Roger Ebert’s Film Festival ("Ebertfest") celebrates all films, genres, and formats, even those that have been overlooked by distributors, audiences, and/or critics. These include independent, international, and studio films whether or not they won wide audiences, overlooked formats such as 70mm, and overlooked genres such as documentaries and musicals.

The festival screens one film at a time – so that everyone sees the same films – promoting a strong sense of community among audience members, filmmakers, guests, students, and scholars.
Ebertfest was founded in 1999 by Roger and Chaz Ebert, with Professor Nathaniel Kohn as Festival Director. Roger was an Urbana native, U of I Journalism graduate, and Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for The Chicago Sun-Times.  

FILM FESTIVAL PASSES:

The greatest value, an Ebertfest Film Festival Pass allows access to all eight movie screenings during this celebrated two-day event held at the Virginia Theatre. Only Film Festival Passholders are allowed to remain inside the theatre between screenings.

DETAILS:

• All films shown at the Virginia Theatre, 203 West Park Avenue, Champaign IL, 61820.
• Only Film Festival Passholders are allowed to remain inside the theater between screenings.
• Individual Tickets to each film will go on sale on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. at 10am.
• The full film schedule will be posted later this winter.

For more, visit www.ebertfest.com.