The late film critic Roger Ebert once hailed filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro as the most challenging in fantasy films, because he invents from scratch.  Del Toro brought 2015's "Crimson Peak" which he calls a 'gothic romance', to Champaign's Virginia Theatre to open the 18th Annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival Wednesday.

Roger Ebert Fellows Riane Lenzner-White, Shalayne Pulia, and Ashish Valentine preview the 2016 Ebertfest line-up, what they're excited to see, and what to expect at the festival.

Highlights include directors Michael Polish and Paul Cox attending screenings of their films "Northfork" and "Force of Destiny," plus the 1949 classic "The Third Man."

Writer/Director Guillermo Del Toro will be the opening night guest at the 18th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival, April 13th at Champaign's Virginia Theater, accompanying his 2015 film "Crimson Peak." Further films will be announced in the coming weeks.