Calendar: Feb. 28-March 6, 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.
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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!
3/2: Kelly White (executive director, 40 North 88 West: Champaign County Arts Council, Champaign, IL)
3/2: Anne Lukeman (“chief adventurist,” C-U Adventures in Time & Space escape room, Urbana, IL)
3/3: Tariq A. Khan (assignment editor, KSDK News 5 (NBC-TV/Tegna, Inc.), St. Louis, MO)
3/5: James Treichler (producer/audio engineer, Wave Upon Wave, Champaign, IL)
PASSINGS | You Will Be Missed
2/23: Jay Warren (Dennis Wolkowicz), 74 (organist/program director, The Silent Film Society of Chicago, Chicago, IL)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
Ye Ed decided to put a few last things out there for you, dearest readers, and then the Report will go dark until the end of April or May. To watch: FROZEN AND FORGOTTEN: AN UNHOUSED WINTER IN BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, the documentary project that was produced by Emily Bollinger and Melissa Ellin for WGLT-FM, a first for the NPR affiliate station based in Normal, and just received a showing at the Bloomington Public Library can now be viewed on YouTube; please check it out and consider what it means to be an unhoused American in the current climate, both meteorological and political. To listen: We did not realize until seeing a very recent Facebook post that Champaign’s community radio station, WEFT, had a show dedicated to the music of film, television, stage, and new media; “Frame Noise” airs every Wednesday night from 7 to 8 p.m. on 90.1 FM and is hosted by Przemek. To engage: Today, the News-Gazette published an article that reiterates a dire plea from the board of directors at the Vermilion Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Fischer Theatre in Danville, about accumulating debt that is due to the cost of operating the venue; after decades of planning and restoration, the Fischer reopened in September 2019 and has struggled to find grants and fiscal sponsors that could supply a foundation of funding instead of relying almost completely on public support, which can only be stretched so far. To read: In recent months, we’ve gone over the local highlights in terms of reporting and podcasting in the realm of filmmaking and film culture, so we’ll reiterate that you should pay attention to Smile Politely, The Daily Illini, Champaign Movie Makers, and Chambana Film Festival for breaking news and updates while we’re recharging our batteries and putting in the effort elsewhere; CUBlog will keep in step with our friends and share to Facebook when we come across things you would like. Still, be sure to reference our weekly Calendar and watch for our upcoming photo story in the Images department below. Cheers!
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CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History
19 Years Ago … Saturday, February 25, 2006: After the seventh issue of the Champaign film journal MICRO-FILM is published, Opteryx Press adapts its “C-U Confidential” local-zine section into a new internet variation, C-U Blogfidential. The first entry written by editor and publisher Jason Pankoke, dated 8:57 p.m., describes an intention of “[making] a minor splash creating a community history through cinema, one that we can definitely call our own,” with CUBlog as its potential epicenter. Topics to be covered in the following months include the Danville fantasy-comedy SHOW; Dreamscape Cinema’s first features, CRAB ORCHARD and DISCONNECTED; the fan- and convention-favorite spoof of video game tropes, PRESS START, from Dark Maze Studios of Champaign; the second episodes of BrainSmart Productions’ WEREWOLF CEMETERY and THE ADVENTURES OF THE SCREAMING APE, directed by Jason Butler; the infamous UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS VS. A MUMMY and lesser-known ROBOTMAN, made by the UIUC students of Illini Film & Video and directed by Chris Lukeman; a video adaptation of Antigone by the Creative Dramatics Workshop and its director, Robert Picklesimer; an empowering documentary called AN UPHILL CLIMB from Callan Films of Effingham; Blue Bassoon Pictures’ darkly funny crime spoof MERRY CHRISTMAS!; visits from UI alumni working in professional media like Fred Rubin and Michael Wiese; and numerous community and campus screenings such as a run of MICRO-FILM Movie Shows at the beloved bar Mike ‘n Molly’s in downtown Champaign. As of January 2025, CUBlog has published content keyed in to the movies of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond in every single month since its launch over more than 1,700 postings. [rev. 2/28/25]
LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ Lincoln Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting (3/3, 7 p.m., Room 1090)
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Festival* and ShortTV present The Oscar Nominated Shorts 2025: Animation (3/2, 4 p.m.)
