Calendar du C-U: August 12-18
Our unique movie and media Calendar appears every Friday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the discerning tastes of citizens in the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.
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PLAYING THIS WEEK
8/12/16-8/18/16
MILESTONES
Happy Birthday to … Saturday, August 13: Eddie Avinashi (alumnus, Illini Film & Video) … Thursday, August 18: Alaina Boyett (make-up artist, AZTEC REVENGE) … celebrate!
LOCAL FILMS, ETC.
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL: Champaign-Urbana Film Society, Champaign Movie Makers, and Champaign-Urbana Design Organization present the 4th annual Pens to Lens Screenwriting Competition + Gala* (8/13; 1 p.m., doors open; 2 p.m., “all ages” films; 4 p.m., panel discussion w/Hollywood filmmakers Brenda Chapman (Disney’s BRAVE) and Kevin Lima (Disney’s TARZAN); 6 p.m., “mature” films; $8/program, $12/both programs)
@ Brother’s Bar & Grill, Champaign, IL: “Mabel’s Night” concert + taping for WHERE IT BEGINS: CU MUSIC DOCUMENTARY 1977-2000* feat. Last Gentlemen, Nix ’86, The Martyrs, Three Hour Tour, The Jans Project, The Surly Bells (8/13, 6 p.m.-2 a.m., $20)
@ The Art Theater Co-op, Champaign, IL: Call for Entries for the 7th annual New Art Film Festival* (7/25-8/31) Information
FLICKER OF THE WEEK
Scores of little movie fans, along with their parents, mentors, and other neighborhood big people, are raring to go gaga over the next Pens to Lens gala! This annual celebration of local films that are produced by local filmmakers and based on scripts by local students will return tomorrow, Sat., 8/13, at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign, launching at 1 p.m. with a red carpet photo op as well as a custom movie poster gallery for the browsing. The first block of shorts will follow at 2 p.m. and is suitable for everyone, after which a bonus panel discussion with animation veterans and spouses Kevin Lima (A GOOFY MOVIE) and Brenda Chapman (THE PRINCE OF EGYPT) will begin at 4 p.m. with RogerEbert.com editor Matt Fagerholm serving as moderator, and then a second block with material intended for older audiences will conclude the festival starting at 6 p.m.
Any other year, we would stop right here and fork over “FOW” without an extra thought, but, think again! We instead transmogrify our seal of approval into “Windfall of the Week” – or, you guessed it, “WOW” – to encompass a gaggle of offbeat cultural pleasures that all happen to fall in our laps on the very same date. Pens to Lens (1-8 p.m.; all ages/mature; free for 18 & under) heads this list, being on a cinema ‘blog and all, but other fruits we might also sample include: “Comic-Con ’16,” featuring discussions and demonstrations related to such pastimes as comic books, board games, role playing games, and video games (Urbana Free Library, Urbana, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Busey Bank parking lot, Urbana, 6-10 p.m.; all ages; free), “Once Upon an Ever After,” starring C-U troupes Carnivàle Debauche (burlesque) and Defy Gravity (pole) with garage rock duo Bruiser Queen of St. Louis on hand (The Accord, Champaign, 7 & 9:15 p.m.; mature; $13/show at the door), “Punk Dada Tea with Eggs,” an art opening that will present recent work by Marc-Anthony Macon and a performance by funk-soul outfit Tell Mama of Champaign (Independent Media Center, Urbana, 6 p.m.; all ages; free), “Summer Showcase Halfa” event featuring “heavy metal belly dance” by members and friends of Stygian Sisters (Institute 4 Creativity, Champaign, 7-10 p.m.; mature; free or donation), and “Mabel’s Night,” a surprise marathon of reunited Eighties rock acts du C-U (see the bill listed above) organized by John Isberg as a reenactment of sorts for his upcoming rock-doc epic, WHERE IT BEGINS (Brother’s Bar & Grill, Champaign, 6 p.m.-2 a.m.; mature; $20/door).
As it takes artisans of all walks to make our movies, we are fortunate to have diverse enough tastes among our populace that movie-makers can draw from people in other disciplines for personnel, resources, or inspiration. By the same token, performers and craftspeople can readily dip their toes into the picture show pool of Champaign-Urbana if they want, especially with short commitment projects like Pens to Lens films. Go forth and be adventurous, then! Pens to Lens information
NOW PLAYING
@ The Art Theater Co-op, Champaign, IL: THE INNOCENTS, LIFE ANIMATED (8/12 on), THE WAILING (8/12, 9:30 p.m.; 8/13, 11:30 a.m. & 9:30 p.m.; 8/17-8/18, 9:30 p.m.)
@ Wabash Park, Rantoul, IL: Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce presents “2016 Movies in the Park Series” feat. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 (8/12, dusk)
@ parking lot, Busey Bank, downtown Urbana, IL : Urbanalove presents “Summer Movie Nights” feat. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (8/13, sunset, free)
@ WILL-TV, Campbell Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL: Champaign Movie Makers meeting, “Pens to Lens Talkback” (8/16, 7 p.m., free)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: PETE’S DRAGON, SUICIDE SQUAD, JASON BOURNE (8/12 on)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: RIGHT NOW, WRONG THEN (8/12, 8/14, 7 p.m.), BEVERLY HILLS COP (8/12, 10:30 p.m.), LIFE ANIMATED (8/13, 7 p.m.), THE COURT JESTER (8/16, 7 p.m.), KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (8/17, 7 p.m., Japanese language w/English subs), THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS (8/18, 7 p.m.)
