Today marks the opening day of the 13th Annual Roger Ebert Film Festival. I’m excited for my opportunity to host journalist, critic, and film editor Matt Zoller Seitz.
His articles about movies, TV and popular culture have appeared in The New York Times and Salon.com, among others. He also contributes to The Museum of the Moving Image, The L Magazine, and is the founder of film and television criticism site The House Next Door.
I’m excited not only for this hosting gig, but also for the plethora of films and other guests who will be around. Things will kick off with the 7:o0pm showing of the 1927 silent film Metropolis, which will be accompanied by the three-piece Alloy Orchestra. (For any college students out there looking for a fun movie to see [but maybe not even understand], this would be a good one.) Things get even more heated with the 10:30 showing of the film I’m most excited for this week: Natural Selection. The dark comedy film won an unprecedented number of awards at this year’s South By Southwest Festival and includes a cast of rising stars. Here’s the trailer:
Also, here’s Daily Illini writer Tim Martens’ promo for the much anticipated film festival.
Follow @mattzollerseitz, @timbmartens, @ebertfest and @iamroth for live updates! Hope to see you there!
A.M.Roth 