Calendar: January 24-30, 2025
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.
~~~~~
MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!
1/26: Mike Watt (publisher/editor, The Movie Stories by William Richert, Happy Cloud Media LLC, Venetia, PA)
PASSINGS | You Will Be Missed
11/7/24: Connie Hosier, 73 (host, CRITIC’S CHOICE, WILL-TV 12, Urbana, IL/“Connie’s Hot Flashes on Movies,” WEFT 90.1 FM, Champaign, IL, retired)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
We get to hold our own horses here at MFHQ Deux for we have yet another mound of local film news to dole out in this week’s Report and, well, what we had intended to Report on can wait for one more week. Buckle up as we gallop all across east central Illinois in order to update you on all the movie happenings!
~~~~~
~~~~~
On Saturday, February 1, from 12 to 4:30 p.m., Bokeh Background will be hosting a casting call for screen extras at the theater of Parkland College in Champaign; this seems to be a general “who’s interested?” session that is not geared to a specific upcoming production in the area, and you can read the Bokeh webpage about the needs and expectations for talent who may decide to attend. On the next Saturday, February 8, the Danville Public Library and Danville Library Foundation will present visiting filmmaker Demetrius Witherspoon and his “Filmmaking 101” workshop for creative folks “13 and up” to learn the ins and outs of making their own movies; the speaker’s Indianapolis-based label, DV Entertainment Pictures, produces science-fiction comics, novels, and web shorts rooted in the “Submerge Universe” and an earlier example of the latter, SUBMERGE: ECHO 51, can be viewed at Tubi. On the Thursday after that, February 13, the Lorraine Theatre in Hoopeston is primed to resume the showing of first-run features with CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, because nothing says “Valentine’s Day” like a violent Marvel Studios movie starring a CGI cinnamon red-hot villain; in all seriousness, the staff and volunteers who’ve devoted several years’ worth of sweat equity in order to shape up the palace for a grand rebirth deserve a hearty round of applause. We hope that Opening Day is a big ol’ smash!
~~~~~
~~~~~
Rewind back to February 1, when the videographer Pancho Moore and his lifelong friend Ausharra Knox, owner and head stylist at Beard Culture Barbershop & Gallery in Urbana’s Lincoln Square, will premiere their debut documentary, THE EVOLUTION OF THE BARBER, at the Phoenix Savoy 16. As of this posting, the 6 p.m. screening is just about sold out, according to Moore on Facebook, so watch the local media for future dates and ticket availability as well as enjoy this inspiring feature story by Jill Pyrz of the News-Gazette on Knox’s personal evolution that led to his success as a Black businessman in the C-U. On that same busy day, folks in Springfield will be attending a fundraiser at the Route 66 Motorhead’s Bar and Grill, Museum and Entertainment Complex, that benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois and the Staley Museum of Decatur. A $60 entry fee will entitle you to a prime rib dinner buffet, cocktail bar, red-carpet photo op, and exclusive screening of FIELDS OF GOLD, the documentary about the Soy Capital entrepreneur A. E Staley, courtesy of co-sponsor and producer Spencer Films. Finally, the next week on Thursday, February 6, will be the first meeting of 2025 for the Central Illinois Film Commission at a new location, Top Cat’s Chill & Grill in the Capital City; members and newbies alike can gather starting at 7 p.m. to order up and then hunker down with the evening’s updates and special topics. Got all that?
Sorry to spin your heads on the plethora of unique opportunities in the area, dearest readers, but film action is what we like to see! We’ll be addressing a few last items in regards to regional production in an article separate from the Calendar, so please watch CUBlog for that in the next few days.
~~~~~
IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen
~~~~~
I miss taking my time with print media to enjoy it, and I don’t really mean in the nose-to-the-grindstone way as with C-U Confidential or MICRO-FILM. There’s nothing like grabbing a magazine or paperback or digest or hardcover and finding a comfortable enough place to sit down or recline with it. I have plenty of choices here in the house on the edge of an American small town, between Ma JaPan’s library that waits patiently on the shelves and my own library slowly making its way here and a nominal amount of material that I’ve bought in the last few years. I’ve spent way more time doing my part in making publications as a professional than I have partaking in publications that I simply have a personal interest to peruse. That reality kind of saddens me. I don’t even have a designated corner set up for the pleasure. Hrm.
