CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — The long-running Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, also known as Ebertfest, kicks off Wednesday with a classic from John Wayne.
"The Searchers" will open the four-day film festival. Ebert once said the movie contains "scenes of magnificence," and was one of John Wayne's best performances.
Other films include "Megalopolis," the recent release from Francis Ford Coppola, and crowd-pleaser "The Hangover."
As of Wednesday morning, there are still festival passes which can be purchased through the Virginia Theatre's website.
Roger Ebert was a University of Illinois journalism alum, Urbana Native, and a Pulitzer Prize winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. He co-created the festival with his wife Chaz, who has had a major role in running the event since Ebert's death in 2013.
“What Roger said about movies being a machine that generates empathy is so true," said Chaz Ebert in a release. "My heart swells with emotion in anticipation of the films and guests who will join us. And I look forward to sharing this communal film experience with our Ebertfest audience. Roger, we thank you!”
The city announced that the stretch of Park Avenue directly in front of the Virginia Theatre will be closed for the duration of the festival.
For more information, visit Ebertfest.com.
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