!"#$%&''#(#$&)$*#+,-$-.$/'',0&,1$23#1#0.1 46(7+899:1. !"#$%&'$%()*+ ,-./,$*(-01.+2345 !"#$%&'()*'+&*,'- !"#$4,3(,0,-$!"#-.3# 567$89$2-3:;$%"-<=-,(0;$/> ?=#@,-'$?A==&3.$23&B,+#+$CD$%"-<=-,(0$%&A0.D$E0.,F?.,(<-$E'',-0@#;$$ GGG9#C#3.)#1.9@&< /<-(#H$I-1#$E3.$%& !"#$%&'(#$)*+,,---. /0./0.1---23..-45 This year’s festival is dedicated to Chicago’s own Haskell Wexler Cinematographer, Director, Activist. Still fighting the good fight! Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Wednesday, April 17, 2013 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Days of Heaven Jim Turpin’s (WDWS-AM 1400) Ebertfest Interview with Short Subject I Remember Thursday, April 18, 2013 Illini Union 1:00 p.m. Vincent: The Life and Death 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL of Vincent Van Gogh Pine Lounge, 1st Floor with Short Subject To Music Free and open to the public 4:00 p.m. In the Family Thursday, April 18, 2013 9:00 p.m. Bernie 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Sustaining a Career in Film Friday, April 19, 2013 Moderated by Nate Kohn 1:00 p.m. Oslo, August 31st 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 4:00 p.m. The Ballad of Narayama Reality or Illusion: A False Dichotomy? Moderated by Eric Pierson 8:30 p.m. Julia Friday, April 19, 2013 Saturday, April 20, 2013 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Creative Independence in the Digital Age – How Real Is It? 11:00 a.m. Blancanieves Moderated by Nate Kohn 2:00 p.m. Kumaré 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Escape From Tomorrow Challenging Stigma Through the Arts 9:00 p.m. The Spectacular Now Moderated by Deborah Townsend Sunday, April 21, 2013 Saturday, April 20, 2013 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 12 noon Not Yet Begun to Fight The Art of the Video Essay: How to Speak Through Movies Moderated by Omer Mozaffar “!"#$%&'()"%*+%!,-%.')+/+'” !!"#$%%"&''()*"!"#+,-"./"0$"1231 2 15th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival Welcome from Roger Ebert ........................4 MOVIE REVIEWS Welcome from the University of Illinois ............7 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013 Days of Heaven (7:00 p.m.) .................... 44 Welcome from the Festival Director ................9 with Short Subject I Remember ............... 45 “Those Were the Days” Sing-Along................11 THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013 Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Virginia Theatre Gets Facelift ................... 12 Van Gogh (1:00 p.m.)......................... 48 Complete Schedule of Events.................... 16 with Short Subject To Music ................... 49 In the Family (4:00 p.m.) . 50 Roger Ebert — 50 years since Illinois............ 21 Bernie (9:00 p.m.) ............................ 52 Important Information About the Festival........ 23 FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013 Oslo, August 31st (1:00 p.m.).................. 56 Dining Tips.................................... 25 The Ballad of Narayama (4:00 p.m.) ............ 58 Festival Guests ............................. 29-42 Julia (8:30 p.m.) ............................. 60 Festival Sponsors .............................. 74 SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2013 Blancanieves (11:00 a.m.) . 63 ........... A Look Back at Last Year’s Festival 79-81 Kumaré (2:00 p.m.) ........................... 64 Escape From Tomorrow (5:00 p.m.) ............ 66 Special Thanks................................. 83 The Spectacular Now (9:00 p.m.) .............. 68 Parking Information and Area Map............... 85 SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013 Festival Dedication — Haskell Wexler ............ 87 Not Yet Begun to Fight (12 noon) ............. 70 Daily Illini Illio Technograph Buzz WPGU- FM the217.com Independent Univerity of Quarterly Weekly Commercial Entertainment student news Illinois engineering entertainment radio station Web site organization Yearbook magazine magazine illinimedia.org to the 15th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival This year's festival is dedicated to Haskell Wexler From Roger Ebert This year includes the chris- tening of the magnificently re- elcome to the 15th It is homeward I look again. stored Virginia Theatre. I salute anniversary Ebertfest! the Champaign Park District, and The idea for this cel- Orson Welles famously described a movie many local donors. Their generosi- ebration began a year earlier, in studio as “the greatest train set a boy ever ty preserves this landmark, where an event at the Krannert Center my father saw Harry Houdini to mark the birthday of HAL had.” Surely every movie critic desires perform onstage. When Donald 9000, the computer in “2001: A O’Conner appeared onstage here Space Odyssey” — who, as HAL his own film festival. after an anniversary screening of tells us itself, was born in Urbana. “Singin’ in the Rain,” he