@ Route 66 Twin Drive-In, Springfield, IL: SUICIDE SQUAD, LIGHTS OUT (Screen 1), THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, JASON BOURNE (Screen 2) (8/12 on)
@ The Lincoln Grand 8, Lincoln, IL: PETE’S DRAGON (3-D & 2-D), SAUSAGE PARTY, BAD MOMS, JASON BOURNE, NINE LIVES, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, STAR TREK BEYOND (8/12 on), SUICIDE SQUAD (8/16 on), BEN-HUR (8/18, 7 p.m.), WAR DOGS (8/18, 7:15 p.m.)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL: SUICIDE SQUAD (8/12-8/14, 8/17)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL: GHOSTBUSTERS, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (8/12-8/14), TOY STORY (8/13, 11 a.m., free)
@ Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In, Gibson City, IL: PETE’S DRAGON (Screen 1), SUICIDE SQUAD (Screen 2) (8/12 on)
@ Carmike 13, Champaign, IL: PETE’S DRAGON (3-D & 2-D), MOHENJO DARO, SAUSAGE PARTY, BAD MOMS, JASON BOURNE, LIGHTS OUT, NERVE, NINE LIVES, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, STAR TREK BEYOND, SUICIDE SQUAD (3-D & 2-D) (8/12 on), BEN-HUR (8/18, 7 & 10 p.m.)
@ Goodrich Savoy 16, Savoy, IL: FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS, PETE’S DRAGON (3-D & 2-D), SAUSAGE PARTY, BAD MOMS, GHOSTBUSTERS, ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE, JASON BOURNE, NERVE, NINE LIVES, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, STAR TREK BEYOND, SUICIDE SQUAD (IMAX 3-D, IMAX, 3-D & 2-D) (8/12 on), Goodrich presents “Flashback Cinema” feat. TOP GUN (8/14, 8/17, 2 & 7 p.m.), Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies, and Universal Pictures present NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ANIMAL HOUSE (8/14, 2 p.m.; 8/17, 7 p.m.), Fathom Events and RiffTrax.com present “RiffTrax Live! MOTHRA” (7/18, 7 p.m., live simulcast)
@ AMC Village Mall 6, Danville, IL: PETE’S DRAGON (3-D & 2-D), SAUSAGE PARTY, BAD MOMS, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, SUICIDE SQUAD (3-D & 2-D) (8/12 on)
@ Family Video, Champaign-Urbana, IL: A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING, LOUDER THAN BOMBS, SEPTEMBERS OF SHIRAZ, FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS, SUMMER CAMP, TRADED, SUPERGIRL (s1), 11.22.63 (cs), more! (8/9 on)
@ Centerbrook Drive-In, Martinsville, IN: SUICIDE SQUAD, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (8/12-8/13)
@ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL: Closed for the weekend!
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Locally produced movies and events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Also find out what is “Coming Soon” by hitting the jump below. Go see ‘em, C-U!
COMING SOON
NEW! 8/26-8/27: Flatlands Dance Film Festival
@ Spurlock Museum, UIUC, Urbana, IL
9/6: Blu-ray release: GRANDVIEW, U.S.A.*
+ Kino Lorber Studio Classics, New York, NY
NEW! 9/15-9/16: THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE w/live music accompaniment
@ Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7:30 p.m.
NEW! 9/21-9/25, 9/28-10/2: “The Unreliable Bestiary: BEAR – Fall Chapter”
@ Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, UIUC, Urbana, IL (offsite performance)
10/21-10/23: 2nd annual Dark History & Horror Convention
@ Fluid Event Center, Champaign, IL
10/22: Normal Short Film Fest*
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
10/30: 7th annual New Art Film Festival*
@ The Art Theater Co-op, Champaign, IL, 6-11 p.m.
11/4-5: 15th annual Route 66 International Film Festival
@ Capital City Bar & Grill, Springfield, IL
4/19-23, 2017: 19th annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY FILM SERIES
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Quad Cinema Series”
@ Anniversary Plaza, Main Quad, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 9 p.m., free
8/20: POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING; 8/21: “Quad Day” edition – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
8/27: WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (rescheduled from 8/6); 9/17: CASABLANCA; 10/24-10/28: “Five Nights of Hitch!” feat VERTIGO, THE BIRDS, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, REAR WINDOW, PSYCHO; 11/26: Reader’s Choice TBA; 12/12-12/17: “The Best Christmas Movies Ever!” feat. THE BISHOP’S WIFE, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE; 1/21/17: DRACULA; 2/4/17: SWING TIME; 3/25/17: THE GENERAL; 4/15/17: DUCK SOUP; 5/27/17: CITIZEN KANE; 6/24/17: HIGH NOON; 7/22/17: THE GOLD RUSH; 8/26/17: THE WIZARD OF OZ
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce presents “2016 Movies in the Park Series”
@ Wabash Park, Rantoul, IL, dusk
8/12: HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2
Urbanalove presents “Summer Movie Nights”
@ parking lot, Busey Bank, downtown Urbana, IL, sunset, free
8/13: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO; 9/3: TBA
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If you have items that you would like us to list in the Calendar, please send relevant dates, start/end times, locations, event descriptions, and ticket prices to cuconfidential [at] gmail [dot] com.
Compiled by Jason Pankoke
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2016 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential.