Lincoln FilmFest to enter C-U fray
From March 2, 2008:
Article in Champaign daily The News-Gazette about the Lincoln FilmFest, planned by former Ebertfest executive director Nancy Casey and C-U historian Dannel McCollum, to take place March 13-15, 2009, at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign. (Remember that the direct link to this article will expire after Saturday, March 8.)
~~~~~
Editor’s note: Something tells me that BILL & TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE will not make the final cut for this, one of probably a gajillion special events timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln‘s birth. That’s too bad because, as your humble editor recently discovered, none other than Amy Poynton – “Missy” (um, I mean, Mom) in the 1989 comedy – is a current faculty member at the University of Illinois. Considering how potentially self-important an event this could be, levity in the form of someone who knew Honest Abe back when he learned to party on, dudes, would probably be a smart addition to draw all the hep kids out there.
Regardless, this (most likely) one-time event certainly tops the James Jones program from the fall (see item: 9/13/07) as the most red-blooded American film festival to appear in the C-U area during the recent explosion of specialty and ethnic showcases. I have to be honest and say that I haven’t exactly been falling over myself to rush out and attend; the Asian cinema fests have been the only ones to tempt my fancy. I just wish that somebody in this town had the balls and know-how to launch what we really need – an annual exploration of motion pictures that are mysterious, gritty, political, challenging, psychedelic, and purely mind-blowing. You know … freaky films.
Finally, when did the News-Gazette Web site start overflowing with entertainment features? I guess that’s a good development. Maybe.
~ Jason Pankoke