Ebertfest: An Event for the Masses

I have never been to Ebertfest at the University of Illinois, but I am truly glad I spent my Friday night at the Virginia Theatre partaking in what is now obvious to me a hugely important tradition on this campus. If you haven’t been to Ebertfest I highly recommend looking into purchasing some tickets for next year’s festival. While a festival pass (allowing you to see all the movies) would be cool, as a student it’s not very feasible to attend every single event, so check out the lineup and buy one or two tickets to a cultural phenomenon.

Image:  http://s-usih.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Roger-Ebert.jpg

Even though I had no ticket because the movie, Julia, I wanted to see was already sold out (just kidding, I just wanted to meet Tilda Swinton), I managed to get in easily by just waiting in line for empty seats. An event coordinator mentioned everyone who has ever waited for a seat to open up for a sold-out movie has always gotten in, giving me plenty of hope I would get to see my idol. Decently priced, I purchased my ticket for 12 dollars (non-student 14 dollars) and proceeded to find my seat just in time for the opening credits of the movie.

Image: http://feminema.wordpress.com/tag/julia/

The Virginia Theatre is a gorgeous venue with intricate architectural structures and staging and seating reminiscent of an opera theater. The movie began and the only thing better than nearly 2 hours of Tilda Swinton was the experience of watching a movie with enthusiasts. Many individuals had already seen the movie before and attend ready to share interesting facts with neighbors. I had the pleasure of being seated next to a man who shared with me the greatest joke I have ever heard (that I sadly must attribute to his genius and not my own), and I’ll share once you get to the end of this article.

Image: http://www.dailyherald.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?

The movie played with many appropriately timed reactions from the communal audience of movie-lovers and applause erupted throughout the theater at the conclusion. Julia was an excellent movie and it comes highly recommended I might add. Following the film, Tilda Swinton herself came on stage in a fabulous pantsuit and partook in Q&A bit with the audience and moderators. As it was nearing midnight I had to be on my way, but I would like to think had I stayed I would’ve met Ms. Swinton and obtained a new Facebook profile picture. Even without an autograph, attending a movie at Ebertfest will undoubtedly remain one of the fondest memories of my college career.

As promised, the joke: “Now Tilda Swinton is an English name. But I suppose if she were Spanish her name would be Tilde Swinton.”

Now if that didn’t convince you to go next year nothing will!

-Nicole Moore April 21st, 2013