'A film lover's film festival'

Apr. 18—URBANA — Actors, directors, critics and professors rubbed elbows and shook hands at the University of Illinois president's house Wednesday night at Chaz Ebert's suggestion, inspired by the words of her late husband.

"Roger always said, 'This is a film lover's film festival.' When you're in line, shake a hand — it's OK to shake hands, I think, but keep some hand sanitizer," Chaz said. "But shake a hand or give a hug. Make a friend, talk about the movies with each other. Talk about making a connection with people because that's what we're all about."

UI President Tim Killeen joked about mostly "rattling around" in the big house, which has been around since 1931 — "funded by student tuition dollars, it'll never happen again" — but it was full of food and conversation for the invite-only gala celebrating the start of Ebertfest 25.

Killeen pointed out that Roger Ebert himself spent some time around the president's house, back in the day.

"Believe it or not, my belief is that he's here tonight," Chaz added.

Actor Eric Roberts was a popular figure as co-star of Wednesday night's feature film, though he didn't shake hands: He prefers fist bumps.

Roberts is known for roles in dozens of movies like "The Dark Knight" and shows like "Grey's Anatomy," as well as for being Julia Roberts' brother, but he told some guests that the evening's entertainment, "Star 80," was "hard to watch."

Chaz echoed his warning as she spoke to gathered guests out on the patio; the film is about the 1980 murder of Playboy model Dorothy Stratten.

"This is the first time for an opening night film that I have to give a little bit of a warning to some people, because we usually have like a musical like 'Singing in the Rain' or a gospel thing with a big gospel choir," she said.

While it wasn't an ordinary choice for the first night of Ebertfest, Chaz said "Star 80" won out for the acting chops displayed.

Over the next three days at the Virginia Theatre, audiences will see nearly a dozen more films and have a chance to hear from the people who made them.

This is the 25th Ebertfest, which Chaz said was why she was so excited.

"I can't think of anything else that I've done, except my children, for 25 years or more," she said.