Exciting news on the Ebertfest front (the film festival started by Roger Ebert in his hometown Champagne-Urbana): Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak will open the festival, and Del Toro himself is the honorary guest. The Fest is held in the Virginia Theatre, a gorgeous old-school (for real) movie palace that seats 1500 people. To see that film on such a huge screen with such a rapt crowd is going to be a great pleasure!
Ebertfest started out as Roger Ebert’s “Overlooked Film Festival,” a 5-day festival hand-curated by Roger himself to highlight films (current and past) that he felt had been overlooked for whatever reason. I was aware of the Overlooked Film Festival long before Ebert reached out to me in 2013 to review for him, because my favorite ex-boyfriend (we’re still good friends) Michael Gilio, wrote/directed/starred in a beautiful film called Kwik Stop, that Roger chose to present at the 2002 Overlooked Film Festival. Complete with QA with Michael onstage. It was a huge moment for him. Here is Roger’s review of Kwik Stop, here are some things I wrote about it, and it was a great pleasure to have the chance to celebrate Roger’s championing of my friend’s film on Rogerebert.com in the “My Favorite Roger” series. So to now be a regular at this Fest, as a contributor and participant, is great because once upon a time it honored my friend, a friend who really deserved that kind of championing. (See Kwik Stop if you haven’t. Michael is so talented.)
I gave Crimson Peak 4 stars in my Ebert review, and so much look forward to meeting Guillermo del Toro! Jim Beaver (well known to Deadwood and Supernatural fans, of course – but absolutely wonderful in Crimson Peak as the concerned father) may – slight chance – attend too – if he can swing it. Either way: The onstage QA after the film will be amazing!
The rest of the docket for Ebertfest has not been announced yet, but the Crimson Peak news, as well as the news of Del Toro flying in for it, is a thrilling start.
Such exciting news, Sheila! I have heard interviews with Del Toro, and read his book “Cabinet of Curiosities.” He seems like a fascinating man, funny, with a wealth of film lore in his brain that he’s able pull out and connect in strange and wonderful ways.
And how great would it be to meet Jim Beaver!
Barb – I know!! And Del Toro’s Twitter feed is just so great – not self-promotional – just sharing artwork and books and stuff that he likes. He has such a rich imagination. Whatever happens in the QA, it’s going to be great!
Hope JB can make it – that would be so much fun!
But what about… Tom?
Maybe! No word on him yet. I’d faint!
Going to see a screening of the Hank Williams biopic in a week and a half and I am almost personally nervous about it because 1. I love Hank so much and 2. I want it SO BADLY to be good.
Just discovered your work – exciting! Like Mozart, one can never have enough Supernatural.
Thank you!
And del Toro + Jim Beaver = Big Hearted Men festival.
Can’t wait to hear the rest of the line-up. I have some guesses.