<\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
Is it bad form to post about a major local event several days after<\/em> its launch? Probably. Is it worth the effort to keep pushing its story while it is still in progress and attract as much attention for it as possible? Absolutely<\/em>. Therefore, two weeks after the concluding Roger Ebert\u2019s Film Festival<\/strong> in Champaign<\/strong> and a month after the wrap of Nat Dykeman<\/strong>\u2019s durable Lake County Film Festival<\/strong> up in the far north Chicago<\/strong> suburbs, we now have the second iteration of the film impresario\u2019s made-for-Champaign County<\/strong> creation, the Savoy Lumi\u00e8re<\/strong>. Expanded from its modest scope in 2025 and with just as much importance placed on selection quality, variety, artistry, and topicality, the event is taking place at the Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX<\/strong> all the way through the end of next week thanks to a few last-minute add-ons by Dykeman, who is always looking to improve on the overall experience for his growing audience.<\/p>\n This round, we\u2019ve simplified the general schedule for your use below. It includes the play dates that have already passed \u2013 flog us after class, folks \u2013 such as the opening night block of short subjects made by local talents \u2013 well, hrm<\/em>, go on and flog us already \u2013 that are colored in blue. The remaining programs are still in the immediate future as we post this article, beginning at 10:30 a.m.<\/strong> on Sunday, May 3<\/strong>, with an overall favorite, 25 CATS FROM QATAR<\/strong>, the documentary about a Wisconsin<\/strong> woman who takes in the title felines from the title country in the hopes of finding adoptive families. Its booking and ballyhoo at events across the United States<\/strong> has been one of Dykeman\u2019s not-well-known sidelines, done in parallel with what he\u2019s accomplished over the last two years with the events devised under the aegis<\/em> of Chambana Film Society<\/strong>. He\u2019s devoted to the cause and finds ways to flourish with his ideas.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n What is ahead, then? Today, we have a collection of shorts by Asian-American filmmakers at 12:30 p.m.<\/strong>, documentaries about how the Chicago River<\/strong> feeds into the mighty Mississippi<\/strong> in all the senses at 3 p.m.<\/strong> and how the histories of indie cinema and video stores in America are entwined at 8 p.m.<\/strong>, and a dark comedy about a man who seemingly scores big in crypto at 5 p.m.<\/strong> Two more documentaries play at 7 p.m.<\/strong> on Monday<\/strong> and Tuesday<\/strong> nights, the first one about a man who crosses Indiana<\/strong> in his wheelchair to raise awareness and money for social causes and the second one about the ramifications of mankind encroaching a little too much on nature and wildlife. Then, two well-reviewed features in limited release play the C-U for the first time on Wednesday<\/strong> and Thursday<\/strong> nights at 7 p.m.<\/strong>, the first being THE CHRISTOPHERS<\/strong>, starring Michaela Coel<\/strong> and Sir Ian McKellen<\/strong> under the direction of Steven Soderbergh<\/strong> and the second being EXIT 8<\/strong>, an apparently striking videogame adaptation that was directed by Genki Kawamura<\/strong>. After all this, we\u2019re gifted three straight Fridays of additional cinema that includes blocks of Jewish-American and Black-themed shorts and a \u201cnerdlesque\u201d documentary preceded by a locally-produced pole studio documentary and followed with a live \u201cdraglesque\u201d affair. Whew<\/em>.<\/p>\n Every single facet of the Savoy Lumi\u00e8re is finely detailed on the official website where you can read more in-depth about the selections, watch previews, pre-order tickets for the remaining shows, and bookmark for future reference<\/a><\/span> as the Chambana Film Society continues forth with seeking out the most compelling and interesting not-Hollywood<\/strong> films that it can secure and bring to the Savoy 16. It is exciting to see film culture take on new shapes and colors in the C-U, especially when it\u2019s built from the ground up by our friends and neighbors and maybe even ourselves. Go enjoy and support this grand effort, friends.