Apr 22 2008
Ebertfest
It turns out Roger Ebert will not let a little thing like thyroid cancer stop his namesake engagment, Ebertfest. “The show must go on,” he recently told the Chicago Sun Times website. And while it is still unclear in what capacity Ebert will be attending, he will definitely be present at his 10th annual celebration of unsung films.
Not being that familiar with the greater Chicago area, I didn’t know this festival existed until I did a little research, but it sounds like a truly unique event. The festival is held in Champaign Illinois, where Ebert grew up, hosted by the University of Illinois, from which Ebert graduated, and has all its viewings at the Virginia Theater, where Ebert saw movies as a kid. Once called the “Overlooked Film Festival”, the films shown are not submitted, but entirerly hand picked by Ebert himself. Best part yet, each showing is followed by a discussion with Ebert and various people associated with the particular film. This years scheduled films run the gambit from 1927’s “Underworld”, don’t act like you know anything about this, to truly, truly, unsung modern films like “Hulk” and “The Cell”. It is this wild selection that really makes me want to hear the post film discussions. If you want to see the full schedule, or if you live in the area and want to get more information on the event go here.
Also, check out this vintage picture of the Virginia Theater where the showings are going to take place
Side note: I don’t know what it is, but I have loved old theaters ever since seeing “Matinee” as a kid. As well as balconies in said theaters. I love balconies.
Oh, and there is this little thing called the Tribeca Film Festival also starting tomorrow, but you can get much more plentiful information at just about every movie site in existence, so no need for redundancy here.CVirgin
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