From April 23-26, 2025, Roger Ebert’s official movie pageant, EbertFest, will have fun its twenty sixth yr with a number of recent pageant favorites and beloved classics. With twelve options and seventeen friends gracing the Virginia Theater on the Faculty of Media on the College of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, there’s so much I and co-host (and Competition Director) Nate Kohn are excited to indicate you this yr.
We’re thrilled to open the pageant with a Western for the primary time this yr with John Ford’s “The Searchers” and shut out with the crowd-pleasing comedy “The Hangover,” with a number of unimaginable works new and previous in between. And gracing every screening are particular friends starting from movie critics to students to the filmmakers themselves (together with Francis Ford Coppola, who shall be accompanying our screening of his newest, “Megalopolis.”).
You’ll find all the data (together with the place to purchase tickets) at ebertfest.com. However we’ve put collectively slightly preview of what (and who) to count on.
Learn on to study extra about what thrilling titles and friends you may count on at this yr’s fest!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
6:30 PM: THE SEARCHERS — John Ford’s opus in regards to the collapse of the American West, with an all-timer efficiency from John Wayne.
design-9-jpg.webp” alt=”” class=”wp-image-254957 size-full not-transparent” srcset=”https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-9-jpg.webp 256w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-9-225×281.jpg 225w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-9-144×180.jpg 144w” sizes=”(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px”/>Company: Eric Pierson, Movie Scholar
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
9:oo AM: MEGALOPOLIS — Francis Ford Coppola’s sprawling, formidable epic of an empire in collapse stars Adam Driver as an architect sacrificing every thing to realize his imaginative and prescient.
Particular Company: Michael Barker, Co-President and Co-Founder, Sony Photos Classics; Francis Ford Coppola, Director/Author/Producer (by way of satellite tv for pc).
1:30 PM: DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN — Susan Seidelman’s touching, hilarious story of feminine friendship, with humorous and heartbreaking turns from Rosanna Arquette and Madonna.
Particular Company: Susan Seidelman, Director; Rosanna Arquette, Actor.
5:00 PM: HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A. — The ins and outs of the American working class is laid naked in Barbara Kopple’s unimaginable documentary, one of many shining stars of the cinema verite motion.
Particular Visitor: Barbara Kopple, Director/Producer
9:30 PM: HIS THREE DAUGHTERS — Azazel Jacobs crafts a suitably intimate story of three sisters in mourning (Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne) for a father (Jay O. Sanders) in his ultimate days.
Particular Visitor: Azazel Jacobs, Director/Author/Producer
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
10:30 AM: A LITTLE PRAYER — “Junebug” author Angus MacLachlan arrives with an underappreciated pageant gem, starring David Strathairn as a person who finds himself within the uncomfortable place of advising his daughter-in-law (Jane Levy) via his son’s infidelity.
Particular Visitor: Angus MacLachlan, Director/Author/Producer
2:30 PM: I’M STILL HERE — Walter Salles’ newest, most political work but encompasses a searing, Oscar-nominated efficiency from Fernanda Torres as a resolute girl looking for her long-missing husband, kidnapped by Brazil’s army dictatorship.
Michael Barker, Co-President and Co-Founder, Sony Photos Classics
7:30 PM: RUMOURS — Man Maddin (together with co-directors Evan and Galen Johnson) poke mirthfully on the vagaries of worldwide politics, with a world solid headlined by Cate Blanchett and a heaping serving to of bizarre.
Particular Visitor: Man Maddin, Director/Author/Producer (by way of satellite tv for pc)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26
9:00 AM: THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE ACHMED — Thought of the primary function size animation and impressed by the tales referred to as the Arabian Nights, The Adventures of Prince Achmed tells the story of a younger prince tricked by a depraved sorcerer into mounting a magical, flying horse steered on a course to their very own demise.
Particular Company: The Anvil Orchestra, Musicians
11:30 AM: COLOR BOOK — David Fortune’s feature-length debut charts the affected person journey of father Fortunate and his younger son, Mason, as they transfer via the world after the sudden loss of life of Mason’s mom.
design-23-jpg.webp” alt=”” class=”wp-image-254970 not-transparent” srcset=”https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-23-jpg.webp 320w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-23-281×281.jpg 281w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-23-180×180.jpg 180w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-23-256×256.jpg 256w” sizes=”(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px”/>
Particular Company: David Fortune, Author/Director; Kiah Clingman, Producer; William Catlett, Actor; Jeremiah Daniels, Actor
4:00 PM: TOUCH — Baltasar Kormákur’s drama follows an aged man, dealing with cognitive decline, who embarks on an emotional journey to search out his old flame earlier than time runs out.
Particular Visitor: Baltasar Kormákur, Author/Producer/Director
9:00 PM: THE HANGOVER — Todd Phillips’ riotous 2009 frat-boy misadventure a couple of trio of bros (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis) coping with the aftermath of a loopy bachelor celebration made stars of its leads and outlined a brand new style of comedy.
Particular Visitor: Scott Budnick, Government Producer
Get tickets to Ebertfest by visiting the official website.
