Calendar: November 15-21, 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!
11/16: Kymberly Harris (founder/producer, Firsthand Films, Los Angeles, CA)
11/17: Eric Stanze (director/co-writer/executive producer, ANXIETY, Wicked Pixel Cinema, St. Louis, MO)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
Not a ton to Report this week, although there’s plenty to talk about in the long run. The Route 66 International Film Festival of Springfield and the Lake County Film Festival of Grayslake, organized by Nat Dykeman of the Chambana Film Festival series, recently wrapped and the former has announced their award winners. At home, Chambana returns this Sunday, November 17, 4 p.m., at the Savoy 16 with THE PROBLEM OF THE HERO, a topical dramatization of when the playwright Paul Green and writer Richard Wright collaborated to adapt for stage the latter’s novel, Native Son, and passes have gone on sale at the Virginia Theatre for the next Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, which will open on Wednesday, April 23, with a brand-new 70mm print of John Ford’s THE SEARCHERS according to the News-Gazette. On YouTube, John Isberg of Swede Films (FINAL SUMMER) has uploaded a new cut of his short film RED HORSE, which we had not seen before, and it can be described as “an American tolerance story;” it stars Aaron Munoz, Jace Jamison, and Kyle A. Thomas as solders on opposite sides of the Civil War who make a brief truce. And, most empowering for the potential future of film production in our immediate area, the drama ALBANY ROAD opens today on more than 100 screens across the United States for a minimum one-week run, including at the AMC Champaign 13 on North Prospect Avenue. Filmed in large part in Champaign County and brought to the area by the proactive folks at Shatterglass Films and Flyover Film Studios with a helpful assist from the Champaign County Film Office at Experience Champaign-Urbana, be sure to remind everyone you know about that very fact. Time to show up, C-U.
IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen
During the post-credits ALBANY ROAD interview session at “Ebertfest” back in April, director and writer Christine Swanson praised their overall filming experience in the area and said she was happy for her film to be a “poster child” for what could be accomplished in Champaign-Urbana. It was one of several graceful complements offered by Swanson, her husband and the film’s producer, Michael Swanson, and their lead actress, the great Lynn Whitfield. Therefore, if you happen to be attending an AMC multiplex and notice the one-sheet poster below, framed outside by the entryway or inside the lobby, consider seeing their movie and returning the favor. They could have taken their art and business to a hundred other places than where we call home. Support goes both ways and, even though ALBANY ROAD will inevitably resurface on any combination of streaming services in the coming months, tell your theaters with your dollars and presence that you want to enjoy movies like this one in a communal setting. Additionally, we hear it’s a good film and that’s always a bonus when you want to go to bat for a non-mainstream, low-budget, high-quality picture. This is a special occurrence, the likes of which has rarely happened to date with the movies of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond. (For better or worse, we should know.) All the best fortune to the Faith Filmworks team on their theatrical play!
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ALBANY ROAD is a Faith Filmworks LLC (Los Angeles, CA/Champaign-Urbana-Sidney-Monticello-Rantoul, IL) production that is written and directed by Christine Swanson and produced by Michael Swanson with cinematography by Spencer Combs, production design by Stefanie Mitchell, costume design by Fontella Boone, casting by Marissa Ross, and editing by Grisha Alasadi. Music composer is Leon Lacey, co-producer is Abe Thompson, producers are Brett Hays, Sarah Sharp, and Kevin McGrail, and the film stars Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lynn Whitfield, J. Alphonse Nicolson, Lisa Arrindell, Gary Dourdan, Joe Holt, Rachel Nicks, Ben Rappaport, and Lily Cowles. It is a 2024 theatrical release through AMC Theaters and Malco Theaters, runs 135 minutes, and is rated PG-13.
LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Festival* screening series feat. THE PROBLEM OF THE HERO (11/17, 4 p.m.)
