, the doors will be open earlier for those who want to sup a little vino in advance of taking in a little QUIET<\/strong>, which was discussed last week by Amy Penne<\/strong> at Smile Politely<\/span><\/strong>. The latter will be submitted to festivals after Analog, per Penne in the article<\/a><\/span>, and AFFAIR<\/strong> had its public debut at the Savoy Lumier\u00e8<\/strong> back in the spring.<\/p>\n During the coincidental \u201cshorts release weekend\u201d that was October 16-19<\/strong>, Shea Kelly<\/strong> of Thousand Yard Stare Productions<\/strong> in Decatur<\/strong> posted to YouTube<\/strong> a private teaser for their newest short, A MAN OF CHARACTER<\/strong>, made in conjunction with Trone Photo Works, Shark Fins<\/strong>, and Lamplighter Productions<\/strong>. Partly in black-and-white and partly in color, it\u2019s a psychological thriller of sorts that stars Nathan Scott<\/strong> and Greg Trumbold<\/strong>. We won\u2019t describe it any further, but you can sneak a peek if you want<\/a><\/span> to have a clearer idea of what\u2019s in store or go in blind by attending the Big Picture Peoria Film Festival<\/strong> this Saturday, November 22<\/strong>, where CHARACTER<\/strong> will close the event at the end of the 6 p.m.<\/strong> block. Follow this link to view all the selections<\/a><\/span> of Big Picture, which runs November 20-22<\/strong> at the Giant Screen Theater<\/strong> of the Peoria Riverfront Museum<\/strong>, and click here to see older Thousand Stare creations<\/a><\/span> on YouTube.<\/p>\n Finally, we\u2019ll bring up the Chambana Film Society<\/strong> even though their signature fall\/winter event, the return of the Found Footage Festival <\/strong>to our community on Friday, November 21, 7 p.m.<\/strong>, at the Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX<\/strong>, is probably sold out as of this writing. (It\u2019s not a shorts program, per se<\/em>, but a good-natured ribbing of segments of vintage and lost media by its hosts<\/a><\/span>, so that still fits here, yes?) We do<\/em> have the awareness, if not yet a corresponding schedule, from Chambana mastermind Nat Dykeman<\/strong> that a weekly itinerary is planned out from now until the spring. We also know that Dykeman is always looking for short subjects to play in front of features or compile for their own event, such as the documentary grouping that is scheduled for Sunday, December 28<\/strong>, at the Savoy. Watch their website for dates, details, and more!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Last week, we took a brief look at a new short subject, THE FAWN<\/strong>, produced by the Chicago<\/strong> suburban label Ten Wing Media<\/strong> and filmed on location in the rural woodlands of Pontiac<\/strong> with some help from downstate collaborators. The mystical horror piece is being submitted to festivals as we speak. Further along in its initial lifespan is MARA<\/strong>, the latest genre short by the folks at Silver Compass Studios<\/strong> in Decatur<\/strong>, which has been bedazzled with laurels, public screenings, and awards during the last few months and was given a YouTube<\/strong> live stream debut on Friday, October 17<\/strong>. You can watch it right here<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n Silver Compass owner Ben Harl<\/strong> and his team filmed MARA<\/strong> locally in the fall of 2024. It is a moody exercise in revelation, heavy with shadows and bathed in cathode ray greens, depicting what happens across several days when Jake, played by Peoria<\/strong>-based actor Seth Boyer<\/strong>, is given an edict by the psychiatrist Dr. Howell, performed by C-U stage talent Mindy Smith<\/strong>, to wean himself off medicines he has been taking since his release from institutionalization. Jake suffers confusion and memory blackouts at the outset, leading to the shocking realization that an imaginary love named Mara, embodied by the actress and musician Katherine Bokenkamp<\/strong>, has returned. And yet, Howell seems to be taking her patient\u2019s distress a little too much in stride for Jake\u2019s liking. Is the young man starting to suffer another mental break, or is Mara more than a figment who has her fingers clenched tight around his reality?