Movie magazines, monster magazines, specialty magazines, comic books, and the occasional history, science, literature, and art periodicals have been my jam since I was a young lad, many of which have fallen by the wayside given the fickle state of publishing. I learned at the end of the summer that one of my readin’ and collectin’ mainstays from the Eighties and Nineties, the “yesteryear” media title Filmfax, was being cancelled after nearly 40 years in print by its founder and editor, Michael Stein of Evanston. That’s an amazing run for any niche publication, let alone one sticking it out so far into the 21st century, but given this particular market, the oversaturation of similar internet content, and Stein’s age of eighty years, it’s of little surprise that he would bow out. I always liked picking it up as a flashback-heavy alternative to the headier Cinefantastique, techier Cinefex, and more fan-friendly Starlog and Fangoria.
On one of my recent trips to Champaign-Urbana, I found the last gasp Filmfax for sale on the shelves of Barnes & Noble. While the 165th issue is right in line with the vintage territory Stein and company know well, the tell-tale signs are present – a reduced 68-page count, next to no advertising, a lack of regular departments like the letter column – and it could have gone out on a much lesser note. I’m using this denouement as an example of periodical decay because it also marks the end of a small group of movie magazines originating in Illinois that I grew up devouring. Others included Stein’s predecessor to Filmfax, Fantastic Films, and a sister title, Outré, as well as the aforementioned Cinefantastique, which has been gone for two decades, and Scary Monsters, which is still issued quarterly by its Arizona-based owners who bought the property from creator Dennis Druktenis, formerly of Highwood, about ten years ago.
~~~~~
~~~~~
I know that I can always check out other and similar avenues in print and electronic form. The death of close-to-home familiars after all these years is simply a big bummer. The same can be said for all the local publications I used to read on the regular, whether or not they still are active. Upstairs, I have a box of old print issues from various downstate sources, mostly found in the C-U, which reminds me of the more tactile times when we learned and experienced off the computer, tablets, and phones, sharing our findings directly with our friends and acquaintances. It includes myriad copies and tear sheets from the News-Gazette, Pantagraph, Daily Illini, Daily Vidette, public ‘I’, CU Cityview, The Paper, and of course, The Octopus, a 2000 issue of which featured the photograph at the head of this segment. It was taken by yours truly in the upper level of Jane Addams Book Shop with one of their workers, Kara, when I served as the alternative weekly’s production manager. Cultural fun times in the C-U, those days were.
A resident of Champaign who easily understands my “print pain” is Jason Croft, the radio producer and announcer who works for Illinois Public Media at the University of Illinois. Mirroring to a point my horde of monster and cinema magazines is the collection of golden-age comics and hot-rod, Tiki, and men’s magazines and digests amassed by “Java” and storied in his “Dirty Old Man Cave.” Whereas I did not directly reflect my early reading interests in the self-publishing that I’ve done over the last twenty-five years, Java went all in to launch Bachelor Pad Magazine, his ode to the saucy print lit of the Fifties and Sixties that is based on a prior website where he expressed his love for all things mid-century modern. BPM just released their 70th issue and a Nylon Nightcap spin-off, found for sale along with many other editions at this website, and I do my small part in proofreading the goodies. Yes, there are words too.
Here’s to Java and all the indie publishers with eclectic taste and an acute awareness of the joy it still brings to some when you put ink to paper and periodically drop something kewl into our hot little hands.
~~~~~
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
BRAVE THE DARK (faith film), THE BRUTALIST, FLIGHT RISK, NICKEL BOYS, PRESENCE, SKY FORCE* (in Hindi with English sub), DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU, ONE OF THEM DAYS, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WICKED, WOLF MAN (1/24 on), BETWEEN BORDERS (1/26, 5:30 p.m.), AMC “Scream Unseen” (mystery movie) (1/27, 7 p.m.), DETECTIVE CHINATOWN 1900 (in Mandarin with English sub) (1/28-1/30, 7:30 p.m.), COMPANION, CREATION OF THE GODS II: DEMON FORCE (in Mandarin with English sub), DOG MAN (animation), VALIANT ONE (1/30 on) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
BRAVE THE DARK (faith film), THE BRUTALIST, FLIGHT RISK, HARD TRUTHS, PRESENCE, BABYGIRL, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU, ONE OF THEM DAYS, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WICKED, THE WILD ROBOT (animation), WOLF MAN (1/24 on), INTERSTELLAR* (re-release; IMAX) (1/24-1/30, 4:15 p.m.), THE LAST SHOWGIRL* (1/24-1/26), The Metropolitan Opera: Aida (1/25, 11:30 a.m., simulcast; 1/29, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1/25, 2, 4:30 & 7 p.m.; 1/26, 3 & 7 p.m.; 1/29, 7 p.m.), BETWEEN BORDERS (1/26-1/28, 4 & 7 p.m.), DOG MAN (animation) (1/30 on) *single screenings daily
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents SMILE 2 (1/24-1/25, 7 p.m., free w/i-card)
Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!
