Calendar: September 20-26, 2024
Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.
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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!
9/21: Lisa Cerezo (co-owner, Neon Moth, Champaign, IL)
9/22: Sue Trippiedi (actress, DOGS IN QUICKSAND, Shut Up and Do It Productions, Champaign, IL)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
Some weeks, you’d think the filmmakers in Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond only like to make horror and horror-adjacent movies, and this week’s Report can’t help but feed into the theory as we have movement on several projects the public will soon be able to see and see again. The RETURN OF THE CORN ZOMBIES crew finished planting their seeds of terror in Dewey and Farmer City on Wednesday, September 11, after a week’s worth of location filming; writer/co-director S.j. Herman and friends are doing post-production on it now and a few color-corrected frames can be seen in the video displayed at this Indiegogo finishing funds campaign, while a casting call has already been issued for the next Acrostar Productions genre flick, PERFECT SOUL. Decatur-area creator Jessie Seitz has teased on Facebook that her documentary MONSTER GIRLS will be screened twice in Los Angeles on October 7 and 13 at private functions with official dates to follow; the first-ever comprehensive look at women working in the make-up effects world will be hosted by Diana Prince of THE LAST DRIVE-IN fame with several featured artists yet to be revealed. F’D: TALES FROM THE END TIMES will receive a red-carpet premiere during the sixth annual American Horrors Film Festival in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, on Saturday, October 5; the apocalyptic anthology from Ash Hamilton’s Horror-Fix Films is also set to play at the Phobia Film Festival in central Missouri and the Cinema Scares Film Festival of Shelbyville, Indiana, with distribution plans a big unknown for the mostly-made-in-downstate-Illinois indie. And the Canadian label Darkside Releasing went stealth and surprised everyone last week on Friday, September 13, by dropping the belated Blu-ray release of John Isberg’s FINAL SUMMER with little warning; we’d like to think that drawing the overt FRIDAY THE 13TH parallel is yet another complement to the Champaign County-produced film, which has been available on streaming and video-on-demand services for the last year and a topic on numerous horror culture podcasts. Whew! Some weeks…
IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen
Special features on the FINAL SUMMER Blu-ray include: director’s audio commentary, making-of featurette including several behind-the-scenes videos, FINAL SUMMER II: PROWLER test footage, Night Dreamer “The Taste” official music video, official trailer, and Trinity Releasing trailer reel. If nothing else, Isberg and his counselors escaped the curse of bare-bones physical media releases that have struck the vast majority of C-U et cetera movies, and they’ve implicitly gained a lot of mileage out of that striking publicity art designed by Creepy Duck Designs. May the long afterlife of the legend of Warren Copper continue.
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NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
NEVER LET GO, THE SUBSTANCE, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), WHIPLASH (re-release), ALIEN: ROMULUS*, AM I RACIST? (op-ed/documentary), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, IT ENDS WITH US, THE KILLER’S GAME, SPEAK NO EVIL (9/20 on), JUNG KOOK: I AM STILL (concert documentary) (9/20-9/21, 7:30 p.m.; 9/22, 4:30 p.m.; in Korean with English sub), DC Comics movies: BATMAN* (9/20-9/22, 9/25-9/26), BATMAN FOREVER* (9/20-9/21, 9/23), BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM* (animation) (9/20-9/21, 9/24), and BLUE BEETLE (9/20-9/25), SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY (documentary) (9/21, 9/25, 4 & 7 p.m.), DEVARA: PART 1 (in Telugu with English sub), MEGALOPOLIS, MY OLD ASS, Studio Ghibli Fest: HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE 20th anniversary (animé) (in Japanese with English sub), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (9/26 on) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
NEVER LET GO, THE SHADE, THE SUBSTANCE, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), ALIEN: ROMULUS, AM I RACIST? (op-ed/documentary), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), THE FORGE (faith film), GOD’S NOT DEAD: IN GOD WE TRUST* (faith film), IT ENDS WITH US, THE KILLER’S GAME, REAGAN, SPEAK NO EVIL (9/20 on), SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY (documentary) (9/21, 9/25, 4 & 7 p.m.), THE MATRIX 25th anniversary (9/22, 3 & 7 p.m.), PSYCHO (1960) (9/22, 3 & 7 p.m.; 9/25, 7 p.m.), Studio Ghibli Fest: HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE 20th anniversary (animé) (in Japanese with English sub), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (9/26 on)
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents MEAN GIRLS (2004) (9/20-9/21, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
The News-Gazette Film Series presents THE LONG GOODBYE (9/21, 1 & 7 p.m.), Illini Radio Group presents “Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays” feat. OFFICE SPACE (9/26, 7 p.m.)
Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!
