THE ROGER EBERT FILM FESTIVAL April 23-27 in Champaign is topped by such distinguished guests as directors Ang Lee and Paul Schrader.
Fest founder Ebert will be absent for the first time in 10 years, due to a fall that hospitalized him.
Hollywood guests include Tom DiCillo, Sally Potter, Barry Avrich, Jeff Nichols, Taggart Siegel, Eran Kolirin, Bill Forsyth, Tarsem Singh, Tarsem Singh, John Peterson; actors Christine Lhati, Joey Pantoliano, Aida Turturro and executive producers, producers and many others.
BRENDA SEXTON, former IFO director, teams with the Chicago Public Library to screen movies from highly acclaimed books. First screening last Monday was “The Life Before her Eyes,” starring Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood and based on the novel by Michigan native Laura Kasischke.
ELLEN DeGENERES chatted by phone the other day to an uncharacteric, chuckling Mayor Daley, who obviously enjoyed Ellen’s teasing, about her expectations for her May 3 visit to Chicago.
Among her requests, Ellen suggested that maybe the city could turn the river blue to match her show logo, a la dyeing it green for St. Patrick’s Day. In a snappy comback, Daley said the city would give her blue skies instead.
THE ILLINOIS PRODUCTION ALLIANCE, the only local organization to directly tied to the success of the recently reenacted Filmmakers Tax Credit, will celebrate with a party in mid-May, at which legislative co-sponsors Sen. Rickey Hendon and Rep. Ken Dunkin will be honored. Stay tuned.
ATLANTA’S PRESTIGIOUS IMAGE FILM AWARDS honored the Kartemquin directorial team of Peter Gilbert and Steve James for their doc, “At the Death House Door,” which follows Carroll Pickett, who served 15 years as the death house chaplain to the infamous “Walls” prison unit in Huntsville, Texas.
