2019 Ebertfest
Key Words: Billboards, Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.), Illinois College of Media, University of Illinois
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
Billboard for 2019 Ebertfest on Bradley Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, April 8, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Queues, Festivalgoers, Volunteers, Don Wauthier, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.), Posters
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
Festival Pass holders line up on N. Randolph Street for opening night of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Volunteers, Don Wauthier, Queues, Festivalgoers, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
Volunteer Don Wauthier manages the crowd gathering on N. Randolph Street for opening night of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Motion picture theaters, Marquees, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.), Queues, Festivalgoers, Volunteers, Don Wauthier
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Festivalgoers line up for opening night of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert Festivalgoers, Frederick Palmer, Queues, Motion picture theaters, Marquees, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Frederick Palmer from Champaign attends Ebertfest for the first time at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Queues, Festivalgoers, Phil Hinrichs, Elizabeth Panzer, Caroline Panzer, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Phil Hinrichs, Elizabeth Panzer, and Caroline Panzer at the front of the line for Festival Pass holders on opening night of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Phil and Elizabeth met each other at a previous Ebertfest. Caroline is Elizabeth’s mother.
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Camera operators, Shatterglass Studios, Paul Benson, Robert Mercer, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Paul Benson and Robert Mercer of Shatterglass Studios prepare to cover opening night of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Volunteers, Ushers, Carlo Anzelmo, Motion picture theater programs, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Volunteer Carlo Anzelmo greets patrons on opening night of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Carlo is a longtime volunteer at the Virginia Theatre, and during Ebertfest can often be seen posted at the entrance of Aisle 4, the VIP section.
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Concessions, Theater popcorn machines, Popcorn, Jake Rosenbaum, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Jake Rosenbaum fills a bucket of popcorn in the upstairs lobby of the Virginia Theater on opening night of Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.), Balconies, Festival attendees
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Filmgoers take their seats in the Virginia Theatre for the screening of Amazing Grace on opening night of Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.), Screens (projection), Film, Illinois Film Office, Organists, Dave Schroeder, Organs, Festival attendees
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Virginia Theatre organist Dave Schroeder entertains the crowd at 2019 Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 11, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Screens (projection), Illini Media, Daily Illini, Organists, Dave Schroeder, Organs, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
A photograph of a young Roger Ebert from his student days as editor of the Daily Illini is projected onscreen at the Virginia Theatre on opening night of Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Screens (projection), Actors, Scott Wilson, Organists, Dave Schroeder, Organs, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Screen projection of actor Scott Wilson at the Virginia Theatre on opening night of Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Producers, Hosts, Chaz Ebert, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Chaz Ebert, Co-Founder, Producer, and Host of Ebertfest, welcomes the audience in the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Presidents, University of Illinois, Timothy Killeen, Empathy, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen addresses the audience at the Virginia Theatre on opening night of Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
President Killeen referenced remarks Ebert made about empathy, and emphasized the importance of empathy as an antidote to the divisive political discourse of the contemporary American public sphere.
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Producers, Chaz Ebert, Festival directors, Nate Kohn, Assistant festival directors, Andy Hall, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Assistant Festival Director Andy Hall, Co-Founder & Producer Chaz Ebert, and Festival Director Nate Kohn at the Virginia Theatre on opening night of Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert, Documentary films, Amazing Grace, Aretha Franklin, Producers, Alan Elliott, Tirrell D. Whittley, Film critics, Whitney Spencer, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Producers Tirrell D. Whittley and Alan Elliott discuss their documentary Amazing Grace with Chaz Ebert and film critic Whitney Spencer before screening it at the Virginia Theatre on opening night of Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
During the Q&A for Amazing Grace, Producer Tirrell D. Whittley said:
“Many of us have a relationship with Aretha. We know her. We’ve seen her as the Queen of Soul.
