Thursday, July 24, 2008 East Central Illinois

10th Annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival 2008

All Stories

'Romance & Cigarettes' wins praise for filming outside box

Monday, April 28, 2008

CHAMPAIGN – Introducing the movie "Romance & Cigarettes" on Sunday at Roger Ebert's Film Festival, Time magazine movie critic Richard Corliss said moviemaking is in a "very timid period."

"Do you know how many movies try to do something different? How many moviemakers in a decade even try it? Four?" he asked.

Read more

'Housekeeping' star recalls script as best she ever saw

Monday, April 28, 2008

CHAMPAIGN – After first reading Scottish director Bill Forsyth's script for "Housekeeping," actress Christine Lahti decided it was the best screenplay ever sent to her.

She was being considered for the lead of Sylvie – another actress who had been in the running was Diane Keaton. Lahti said she was told she might get the part if she and Forsyth got along.

Read more

Ebertfest: That's a wrap

Monday, April 28, 2008

CHAMPAIGN – The 10th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theatre ended on an emotional but upbeat note, with Chaz Ebert bidding farewell and blowing kisses to the audience as her absent husband listened in over her speakerphone.

"You know I miss Roger," she said as she walked back and forth on the stage, addressing the balcony and main floor. "I want to go back to Roger and tell him about the festival. I'm taking the images back of you so I can share them with Roger in Chicago."

Read more

Director, distributor 'bask' in warm Virginia Theatre reception

Sunday, April 27, 2008

When film consultant Hannah Fisher saw Israeli writer-director Eran Kolirin's directorial debut, "The Band's Visit," at the Cannes Film Festival, she "flat fell in love with it."

The first film showing Jews and Arabs relating together as human beings, it's filled with "much tenderness and humanity," she said Saturday at Roger Ebert's Film Festival, after "The Band's Visit" was shown.

Read more

They don't make 'em like that any more

Sunday, April 27, 2008

James Bond, not the actor but one of the projectionists for Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theater, said working in film has become a luxury for most filmmakers.

"It's almost to the point now where there's not even a choice," Bond said Thursday between films. "People have to work in the digital domain, at least the young, independent market."

Read more

Biopic rooted in writer-director's notion of suicidal glory

Sunday, April 27, 2008

CHAMPAIGN – Like many young men, Paul Schrader once was enamored of the notion of suicidal glory.

"As a young man, I totally bought into it," the director and screenwriter said early Saturday morning at Roger Ebert's Film Festival after his biopic, "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters," was screened.

Read more

Academy Award winning director, UI grad returns to town

Sunday, April 27, 2008

CHAMPAIGN – Director Ang Lee returned triumphant to his alma mater on Saturday, receiving a standing ovation at Roger Ebert's Film Festival after he first walked on stage, along with a surprise serenade of "Illinois Loyalty"" by the a cappella group The Other Guys.

Lee smiled, nodded and clapped. He thanked Chaz Ebert, who had introduced him as a leading filmmaker who apparently had come out of nowhere, and the audience.

"I'm so proud to be a Fighting Illini," said the 1980 graduate of the UI Department of Theatre and one of the world's leading filmmakers.

Read more

Moving film took writer-director home – and audience with him

Saturday, April 26, 2008

CHAMPAIGN – Chaz Ebert said Friday at Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theatre that she had promised earlier in the week not to cry over her husband's absence from the event.

"It's allowed to cry over the movies," she said after Jeff Nichols's "Shotgun Stories" was screened.

Read more

Return to the front page

Scene & Be Seen Logo

Scene & Be Seen

Ebertfest 2008

Ebertfest 2008 Gallery Photo

More photos | More galleries

2008 Ebertfest

Film Director Ang Lee, left, listens and claps along as the Other Guys sing the University of Illinois' ' Loyalty' song Saturday evening at the Virginia Theatre. Lee was in town to introduce his 2003 movie, 'Hulk.'

Schedule

For additional information about the films and guests see www.ebertfest.com.

Wednesday, April 23
  • 7:00 pm - Hamlet (238 min)
Thursday, April 24
  • 1:00 pm - Delirious (107 min)
  • 4:00 pm - Yes (99 min)
  • 8:30 pm - Canvas (100 min), preceded by Citizen Cohl: The Untold Story
Friday, April 25
  • 11:30 am - Shotgun Stories (92 min)
  • 2:30 pm - Underworld (80 min)
  • 7:00 pm - The Real Dirt on Farmer John (83 min)
  • 10:00 pm - Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (121 min)
Saturday, April 26
  • 11:00 am - Hulk (138 min)
  • 3:00 pm - The Band's Visit (89 min)
  • 7:30 pm - Housekeeping (117 min)
  • 11:00 pm - The Cell (108 min)
Sunday, April 27
  • Noon - Romance & Cigarettes (115 min)