@ Top Cat’s Chill & Grill, Springfield, IL
Central Illinois Film Commission* meeting (3/6, 7 p.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
EX-HUSBANDS*, LAST BREATH, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: GQUUUUUUX (animé) (in Japanese with English sub), MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE, RIFF RAFF, A SLOTH STORY* (animation), CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, DOG MAN (animation), HEART EYES, LEGENDS OF THE CONDOR HEROES: THE GALLANTS* (in Mandarin with English sub), LOVE HURTS*, THE MONKEY, MUFASA: THE LION KING, NE ZHA 2 (animation) (in Mandarin with English sub), PADDINGTON IN PERU (2/28 on), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (3/3, 7 p.m.), IN THE LOST LANDS, MICKEY 17, RULE BREAKERS (3/6 on) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
LAST BREATH, MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE, NE ZHA 2 (animation) (in Mandarin with English sub, IMAX), RIFF RAFF, BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN (music documentary), THE MONKEY, THE UNBREAKABLE BOY (faith film), CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, COMPANION*, DOG MAN (animation), HEART EYES, ONE OF THEM DAYS, PADDINGTON IN PERU, WICKED* (2/28 on), SHREK (animation) (3/2, 3 & 7 p.m.; 3/5, 7 p.m.), MICKEY 17 (3/6 on) *single screenings daily
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents SEPTEMBER 5 (2/28-3/1, 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!
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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. THE TASTE OF THINGS (3/2, 1 & 4 p.m.; 3/ 4, 7 p.m.)
@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
LAST BREATH, A SLOTH STORY (animation), CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, DOG MAN (animation), THE MONKEY (2/28 on), THE LORAX (animation) (3/1, 10:30 a.m. (free) & 10:45 a.m. (sensory-friendly))
@ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL
A SLOTH STORY (animation), CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD (2/28 on)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
Danville Illinois AMBUCS presents INSIDE OUT (animation) (3/6, 7 p.m., free)
@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL
LAST BREATH (2/27-3/2)
@ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
LAST BREATH, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: GQUUUUUUX (animé) (in Japanese with English sub), MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE, RIFF RAFF, CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, DOG MAN (animation), HEART EYES, THE MONKEY, MUFASA: THE LION KING, PADDINGTON IN PERU, THE UNBREAKABLE BOY (faith film) (2/28 on), Indian cinema: SUPERBOYS OF MALEGAON (Hindi w/English sub, 2/28-3/5), SABDHAM* (Telugu w/English sub, 2/28-3/5), and MAZAKA* (Telugu w/English sub, 2/28-3/5), ABOMINABLE* (animation) (2/28-3/2), Academy Award contenders: ANORA* (2/28), THE BRUTALIST* (3/2), A COMPLETE UNKNOWN* (3/1), DUNE PART TWO* (2/28), I’M STILL HERE* (in Portuguese with English sub) (3/1), NICKEL BOYS* (3/1), THE SUBSTANCE* (3/1), and WICKED* (2/28), Black History Month: STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (3/2, 3 p.m.) and JUST MERCY (3/2, 6 p.m.), Marcus “Mystery Movie” (3/3, 7 p.m.), MICKEY 17, RULE BREAKERS (3/6 on) *single screenings daily
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
Severin Films presents … “Love at First Bite?” feat. BLOOD FOR DRACULA, BLOOD RED BLUEZ* (short film) (2/28, 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. program),The Oscar Nominated Shorts 2025: Documentary (3/1), Live Action (3/1-3/2), and Animation (3/1-3/2), McLean County Museum of History presents DIRTY LAUNDRY* (documentary) with discussion (3/ 4, 7 p.m., free), ISU Queer Coalition presents “In Her Image” series feat. LINGUA FRANCA (3/5, 7 p.m.), THE BRUTALIST (3/6)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
DOG MAN (animation) (2/28-3/2)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
FLIGHT RISK (2/28-3/2)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
LAST BREATH, A SLOTH STORY (animation), CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, DOG MAN (animation), THE MONKEY, PADDINGTON IN PERU*, THE UNBREAKABLE BOY (faith film) (2/28 on), NO ADDRESS* (3/2-3/5, 6:50 p.m.), MICKEY 17 (3/6 on) *single screenings
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
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
3/25, 3/27
Rantoul Film Festival*
@ Rantoul Business Center, Rantoul, 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
UPDATE! 5/29-6/2
The Chambana Film Festival
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
9/21
The Chambana Music Film Festival (title TBA)
@ 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.
3/23: “Secret Test Screening” (free show)
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
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
Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies* event series
@ Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Center for World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
3/28: “Japanese Paper Print Project: Film and Live Music Event”; 3/31: “Videographic Criticism Talk: Tracing Media Histories Through Videographic Criticism”; 4/22: Ebert Symposium screening: HER; 4/23: Ebert Symposium keynote and roundtables: “Artificial Intelligence Imagined and Realized”
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2025 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential
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