“Life Itself,” the acclaimed documentary directed by Steve James (“Hoop Dreams,” “The Interrupters”), returns to The Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, from Monday, July 28th, through Friday, August 1st. The film opened Ebertfest (The Roger Ebert Overlooked Film Festival) at the venue this past April after premiering at Sundance (click here to read Nell Minow’s report on the film’s memorable Ebertfest screening). Apart from being nestled in the town of Ebert’s alma mater, the theatre has served as the location of the legendary critic’s annual film festival, welcoming filmmakers and cinephiles from around the world.
The Virginia Theater has undergone an extensive restoration by the Champaign Park District. Roger and Chaz Ebert through Ebertfest also played a role in championing the preservation of the historic venue, which hosts everything from live performances (comedian Mike Birbiglia will be there in September) to classic film screenings (Hitchcock masterworks such as “North by Northwest” and “Rear Window” will play there in October). In 2011, Ebert wrote, “The preservation of theaters like this is invaluable; such buildings will never again be constructed, and most of our filmmakers will never have seen …read more