@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting (11/18, 7 p.m., Room 1002)
@ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL
Champaign Movie Makers* meeting (11/18, 7 p.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
ALBANY ROAD, KANGUVA (in Tamil with English sub), THE OUTRUN, RED ONE, ANORA, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), CONCLAVE, HERE*, HERETIC, MEMOIR OF A SNAIL* (animation), SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE*, SMILE 2, VENOM: THE LAST DANCE, WE LIVE IN TIME, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (11/15 on), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (11/18, 7 p.m.), BONHOEFFER (faith film) (11/18 on), GLADIATOR II, WICKED (11/21 on) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
A REAL PAIN, RED ONE, ANORA, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), CONCLAVE, ELEVATION, HERE, HERETIC, SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, SMILE 2, VENOM: THE LAST DANCE, WEEKEND IN TAIPEI, WE LIVE IN TIME, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (11/15 on), UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, more (mixed martial arts) (11/16, 9 p.m., simulcast), THE POLAR EXPRESS (animation) (11/16, 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m.; 11/17, 12:30, 3 & 7 p.m.), THE FIFTH ELEMENT (11/17, 4 & 7 p.m.; 11/20, 7 p.m.), GLADIATOR II, WICKED (11/21 on)
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents SCREAM (1996) (11/15-11/16, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Movie Series” feat. THE BOY AND THE HERON (animé) (11/20, 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
CONCLAVE, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (11/14-11/17)
@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
RED ONE, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), HITPIG! (animation), SMILE 2, VENOM: THE LAST DANCE (11/15 on)
@ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), RED ONE (11/15 on)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
No movies this week!
BACK OPEN! @ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
“Hot Chocolate & Holiday Movies” feat. THE GRINCH (animation) (Screen 1), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000) (Screen 2) (11/15-11/16)
@ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
GHOST CAT ANZU (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), KANGUVA (Tamil or Telugu w/Eng sub), RED ONE, ANORA, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), CONCLAVE, HERE, HERETIC, OVERLORD: THE SACRED KINGDOM (animé) (Japanese w/Eng dub or Eng sub), SMILE 2, VENOM: THE LAST DANCE, WE LIVE IN TIME, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (11/15 on), Indian cinema: TUMBBAD* (11/15-11/16, 11/18-11/20, Hindi w/Eng sub) and MATKA* (11/15-11/20, Telugu w/Eng sub), THE FIFTH ELEMENT (11/17, 3:20, 4 & 7 p.m.; 11/20, 7 p.m.), Marcus “Mystery Movie” (11/18, 7 p.m.), BONHOEFFER (faith film) (11/20 on), GLADIATOR II, WICKED (11/21 on) *single screenings daily
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
MY NAME IS ALFRED HITCHCOCK (documentary) (11/15-11/17), Illinois State University Film Society presents M (11/20, 7 p.m., in German with English sub), PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES (11/21)
BACK OPEN! @ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
RED ONE (11/15-11/17)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (11/15-11/17)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
RED ONE, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), HERE, HERETIC, SMILE 2, VENOM: THE LAST DANCE, THE WILD ROBOT (animation) (11/15 on), TERRIFIER 3 (11/15-11/16, 9 p.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
@ The Hi-Pointe Theatre, St. Louis, MO
Cinema St. Louis presents the 33rd St. Louis International Film Festival (through 11/17)
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. And for northern Illinois industry news, be sure to read Reel Chicago and Screen Magazine.
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
NEW! 12/14
Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin “Ultimate Anthology” tour (film music of Argento, Romero, etc.)
@ The Canopy Club, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show
2/15/25
3rd annual CU International Film Festival*
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
3/27-3/29/25
2025 Big Muddy Film Festival*
@ The Varsity Center, Carbondale, IL
NEW! 4/3-4/13/25
35th Onion City Experimental Film Festival, Chicago, IL
4/23/-4/25/25
25th Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
5/29-6/2/25
The Chambana Film Festival
@ TBA, Champaign-Urbana, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Chambana Film Festival* screening series
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 4 p.m.
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.
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
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.
11/22: RUSHMORE; 12/14: ROBOT DREAMS (animation)
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
11/30: THE WIZARD OF OZ; 12/7: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies* event series
@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
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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