A lot of young people, they don’t know this Aretha Franklin. This Aretha Franklin at the age of 29, at the peak of her power. They’ve never seen this Aretha. They’ve seen Aretha with the jewels and the gowns and the fur coats. But they haven’t seen this young Aretha with the beautiful skin and the afro, and her voice is so very powerful…. There are no overdubs, there’s no autotune. This is pure. This is just Aretha.
And now, the reason why that’s important…is to bring our young people in to say, ‘Now sit and let me talk to you. Let me show you what a real singer and musicians are all about.’”
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Choirs, Gospel choirs, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir of Champaign-Urbana, Musical performances, Choral performances, Centers for the performing arts, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir of Champaign-Urbana performs on opening night of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois on April 10, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
After watching the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir’s post-film performance, Volunteer Carlo Anzelmo said, “They make you want to go to their church.”
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Golden Thumb Awards, Actresses, Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly, Festival producers, Chaz Ebert, Festival directors, Nate Kohn, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon look at the Golden Thumb Awards they just received from Festival Producer Chaz Ebert and Festival Director Nate Kohn on Day 2 of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 11, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Feature films, Bound, Actresses, Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly, Festival producers, Chaz Ebert, Film critics, Chuck Koplinski, Pamela Powell, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Post-movie Q&A with Chaz Ebert, Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly, and Reel Talk film critics Chuck Koplinski and Pamela Powell on Day 2 of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 11, 2019, 1 of 2 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
After alluding to the cult following of Bound, film critic Chuck Koplinski asked Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly why we’re still talking about it nearly 25 years later.
Gina Gershon responded, “It was the first of its kind, and it happened to be an incredible film.”
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Feature films, Bound, Actresses, Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly, Festival producers, Chaz Ebert, Film critics, Chuck Koplinski, Pamela Powell, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Post-movie Q&A with Chaz Ebert, Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly, and Reel Talk film critics Chuck Koplinski and Pamela Powell on Day 2 of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 11, 2019, 2 of 2 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Jennifer Tilly said:
“The thing I think that was really important about it is that they were two women that were in love. They were trying to rip off the mob, but they were two people that were in love that happened to be women.”
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Management, Jeff Headley, Centers for the performing arts, Motion picture theaters, Marquees, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Jeff Headley, Front of House Coordinator for the Virginia Theatre, at Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Statues, Statuary bronze, Thumbs up, “C-U at the Movies,” Artists, Sculptors, Rick Harney, Volunteers, Granddaughters, Olivia Grass, Grandfathers, Gene Grass, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
Ebertfest Volunteers Olivia and Gene Grass pose with Rick Harney's statue of Roger Ebert outside the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Filmmakers, Motion picture producers and directors, Morgan Neville, Motion picture theaters, Marquees, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Morgan Neville, director of Won't You Be My Neighbor?, stands in front of the marquee for the Virginia Theatre on Day 4 of Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Morgan Neville received the third Roger Ebert Humanitarian Award for his documentary about Fred Rogers, the television host of “Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.”
Neville said, “We need more Fred Rogers in this world."
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Artists, Painters (artists), Allen Creamean, Paintings (visual works), Motion picture theaters, Marquees, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
Artist Allen Creamean outside the Virginia Theatre with some of his paintings on Day 4 of Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Artists, Daughters, Victoria Kramer, Garden glass flowers, Mothers, Larissa Kramer, Fathers, Bill Kramer, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
Artist Victoria Kramer with proud parents Larissa and Bill Kramer at Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Vendors, Charity’s, Mothers and daughters, Charity Mitchell, Larufus Mitchell
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
Larufus and Charity Mitchell under Charity’s food tent at Ebertfest, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Larufus Mitchell started Charity’s at the age of 15, and has been offering food prepared by her mother, Charity, to Ebertfest attendees for 20 years. She keeps coming back because she feels a strong sense of belonging to the Ebertfest community. She said, “A lot of these people watched me and my brother grow up over the years, so it feels like family.”