told us, In an early demo of video chats, “I tap-danced on this stage!” Its we were joined by Sir Arthur C. looked.” Some directors were re- James Bond and Steve Kraus, and stars included the Marx Broth- Clarke online from Sri Lanka, his luctant to think of their films in including not only 70mm but ers, and in college I saw Miriam face beaming down upon us. such terms, and the current name Dimension 70, top-rank digital Hopkins perform here in “Look At first this was called the took over. Our first selection was formats, and even Todd-AO. Sadly, Homeward, Angel.” “Overlooked Film Festival,” and “2001,” beginning a tradition of in recent years fewer prints are It is homeward I look again. intended for films that “either world-class big-screen projection available in 70mm, as high-end Orson Welles famously described have been, or will be, over- masterminded by the experts digital formats take over. a movie studio as “the greatest Roger and Chaz welcoming the audience to the 2012 Festival. 4 15th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival train set a boy ever had.” Surely Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US. dition to my Great Movies, Keisuke host for most of our guests in the every movie critic desires his own Many have visited before. Many Kinoshita’s Japanese classic “Bal- heart of the campus. film festival. As a local boy I be- are back this year. They’ll be seat- lad of Narayama” (1958). I suspect Our sponsors and volunteers gan in newspapers here at ground ed among you. Have a chat. Join our good friend David Bordwell, make the festival possible. Many level, by delivering the Courier, them at the Steak ‘n Shake. Just of the University of Wisconsin, sponsors have been with us all 15 and when I was not quite 16, I don’t try to discover the location will be on stage afterwards. And years; some are with us for the was trusted with a job by The of their secret Karaoke Night. as usual, the disclaimer: All these first time this year. Volunteers News-Gazette. No, not an “intern- From day one, Urbana native guests have agreed to be with serve in many ways, including ship.” I covered what was one of and UI alum Nate Kohn, now us, but sometimes actual work, serving as drivers and guides for the most important beats on the professor at the University of weather or the occasional volcano festival guests. We thank them paper: Urbana High School sports! Georgia, has been director of the interferes and they have to cancel for their loyalty and continuing With the kindness and patience Festival. This introduction usu- at the last minute. support. of such staffers as Harold Holmes, ally includes a brief outline of My wife Chaz acts as our char- The festival is a production Bill Schmelzle, Jari Jackson, Curt the year’s program, but we’re still ismatic emcee, and is also my of the College of Media of the Beamer and the festival’s dear involved in trying to iron much of trusted advisor whose scouting at University of Illinois at Urbana- friend Betsy Hendrick, I learned it out as I write this. You’ll have many film festivals recommended Champaign, whose dean, Jan first hand from the best. to depend on the descriptions in some of these titles to me. The Slater, has been generous in her My own festival experience this excellent program produced tireless Mary Susan Britt makes support and encouragement. was altered greatly when illness by The Daily Illini. But I can tell everything run and answers Leone Advertising is our invalu- overtook me in 2006, and I lost you who is coming with the films. emails at all hours. She heads a able Webmaster at ebertfest. the ability to speak. That relieved As mentioned above, Paul Cox is dedicated staff, including many com; Carlton Bruett is responsible audiences of the prospect of lis- coming with his documentary on volunteers whose smiling faces for the posters and the look of tening to Werner Herzog and me the festival; The Daily Illini, my speak even later into the night. other alma mater, produces this Ebertfest is honored this year by splendid program. A special thank repeat visits from some of our Fifteen years! It seems like only yesterday! you to our leading sponsors: the favorite artists, including Paul Champaign County Anti-Stigma Cox, Richard Linklater, Haskell I love it when I notice festival regulars Alliance, Steak ‘n Shake and The Wexler and Tilda Swinton. Paul greeting each other year after year. To Academy of Motion Picture Arts will be here with his remarkable and Sciences. We are proud to film about his countryman Vin- paraphrase a well-known movie title, they’re have Champaign County Anti- cent van Gogh, which I first saw Stigma Alliance sponsor the film and loved at the 1972 Venice Film no longer strangers when they meet. “In the Family” showing Thursday Festival. at 4:00 p.m., and Steak ‘n Shake In lovely symbolism, he will sponsor the film “Blancanieves” also introduce “To Music,” a showing Saturday at 11:00 a.m.