<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n MARA<\/strong> is nicely made and demonstrates how Harl is on sure footing as a narrative storyteller after producing a series of provocative shorts over the last decade. Overall, the visual aesthetic of the film complements its pacing and performances \u2013 steady, not flashy, building towards a conclusion that seems to be a sad inevitability for Jake. Recently, local audiences have discovered MARA<\/strong> at both the Dark History & Horror Con<\/strong> and the Route 66 International Film Festival<\/strong>, while Silver Compass has their hands full with developing a Lovecraft-inspired feature titled THE DARK ONES<\/strong>. Follow along with their adventures in film on Facebook<\/strong> <\/a><\/span>or Instagram<\/strong> <\/a><\/span>and check out their prior productions on YouTube<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n MARA<\/strong> is directed and edited by Ben Harl and produced by Laura Richter<\/strong>. Justin Taylor<\/strong> shot and color-corrected the film, while Genna Roth<\/strong> was first assistant camera. Editing was done by Tim Lynn<\/strong>. Music was scored and performed by Eric Watkins<\/strong> and Ceci Ellis<\/strong>. Thomas Nicol<\/strong> handled sound, Heather Harlow<\/strong> provided make-up and hair, and Dayton Emery<\/strong> was the gaffer and grip. Leanne Unland<\/strong> and Arwen Baker<\/strong> were the production assistants, while Unland also arranged for the catering. In addition to Seth Boyer, Mindy Smith, and Katherine Bokenkamp, it stars Lesley Harl<\/strong> and Rick Jensen<\/strong>. 2025, color, 18 minutes.<\/p>\n A quick aside, Boyer appears in a second<\/em> Halloween<\/strong>-time online release with Myles Valentine<\/strong>, THE MIDNIGHT MAN<\/strong>, premiered by director Kal Kociss<\/strong> through his Coaches Film Company<\/strong> channel on YouTube back on Thursday, October 30<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. Two would-be thieves enter an elderly man\u2019s garage late one night in the hopes of stealing valuable goods and, wouldn\u2019t you know it, a local legend interferes\u2026<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Analog Wine Bar, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, 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> @ 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> @ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL<\/strong> @ Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria, IL<\/strong> @ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Midwest<\/strong><\/p>\n @ 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> 11\/28<\/strong> 12\/6<\/strong> 12\/7<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area<\/strong><\/p>\n UPDATE! 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 14-20, 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":[14,374,869,19,15,10,13,2264,441],"tags":[2830,3051,2204,2995,2351,870,290,1383,1964,2831,2374,3050,1838,2151,2199,183,362],"class_list":["post-16741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-area-festivals","category-business-matters","category-calendar-du-c-u","category-images-du-cu","category-media-coverage","category-production-updates","category-public-events","category-streaming-cinema","category-c-u-confidential-youtube","tag-a-man-of-character","tag-an-affair-at-the-end-of-time","tag-ben-harl","tag-chambana-film-society","tag-chase-todd","tag-cinema-calendar","tag-decatur-il","tag-found-footage-festival","tag-katherine-bokenkamp","tag-mara","tag-myles-valentine","tag-quiet-tonight","tag-shea-kelly","tag-short","tag-silver-compass-studios","tag-smile-politely","tag-thomas-nicol"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16741","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=16741"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16754,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16741\/revisions\/16754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n11\/15: Brian Hagy (filmmaker, THE KING\u2019S CHALLENGE, Pens to Lens 2025, Champaign-Urbana, IL)