Larufus told my wife and me they made the rib-eye sandwich a staple on their Ebertfest menu because it’s a favorite of Chaz Ebert’s. “She said it was the best she had ever tasted, so we have had it every year since.” The actor Mario Van Peebles was another noted fan of the rib-eye sandwich at Charity’s.
“Mr. Ebert was a red beans and rice guy,” Charity Mitchell recalled. “He knew exactly where I kept those beans, and he would walk right back here and help himself.”
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Motion picture theaters, Marquees, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.), Night, Festivalgoers
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Closing night of Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Festivalgoers, Rob Murdoch
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
Rob Murdoch is among the first individual ticket holders in line awaiting the final screening of 2019 Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Rob told us that the young Roger Ebert used to deliver newspapers to his grandmother. “She thought it was so cool that her paperboy grew up to be a big time movie critic.”
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Festival attendees, Movie fans, Victor John Fleener, Cellular telephones, Oliver Stone, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
John Fleener shows a selfie taken with Oliver Stone at a previous Ebertfest in the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Organists, Dave Schroeder, Organs, Musical performances, Centers for the performing arts, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Virginia Theatre organist Dave Schroeder entertains the crowd before the final screening at 2019 Ebertfest on April 13, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Organists, Dave Schroeder, Organs, Volunteers, Floor leaders, Ushers, Mark Williams, Kevin Warner, Centers for the performing arts, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Virginia Theatre organist Dave Schroeder and Volunteers Mark Williams and Kevin Warner pose for pictures on the final evening of 2019 Ebertfest in Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
When asked to share one of his favorite memories of Ebertfest, Mark Williams recalls taking out the trash after a screening during the time when Roger Ebert was still alive, but had lost the ability to speak. Ebert saw Williams carrying the trash bags and made a gesture with his arms that suggested admiration of Mark’s strength. That night, Ebert also made the effort to shake hands with all of the Virginia Theatre volunteers he could find.
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Feature films, Sideways, Actresses, Virginia Madsen, Festival producers, Chaz Ebert, Film critics, Richard Roeper, Matt Zoller Seitz, Nell Minow, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
After the screening of Sideways at Ebertfest, Virginia Madsen discusses the movie via Skype with Chaz Ebert and film critics Richard Roeper, Matt Zoller Seitz, and Nell Minow, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler).
Virginia Madsen describes her experience making Sideways:
“When people have asked me about what it was like to film this movie, when you see the scene where we’re all having a picnic up on the hillside and the sun is going down, there’s something about the light in that part of the world in the Santa Ynez valley, when the hills turn silver and gold. And we had a picnic and the cameras were very far away, and it was just beautiful. That scene was what it was like to shoot the movie.”
Key Words: Film festivals, Ebertfest, Roger Ebert, Feature films, Sideways, Festival producers, Chaz Ebert, Film critics, Richard Roeper, Matt Zoller Seitz, Nell Minow, Motion picture theaters, Virginia Theatre (Champaign, Ill.)
Location: 203 W. Park Avenue, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Post-movie Q&A for Sideways with Festival Producer Chaz Ebert and film critics Richard Roeper, Matt Zoller Seitz, and Nell Minow on the final evening of 2019 Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, Illinois, April 13, 2019 (Photo by Bryan E. Hebeler)
Richard Roeper spoke about how refreshing it was to see Paul Giamatti in a leading role, and drew a parallel between Giamatti’s everyman looks and the appearance of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.
“It’s always interesting to see, I think, people who kind of look like us in lead roles. Roger used to tell a story about when Roger and Gene first went national with their show. He said when the show was first running in Los Angeles, Harry Dean Stanton called Jack Nicholson and said, “Put on Channel 7. There’s two guys who look like us talking about movies.”
Key Words: Statues, Statuary bronze, Thumbs, Thumbs up, Roger Ebert, “C-U at the Movies,” Artists, Sculptors, Rick Harney
Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA
