All Stories
Poor health blamed for organist's absence from Ebertfest
Saturday, April 25, 2009
CHAMPAIGN – The Mighty Wurlitzer organ at the Virginia Theatre has been silent during Roger Ebert's Film Festival this week.
Organist Warren York, who has performed between screenings at past festivals, is in declining health and resting at home, according to Chaz Ebert, emcee of her husband's festival, and Jameel Jones, manager of the Virginia.
Alloy Orchestra helps audience probe depths of 'The Last Command'
Saturday, April 25, 2009
CHAMPAIGN – A watery-eyed old man, head nodding uncontrollably, grabs at a medal, snatched from him by another extra on the movie they are about to film about the Russian revolution.
'Chop Shop' director took pigeons under his wing
Friday, April 24, 2009
CHAMPAIGN – Director Ramin Bahrani not only meticulously trained amateur actors for his neo-realist film, "Chop Shop," but also spent three weeks training pigeons for the final scene.
"I had a pigeon wrangler, and unfortunately it was me," he joked Thursday afternoon after his sophomore film was screened at Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theatre.
'My Winnipeg' a portrait of both city, filmmaker
Friday, April 24, 2009
CHAMPAIGN – Anyone wanting to get in touch with childhood memories might want to get in touch with Canadian director Guy Maddin.
His "My Winnipeg," shown Thursday afternoon at the 11th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theatre, deeply accesses the creative energies and sensory experiences of childhood, said Time Out Chicago magazine editor/film critic Hank Sartin. He appeared onstage after the screening with Maddin and "Chop Shop" director Ramin Bahrani.
Local volunteers sacrifice time to cater to festival guests
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
CHAMPAIGN – Every year in late April, 30 Champaign-Urbana residents clear their calendars for five days, clean their cars and charge their cell phones.
They're the ones who squire around the famous and not-so-famous guests who come to town for Roger Ebert's Film Festival, which starts today at the Virginia Theatre.
'Begging Naked' paints a real-life story on big screen
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
CHAMPAIGN – Neophyte filmmaker Karen Gehres thought it was a joke when she saw "from Roger Ebert" in her e-mail in box last July.
It wasn't a prank, though.
The critic was inviting the New Yorker to show her documentary, "Begging Naked," at his 11th annual film festival, which runs today through Sunday at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign.
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