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.  

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026
9:00am: Charliebird
11:25am: Nuremberg
3:30pm: The Last Movie Critic
5:10pm: Bob Trevino Likes It
8:50pm: Get Out

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2026
9:00am: The General - with Anvil Orchestra
10:35am: Mi Familia
2:30pm: SISKEL/EBERT 
3:40pm: Chili Finger
7:25pm:The American President

This year's festival welcomes back renowned organist Dr. Steven Ball
to bring his signature musical interludes between film screenings.