Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, also known as Ebertfest, is celebrating its 25th anniversary by hosting screenings of Bob Fosse’s most polarizing film and one of Malcolm D. Lee’s most beloved movies.
The annual celebration of movies, which is named for the famous critic, will run April 17 to April 20 at the historic Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Ill. It will kick off with an opening night screening of Fosse’s “Star 80,” a look at the life and brutal murder of PlayboymodelDorothy Stratten that divided reviewers when it opened in 1983, with some seeing it as as exploitative and others believing it was a masterpiece. Ebert was certainly in the latter camp, praising the film with a glowing four-star review, calling it “an important movie…Devastating, violent, hopeless, and important, because it holds a mirror up to a part of the world we live in, and helps us see it more clearly.”“Star 80” stars Eric Roberts and Mariel Hemingway, both of whom Ebert singled out for praise, will attend the screening. Fosse died in 1987; “Star 80” was his final film.
Ebertfest will also showcase the 25th anniversary of writer-director Lee’s wedding-themed, reunion romantic comedy “The Best Man” as its centerpiece film. Lee will be on hand to celebrate the dual milestone for the movie and the festival.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lee with his first film which was produced by his cousin Spike Lee, in 1999, the same year as our inaugural festival,” said Ebertfest co-founder, producer and host, Chaz Ebert. “’The Best Man’ has become a classic and introduced stars we all know today including Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Terrence Howard and Regina Hall, among others.”
Lee went on to direct numerous crowd-pleasing comedies including “Girls Trip” and “The Best Man Holiday.”
In addition, Lisa Cortes, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer and director, will attend Ebertfest to discuss her film “Little Richard: I Am Everything,” a documentary about the flamboyant, rock ‘n’ roll icon behind hits like “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally.”
Ebertfest will continue its tradition of music in films and on stage. Chaz Ebert noted that Ebertfest was born out of Roger’s conviction that movies can be a machine that generates empathy.
“That conviction has evolved to what I call my FECK Principles: Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion and Kindness. Movies, combined with music can have a profound effect on encouraging more compassion in the world,” said Ebert. “The films and musical performances we have chosen for our 25th anniversary are ones that would make Roger proud.”
She will introduce her new book, “It’s Time to Give a FECK: Elevating Humanity Through Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion and Kindness,” which will be released on May 7.
Director Diane Moore, a filmmaker who has worked in the visual arts field for more than 15 years, and Roderick Cox, a world-renowned orchestra conductor and winner of the 2018 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, will join the stage to discuss “Conducting Life,” a documentary that follows the remarkable journey of Cox as he pursues his dream to secure a top position with a major orchestra.
Photographer and first time director Claudie Aline Miller will introduce her short film “376 Days (Nick Cave: Keep It Moving).” The subject of her film, internationally known multimedia artist Nick Cave, has an exhibit of one of his works at the Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois. Visitors to Ebertfest will be able to view it during the festival.
Ebertfest passes are currently available to purchase online or by calling the box office at 217-356-9063. Individual festival passes to see all films cost $200, which includes reserved seating.
Ebert was a Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, a co-host of an influential TV program that reviewed movies, as well as a University of Illinois journalism alumnus, and Urbana native. Ebertfest is a collaboration between his widow, Ebert Digital CEO Chaz Ebert and the University of Illinois College of Media.