~~~~~
NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond
@ AMC Classic Springfield 12, Springfield, IL
Springfield Art Association presents the 31st annual Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series feat. NOWHERE SPECIAL; (1/26, 1 & 4 p.m.; 1/28, 7 p.m.)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
[Reduced showings due to heating issues in the Avon Twins] THE ORDER* (1/26-1/28), WOLF MAN* (1/26-1/27), A COMPLETE UNKNOWN* (1/27-1/28) *single screenings daily
@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
BRAVE THE DARK (faith film), FLIGHT RISK, ONE OF THEM DAYS, WOLF MAN (1/24 on)
@ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL
BRAVE THE DARK (faith film), FLIGHT RISK (1/24 on)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
No movies this week!
@ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
BRAVE THE DARK (faith film), THE BRUTALIST, FLIGHT RISK, HARD TRUTHS, PRESENCE, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, NOSFERATU, ONE OF THEM DAYS, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WICKED, WOLF MAN (1/24 on), HATHYA* (Telugu w/Eng sub) (1/24-1/28), INTERSTELLAR* (re-release; IMAX) (1/24-1/29), KUNG FU PANDA 4* (animation) (1/26-1/28), The Metropolitan Opera: Aida (1/25, 11:30 a.m., simulcast), BETWEEN BORDERS (1/26-1/28), Marcus “Mystery Movie” (1/27, 7 p.m.), PAY DIRT: THE STORY OF SUPERCROSS (documentary), COMPANION, DOG MAN (animation) (1/30 on) *single screenings daily
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT (1/24-1/25), MULHOLLAND DRIVE, DUNE (1984) (1/25), ERASERHEAD (1/26), GREEN ROOM (1/28), The Center for Mathematics, Science & Technology at ISU presents COUNTED OUT w/panel discussion (documentary) (1/29, 6 p.m.)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
FLIGHT RISK (1/24-1/26)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (1/24-1/26)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
FLIGHT RISK, DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA, MOANA 2 (animation), MUFASA: THE LION KING, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3, WOLF MAN (1/26 on), BETWEEN BORDERS (1/26-1/28, 4 & 7 p.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
@ Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema, Chicago, IL
Chicago Filmmakers presents “Queer Hybridity: Short Docs at the Edge” program + “Short Form Screenwriting” book release party (1/24, 7 p.m.)
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
1/31-2/2
Champaign Movie Makers* 48 Hour Film Competition
@ Lincoln Square, Urbana, IL, 1/31, 7 p.m.–2/2, 7 p.m.
1/31-2/1
B-Fest 2025
@ Norris University Center, NU, Evanston, IL, 6 p.m.-6 p.m.
2/4
Champaign Movie Makers* 48 Hour Film Competition screening
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, 7 p.m., free
2/15
3rd annual CU International Film Festival*
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
3/27-3/29
2025 Big Muddy Film Festival*
@ The Varsity Center, Carbondale, IL
4/3-4/13
35th Onion City Experimental Film Festival, Chicago, IL
4/3-4/10
27th annual Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI
4/23/-4/25
25th Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
5/29-6/2
The Chambana Film Festival
@ TBA, Champaign-Urbana, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
UPDATE! Chambana Film Festival* screening series
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 4 p.m.
2/2: The IRLMovieClub Screening feat. THE THINKING GAME; 2/9: “Secret Test Screening” of film-in-progress; 2/16-3/2: The Oscar Nominated Shorts 2025 – Live Action (2/16), Documentary (2/23), and Animation (2/16, 3/2)
Illini Union Board presents “Spring 2024 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
1/31-2/1: VENOM: THE LAST DANCE; 2/7-2/8: CONCLAVE; 2/14-2/15: THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (animation); 2/21-2/22: GLADIATOR II: 2/28-3/1: SEPTEMBER 5; 3/7-3/8: WICKED; 3/14-3/15: MUFASA: THE LION KING; 3/21-3/22: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation); 3/28-3/29: PITCH PERFECT; 4/4-4/5: NOSFERATU; 4/11-4/12: WALL-E (animation); 4/18-4/19: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3; 4/25-4/26: THE WILD ROBOT (animation); 5/2-5/3: CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD; 5/4: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
Springfield Art Association presents the 31st annual Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series
@ AMC Classic Springfield 12, Springfield, IL, 1 & 4 p.m. Sunday + 7 p.m. Tuesday
2/2, 2/4: CROSSING; 2/9, 2/11: THELMA; 2/16, 2/18: TOUCH; 2/23, 2/25: THE LAST OF THE SEA WOMEN; 3/2, 3/ 4: THE TASTE OF THINGS
~~~~~
Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
~~~~~
“Calendar du C-U”
© 2025 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential
[T −134]