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NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, REAGAN, SPEAK NO EVIL (9/20-9/22)
@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, THE FORGE (faith film), REAGAN, SPEAK NO EVIL (9/20 on)
@ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL
TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (9/20 on)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
SELENA (9/20, 7 p.m.)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
CASPER, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (Screen 1), SINISTER, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984) (Screen 2) (9/20-9/21)
@ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
A MISTAKE*, NEVER LET GO, THE SUBSTANCE, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), ALIEN: ROMULUS, AM I RACIST? (op-ed/documentary), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, THE FORGE (faith film), IT ENDS WITH US, THE KILLER’S GAME, REAGAN, SPEAK NO EVIL (9/20 on), Indian cinema: KADHA INNUVARE* (9/20-9/25, Malayam w/Eng sub) and MATHU VADALARA 2 (9/20-9/21, 9/24, Telugu w/Eng sub), JUNG KOOK: I AM STILL (concert documentary) (9/20, 7:10 p.m.; 9/21, 1:30 p.m.; 9/22, 1:20 pm.; in Korean with English sub), SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY (documentary) (9/21, 4 p.m.; 9/25, 7 p.m.), HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (9/22, 4 p.m.; 9/23, 6 p.m.), THE MATRIX 25th anniversary (9/22, 7 p.m.), ONE HAND CLAPPING: PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS (music documentary) (9/26, 7:30 p.m.), DEVARA: PART 1 (in Telugu with English sub), LEE, MEGALOPOLIS, MY OLD ASS, Studio Ghibli Fest: HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE 20th anniversary (animé) (in Japanese with English sub), VINDICATING TRUMP (op-ed/documentary), THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (9/26 on) *single screenings daily
@ Nightshop, Bloomington, IL
“B-Movie Bingo” feat. AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON and UHF (9/26, doors 6 p.m., movies 7:30 p.m.)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
Album release party for “Still the River” by Edward David Anderson (9/20, doors 6 p.m., event 7 p.m.), DUMB AND DUMBER, THE HUDSUCKER PROXY (9/21-9/22), “Politics and Media Machines Series” feat. A FACE IN THE CROWD (9/23), ROMEO + JULIET (9/24), “Independent Film Series” feat. BLEAK TERMINUS*, ELUSION* (9/25, 7 p.m.), 2024 Manhattan SHORT Film Festival (9/26-9/29)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
Closed until November.
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
FLY ME TO THE MOON (9/20-9/22)
@ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL
TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), IF (Screen 1), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986) (Screen 2) (9/20-9/21)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
AND MRS*, LONG GONE HEROES*, OMNI LOOP*, TRANSFORMERS ONE (animation), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, THE FORGE (faith film), THE KILLER’S GAME, REAGAN, SPEAK NO EVIL (9/20 on), THE MATRIX 25th anniversary (9/22, 3 & 7 p.m.), THE WILD ROBOT (9/26 on) *single screenings daily
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
@ Landmark Century Centre Cinema, etc. Chicago, IL
42nd REELING: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival (through 10/6)
For detailed and curated listings of Chicago-area film presentations and related events, please visit the fine folks at Cine-File and subscribe to their definitive “Cine-List” weekly blast.
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
9/28
Route 66 Film Festival presents “Get Your Flicks at Route 66” screening and activities
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free, all ages
10/16-10/27
60th Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
11/1-11/2
23rd Route 66 Film Festival*
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL
2/15/25
3rd annual CU International Film Festival*
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
4/23/-4/25/25
25th Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
UPDATE! Chambana Film Festival* screening series
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 4 p.m.
9/29: A TIME APART; 10/27: HAUNT SEASON; 11/17: THE PROBLEM OF THE HERO; 11/24: THE HOBBY; 12/29: documentary shorts incl. FACING THE FALLS
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Movie Series”/“Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
10/17: FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980); 11/20: THE BOY AND THE HERON (animé); 12/5: FRIDAY*
Illini Union Board presents “Fall 2024 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
9/27-9/28: TWISTERS; 10/4-10/5: BORDERLANDS; 10/11-10/12: LONGLEGS; 10/18-10/19: DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation); HOCUS POCUS (10/25-10/26); 11/1-11/2: FLY ME TO THE MOON; 11/8-11/9: IT ENDS WITH US; 11/15-11/16: SCREAM (1996); 11/22-11/23: BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE; 12/6-12/7: HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
Illinois Public Media presents “The Arthouse Experience Film Series”
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
10/4: MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (animation); 10/18: TO LESLIE; 11/22: RUSHMORE
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
10/19: REAR WINDOW; 11/30: THE WIZARD OF OZ; 12/7: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
UPDATE! Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies* event series
@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
10/17: “Kartemquin’s Labor Films: Stories of Working in America” screening; 10/18: “Documentaries on the Frontline of Democracy: How Kartemquin’s Storytelling Works for Stronger Publics” lecture; 11/14: ALIEN: ROMULUS screening; 12/5: GREMLINS screening
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2024 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential
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