CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The 22nd Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, co-founded and hosted by Chaz Ebert and also known as “Ebertfest,” announced some of its films and guests for the 2021 event and shared updated COVID-19 safety protocols for the festival.
Directors Azazel Jacobs and Ramin Bahrani will appear at the festival’s screening of their recent critically acclaimed movies “French Exit” and “The White Tiger.” In addition, director Bobby Farrelly will appear with the cult comedy “There’s Something About Mary.”
Ramin Bahrani
“Ramin Bahrani is one of the festival’s dearest friends. This will mark his fifth appearance – with “99 Homes,” “Goodbye Solo,” “Chop Shop” and “Man Push Cart,” and now “The White Tiger,” said festival director Nate Kohn. “And the Azazel Jacobs movie “Terri” thrilled audiences at Ebertfest in 2012. Ebertfest builds lasting relationships with filmmakers, and we look forward to Bobby Farrelly joining the ranks of directors who keep coming back to the festival.”
Musical presentations will be part of two other Ebertfest movies this year. A silent movie presentation will be accompanied by 10 musicians from Renee Baker’s Chicago Modern Orchestra, and this year’s hit movie “Summer of Soul” will be followed by a live performance by the band Chicago Soul Spectacular.
Festival co-founder and host Chaz Ebert also announced the inclusion of an “audience choice” movie at the event.
“We’re answering our fans’ requests for a Hitchcock film at the festival by including a lesser-seen work of the great director. ‘The 39 Steps’ is an early work that already contains all the wonderful elements that Hitchcock is known for, and it was among Roger’s all-time favorite movies,” said Ebert, the wife of Roger Ebert, an Urbana native and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus who gained a wide following as a film critic until his death in 2013. “We have curated a mix of small gems, independent films, classics – old and new – together with two live musical performances for a schedule of four full and fabulous festival days.”
The 1998 cult comedy “There’s Something About Mary” will be featured at Ebertfest.
The festival will expect every adult audience member be either vaccinated or receive a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to attending the event. In addition, all audience members will be required to follow the venue’s safety protocols and wear a mask to enter the buildings. The festival is extending a refund policy to all pass holders who cannot meet the requirements.
Ebertfest will be held Sept 8-11 at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign, with related talks and panel discussions at the Hyatt Place in Champaign and at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Passes are now available for purchase and cost $200, including all processing fees. Four passes purchased together are $700 instead of $800. Also available are a small number of U. of I. student passes priced at $150 each. They can be purchased through the festival website or the Virginia Theatre box office, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign, 217-356-9063. Updates will be posted on the festival website. Depending on available seating, tickets for individual movies may be available Sept. 1.
Roger Ebert’s Film Festival is a special event of the College of Media at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. For additional information, visit http://www.ebertfest.com.
Editor’s note: Anyone interested in being a festival sponsor may contact Andy Hall, the festival’s project coordinator, at amhall2@illinois.edu.
