‘Ebertfest 2016: Center Of The Universe’ Preview
Marquee outside the Virginia Theatre in Champaign before the 2015 Eberfest. Jeff Bossert/Illinois Public Media
It’s a little over a week before the 18th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival in Champaign. A new program produced by WILL-TV explains what it has meant to filmgoers and those who put the festival together. "Eberfest 2016: Center of the Universe," premeires April 4 at 9 p.m., with an encore presentation Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s hard to describe to people who haven’t been to Ebertfest," said Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips, a frequent guest at the festival. "It’s not like any other festival I know. You’re in The Virginia Theatre. You’re in Roger’s dream living room. And he’s showing you the movies that mean something to him.”
WILL's Lisa Bralts and Tim Meyers are the co-creators of the new documentary.
Viewers should check local listings to catch it on public TV stations WTTW in Chicago, WTVP in Peoria, WEIU in Charleston, and WSEC in Springfield.
Links
- Interview with Roger Ebert
- ‘Love And Mercy’ and ‘Grandma’ On Final Slate Of Films At 18th Ebertfest
- Chaz Ebert Talks Films, Politics And Diversity In Hollywood; MakerGirl
- Five More Films Added To ‘Ebertfest’ Lineup
- Filmmaker Del Toro Attending 18th Ebertfest With ‘Crimson Peak’
- Thumbs Up: WILL Looks At Ebertfest
- Voice Actor Stanton: On Giving Roger Ebert A Voice
- Ebert Sculpture Permanently ‘At The Movies’
- Life Itself: Director Steve James and Chaz Ebert on the new documentary about Roger Ebert
- Ebert Biopic Confirmed For 16th ‘Ebertfest’, Interview With Director James
- Ebertfest website