Ebert Center for Film Studies Events, College of Media

Monday, March 30, 2026

  • Ebert Symposium Screening: 'The Wiz' (1978)

    7:00 pm
    Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory, Urbana

    Join us for a screening of Sidney Lumet’s The Wiz (1978). See cultural icons such as Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Nipsey Russel follow the yellow brick road in this musical retelling of The Wizard of Oz. While considered a failure upon its release, the film has since developed an enduring and charming legacy, as well as a dedicated cult fan base.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

  • Ebert Symposium Roundtable with ICR Doctoral Students

    2:00 - 3:30 pm
    Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory, Urbana

    Join a roundtable discussion with doctoral students from the Institute of Communications Research about fandom’s interaction with the media. Not only will it explore themes from The Wiz and the Ebert Symposium keynote speech, but it will also expand to all types of media. Moderated by Cait Coker, Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts at the University of Illinois.

  • Flier

    Ebert Symposium Keynote Address

    4:00 pm
    Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory, Urbana

    Dr. Alfred L. Martin, Jr, Chair of the Department of Cinematic Arts at University of Miami, will be the keynote speaker at this year's Ebert Symposium. As a part of the Ebert Symposium’s theme, “Onscreen Fantasies/IRL Illusions: Fandom, Parasocial Relationships, and the Media,” Martin will discuss the role of audiences in the curation of and the cultural meaning of cinema.