Filmmaker Stone, Comedian Oswalt Slated For Ebertfest

Those who annually block out their calendars for late April in Champaign are getting a sneak preview of who they can see at the annual Roger Ebert film festival.

On Thursday, festival director Nate Kohn and Chaz Ebert announced that Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone would be attending, accompanying his 1989 film ‘Born on the Fourth of July', the drama about Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic with Tom Cruise. 

Comedian-actor Patton Oswalt will also attend, accompanying the 2011 dark comedy, ‘Young Adult’, which he starred in with Charlize Theron. 

Oswalt was to attend the 2012 Ebertfest with his film 'Big Fan', but had to cancel his appearance at the last minute.

Documentary filmmaker Steve James was previously announced, accompanying his documentary about the late film critic, University of Illinois graduate, and Urbana native Roger Ebert, ‘Life Itself.’  The film recently earned praise at the Sundance Film Festival. 

Twelve total films will be shown, with the rest of the schedule of movies and guests to be announced later this month.

‘Ebertfest’ runs April 23 through the 27th at Champaign's Virginia Theater.