<\/p>\n ~ Jason Pankoke<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Savoy Lumi\u00e8re 2026 schedule<\/strong> Tuesday, April 7<\/em><\/span> Friday, April 10<\/em><\/span> Tuesday, April 24<\/em><\/span> Wednesday, April 29<\/em><\/span> Thursday, April 30<\/em><\/span> Friday, May 1<\/em><\/span> Saturday, May 2<\/em><\/span> ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Sunday, May 3<\/em> Monday, May 4<\/em> Tuesday, May 5<\/em> Wednesday, May 6<\/em> Thursday, May 7<\/em> Friday, May 8<\/em> Friday, May 15<\/em> Friday, May 22<\/em> Special guests who are scheduled to appear will be named in the online and print programs as well as featured in the Facebook<\/strong><\/a><\/span> and Instagram<\/strong><\/a><\/span> accounts of the Chambana Film Society. Entries with an asterisk (*) denote a selection with local ties. The Savoy Lumi\u00e8re is directed and programmed by Nat Dykeman. Technical directors are Andrew Stengele<\/strong> and Thomas Nicol<\/strong>. Web and print designer is Kat Jacobsen<\/strong>. Event volunteer is Dan Jeremy Brooks<\/strong>. Primary sponsor is the Village of Savoy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Publicity still from UNDELETABLE is courtesy <\/em>Charlie Productions<\/strong> via Chambana Film Society. | Publicity still from PLACES WE KNOW is courtesy <\/em>Oliver William Staton\/London Film School<\/strong> via Chambana Film Society. | Publicity still from CLUTTER is courtesy <\/em>Sash Films<\/strong> via Chambana Film Society. | Publicity still from AMERICAN DENDRITE is courtesy <\/em>EastWest Films LLC<\/strong> via Chambana Film Society. | Other artwork is courtesy Chambana Film Society.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n The second Savoy Lumi\u00e8re is playing at the Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX from April 29 to May 8, 2026, plus additional dates. Yet, it’s May 3. Yes, we know. Yes, you should still go. Like, right now. See you in Savoy, Illinois!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,3111,2125,2144,13,18],"tags":[2995,3113,2096,196,1751,2135,2744,905,1944,2996,287,3112,3114],"class_list":["post-17008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-area-festivals","category-chambana-film-society","category-cinema-discourse","category-documentary","category-public-events","category-student-film","tag-chambana-film-society","tag-exit-8","tag-film-culture","tag-film-festivals","tag-independent-cinema","tag-international-cinema","tag-nat-dykeman","tag-savoy-16-theatres","tag-savoy-il","tag-savoy-lumiere","tag-steven-soderbergh","tag-the-christophers","tag-video-dreams"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17008","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=17008"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17019,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17008\/revisions\/17019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.micro-film-magazine.com\/cublog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, 232 Burwash Ave., Savoy, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS<\/strong> (2022, 108 min., comedy)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. RELATIVE<\/strong>* (2022, 97 min., comedy\/drama)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. BRIM<\/strong>* (2025, 105 min., drama)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. \u201cHome-Grown Shorts<\/strong>\u201d* (2023-25, appx. 105 min.)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. LUMI\u00c8RE, LE CINEMA!<\/strong> (2025, 106 min., doc.)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n6:30 p.m. \u201cComedy Shorts<\/strong>\u201d (2023-25, appx. 85 min.)<\/span>
\n8:30 p.m. HEKLA<\/strong>* (2025, 89 min., comedy\/drama)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n10:30 a.m. \u201cAnimated Shorts<\/strong>\u201d (2024-26, appx. 85 min.)<\/span>
\n12:30 p.m. UNDER THE LIGHTS<\/strong> (2025, 108 min., drama)<\/span>
\n2:30 p.m. \u201cIs This Therapy?<\/strong>\u201d shorts (2024-26, appx. 100 min.)<\/span>
\n4:30 p.m. ANYWHERE<\/strong> (2025, 102 min., drama\/crime)<\/span>
\n7:00 p.m. \u201cThriller\/Horror Shorts<\/strong>\u201d (2025, appx. 100 min.)<\/span>
\n9:30 p.m. WHEN THE NIGHT FALLS<\/strong>* (2026, 86 min., thriller)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n10:30 a.m. 25 CATS FROM QATAR<\/strong> (2025, 95 min., doc.)
\n12:30 p.m. \u201cIdentities: Asian-American Shorts<\/strong>\u201d (2025, appx. 95 min.)
\n3:00 p.m. AMERICAN DENDRITE<\/strong> (2025, 78 min., doc.)
\n5:15 p.m. $POSITIONS<\/strong> (2025, 97 min., comedy\/thriller)
\n8:00 p.m. VIDEO DREAMS: A VHS MASSACRE STORY<\/strong> (2025, 82 min., doc.)<\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. JUST ONE MAN<\/strong> (2025, 110 min., doc.)<\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. NUISANCE BEAR<\/strong> (2026, 90 min., doc)<\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. THE CHRISTOPHERS<\/strong> (2026, 100 min., drama, Neon)<\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. EXIT 8<\/strong> (2026, 95 min., thriller, Neon)<\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. \u201cIdentities: Jewish-American Shorts<\/strong>\u201d (2025, appx. 90 min.)<\/p>\n
\n7:00 p.m. \u201cIdentities: The Souls of Black Folk Shorts<\/strong>\u201d (2024-25, appx. 110 min.)<\/p>\n
\n6:00 p.m. MAYBE IT\u2019S THIS<\/strong>* w\/talkback (2026, 27 min., doc)
\n7:00 p.m. TIGHT & NERDY<\/strong> w\/talkback (2025, 82 min., doc.)
\n9:30 p.m. \u201cLumi\u00e8re After Dark: The Weird Revue<\/strong>\u201d performance<\/p>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"