CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Those wanting to take in all of the next Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, or “Ebertfest,” can purchase festival passes starting Nov. 1.
The passes cover all 12 or more screenings during the five-day event, to be held April 17-21 at the Virginia Theater in Champaign, Ill. Related talks and panel discussions will be held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Ebert selects movies for the festival that he believes have been overlooked in some way by audiences, critics or distributors.
The passes are $145, plus processing. A thousand passes will be available.
Passes can be purchased through the festival website, the Virginia Theater website or the Bresnan Meeting Center, 706 Kenwood Road, Champaign (217-398-2550).
The lineup of films, guests and other events will be announced several weeks before the festival, which is sponsored by the U. of I. College of Media. Updates will be posted on the festival website. Tickets for individual movies will be available April 1. Admission is $14 ($12 for students and seniors).
Ebert, a U. of I. journalism graduate, adjunct professor and Pulitzer Prize-winner, will again host the event, along with his wife, Chaz Hammelsmith Ebert.
Those interested in being a festival sponsor or volunteer should contact Mary Susan Britt, associate director of the festival, at 217-244-0552 or marsue@illinois.edu.