\n11\/16: Kymberly Harris (founder\/producer, Firsthand Films, Los Angeles, CA)
\n11\/17: Eric Stanze (director\/co-writer\/executive producer, ANXIETY, Wicked Pixel Cinema, St. Louis, MO)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nQUIET TONIGHT* short film screening (11\/20, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nChampaign Movie Makers* meeting (11\/17, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Film & Video* meeting & tour of Illinois Public Media (11\/14, 4:30 p.m., Room 1002)<\/p>\n
\nChambana Film Society* presents \u201cThe Found Footage Festival \u2013 Volume 11\u201d (11\/21, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nTHE CARPENER\u2019S SON*, KEEPER, KING IVORY*, MUZZLE: CITY OF WOLVES*, NOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON\u2019T, THE RUNNING MAN, WICKED (re-release), BLACK PHONE 2, BUGONIA, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), DIE MY LOVE*, NUREMBERG*, PREDATOR: BADLANDS, REGRETTING YOU, SARAH\u2019S OIL (faith film) (11\/14 on), Studio Ghibli Fest: THE BOY AND THE HERON (anim\u00e9) (11\/15, 4 p.m., 11\/16, 4 & 7 p.m., 11\/19, 7 p.m., English dub; 11\/17-11\/18, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), AMC \u201cScreen Unseen\u201d (mystery movie) (11\/17, 7 p.m.), WICKED: FOR GOOD sneak preview (11\/19, 6, 6:30 & 9:15 p.m.), WICKED\/WICKED: FOR GOOD double feature (11\/20, 11 a.m.), RENTAL FAMILY, SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE, WICKED: FOR GOOD (11\/20 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nDE DE PYAAR DE 2 (in Hindi with English sub), KEEPER, KING IVORY*, NOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON\u2019T, THE RUNNING MAN, TRAP HOUSE*, BLACK PHONE 2, BUGONIA, CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), CHRISTY*, NUREMBERG, PREDATOR: BADLANDS, REGRETTING YOU, ROOFMAN, SARAH\u2019S OIL (faith film), SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, STITCH HEAD* (animation) (11\/14 on), GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE* (animation) (11\/14-11\/15, 11 a.m.), Studio Ghibli Fest: THE BOY AND THE HERON (anim\u00e9) (11\/15, 3 p.m., 11\/16, 3 & 7 p.m., 11\/19, 7 p.m., English dub; 11\/17-11\/18, 7 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), UFC 322: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev, more (mixed martial arts) (11\/15, 9 p.m., simulcast), THE SOUND OF MUSIC 60th anniversary (11\/16, 3 & 7 p.m.; 11\/19, 7 p.m.), WICKED: FOR GOOD sneak preview (11\/19, 6 p.m.), WICKED\/WICKED: FOR GOOD double feature (11\/20, 11 a.m. & 5 p.m.), WICKED: FOR GOOD (11\/20 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (11\/14-11\/15, 7 p.m., free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nIT\u2019S A WONDERFUL LIFE (11\/15, 6:30 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nNOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON\u2019T, THE RUNNING MAN, WICKED (re-release), BLACK PHONE 2, CHRISTY, GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE* (animation), PREDATOR: BADLANDS, REGRETTING YOU, ROOFMAN, SARAH\u2019S OIL (faith film) (11\/14 on), WICKED: FOR GOOD sneak preview (11\/19, 7 p.m.), WICKED\/WICKED: FOR GOOD double feature (11\/20, 11 a.m.)<\/p>\n
\nWICKED (re-release) (11\/14-11\/16), WICKED: FOR GOOD (11\/20 on)<\/p>\n
\nCoalescence Theatre Project presents So You Think You Can Stay<\/span> (11\/15-11\/16, 3 & 7 p.m. performances), DEMONS (11\/20)<\/p>\n
\nCHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN (faith film) (11\/14-11\/16)<\/p>\n
\n2025 Big Picture Peoria Film Festival (11\/20-11\/22)<\/p>\n
\nSOUL ON FIRE (faith film) (11\/14-11\/16)<\/p>\n
\n31st Black Harvest Film Festival (through 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: LOCKE; 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\/21-11\/22: HIM; 12\/5-12\/6: CAUGHT STEALING<\/p>\n
\n\u00a9 2025 Jason Pankoke\/C-U Blogfidential<\/span>
\n[T \u221292]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"