From the press release:
EBERTFEST ANNOUNCES PANELS AND SPECIAL SCREENING OF “EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!” FOR 2016 FESTIVAL
18th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival to take place April 13-17, 2016 in Champaign, IL
CHAMPAIGN, ILL – April 11, 2016 – Chaz Ebert and festival director Nate Kohn announced today the list of panel discussions that will take place at the 18th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival hosted by Chaz Ebert, also known as ‘Ebertfest’ running April 13 – 17 in Champaign-Urbana. Panelists include Guillermo del Toro, Paul Weitz, Michael Polish, Paul Cox, Kasi Lemmons, Nancy Allen and Kate Bosworth. Among the panels are CREATING EMPATHY ON THE BIG SCREEN and #OscarsSoWhite: DIVERSTIY IN HOLLYWOOD. Panels (free and open to the public) and all after-film discussions will be streamed live at www.ebertfest.com.
Also announced is a special FREE screening of Richard Linklater’s film EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! On Tuesday, April 12th at 7:00 PM at Foellinger Auditorium with a live Q and A following the screening moderated by Chaz Ebert with producer, Stephen Feder and actor Juston Street.
Ebertfest is a special event of the College of Media at the University of Illinois.
The films in the fest previously announced are CRIMSON PEAK (2015), which will open this year’s festival with director Guillermo Del Toro in attendance, BLOW OUT (1981), BODY AND SOUL [silent film] (1925), FORCE OF DESTINY (2015), NORTHFORK (2004), DISTURBING THE PEACE (2016), GRANDMA (2015), L’INHUMAINE [silent film] (1924), EVE’S BAYOU (1997), RADICAL GRACE (2015), LOVE & MERCY (2015) and THE THIRD MAN (1949).
“Diversity matters at Ebertfest, even in the composition of our panels,” said Nate Kohn. “An eclectic mixture of filmmakers, critics, and academics ensures lively and substantive conversations that engage and provoke.”
This year’s panel discussions, with associated guests (*appearance of panelists subject to availability):
CHALLENGING STIGMA THROUGH LOVE, MERCY AND THE ARTS Using the film “Love & Mercy” as an exemplar, the panel will discuss how the arts can be used to promote tolerance, acceptance and understanding – and love and mercy as well.
Eric Pierson, Moderator; Panelists: Allison M. Lewis, John Isberg, Joe Omo-Osagie, Phillip Krien, Jennifer Knapp, Richard Leskosky , Matt Zoller Seitz, Mark Dujsik, Chuck Koplinski
CREATING EMPATHY ON THE BIG SCREEN
Filmmakers and critics will discuss how those who make movies and television programming can better promote empathy, inclusion and humanity in their work.
Nate Kohn, moderator; Panelists: Guillermo del Toro, Paul Weitz, Andrew Miano, Michael Polish, Paul Cox, Stephen Apkon, Heather McIntosh, Richard Neupert, Brian Tallerico
#OscarsSoWhite: DIVERSITY IN HOLLYWOOD The lack of diversity among this year’s Oscar nominees was just the tip of a very white iceberg. This panel seeks concrete answers on how to increase diversity among filmmakers, critics and industry executives.
Chaz Ebert, moderator; Panelists: Gil Robertson, Shawn Edwards, Kasi Lemmons, Angelica Jade Bastién, Christine Swanson, Michael Phillips, Susan Wloszczyna, Nick Allen, and Jana Monji
WOMEN IN FILM This panel explores the role of women in the entertainment milieu, specifically how to encourage and champion more women filmmakers, critics, executives, and audiences.
Chaz Ebert, moderator; Panelists: Nancy Allen, Angela Allen, Rebecca Parrish, Nicole Bernardi-Reis, Kate Bosworth, Darrien Gipson, Sheila O’Malley, Rebecca Fisher, Nell Minow, Marcina Hale, Jana Monji
Major filmmakers, stars, historians, critics and film-lovers from all over the world come to experience this annual celebration that includes films from lists Roger drew up over the first 15 years of the festival, as well as others selected by Chaz Ebert and Festival Director Nate Kohn based on Roger’s established criteria for an Ebertfest film.
Festival passes are available for $150, plus processing with only one thousand being available. Individual tickets for each screening are available for $15 ($13 for students and seniors). Passes and individual tickets can be purchased through the festival website, the theater website, or the theater box office, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign (217-356-9063).
For additional information, please visit http://www.ebertfest.com/.
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