Featuring 14 screenings over five days, the Chambana Film Society launches its first annual Savoy Lumière film festival May 29–June 2 at Savoy 16 Theaters.
SAVOY - Film enthusiasts and students alike are eagerly anticipating the inaugural The 1st Annual Savoy Lumière, presented by the Chambana Film Society. Scheduled from May 29 to June 2, 2025, at the Savoy 16 Theaters, this five-day event promises a diverse lineup of cinematic experiences with 14 screenings.
The festival boasts a rich selection spanning narrative comedies, dramas, thrillers, and action-packed films. Highlighting the program are emotionally resonant documentaries and an array of compelling short films. Local and regional filmmakers will be in attendance, adding a personal touch to the screenings.
The Savoy Lumière promises an enriching cultural experience, celebrating the art of storytelling through film while fostering community engagement and appreciation for cinematic diversity.
The centerpiece of the festival, "Brim," directed by University of Illinois alumni Keenan Dailey and written by Trude Namara, explores a trans-generational journey through racial trauma and resilience. Set against the backdrop of 1940s segregation in the American South, the film poignantly intertwines personal narratives with historical contexts, portraying the enduring strength of the Black community.
Opening the festival on May 29 at 6 pm, "Brim" sets the stage for an engaging cinematic experience. Producer Kevin Lau, a Champaign native, as well as most of the cast and crew members, underscoring the local roots of the production, further enhancing its significance for central Illinois audiences.
Adding to the lineup is "Gunman (Gatillero)," an intense drama based on true events unfolding in Buenos Aires. Directed by Cris Tapia Marchiori, the film unfolds in a single continuous shot, capturing the gritty reality of a former hitman's struggle for survival and redemption. Screened with Spanish dialogue and English subtitles, "Gunman" premieres on May 30 at 9 pm.
Another standout feature, "The Other People," delivers chilling suspense as it delves into the mysteries of a town plagued by inexplicable deaths and disappearances. Directed by an anonymous filmmaker, the film promises to grip audiences with its dark narrative and unsettling revelations. The thriller is set to screen on May 31 at 8:30 pm.
Individual tickets for screenings are $12 each, offering attendees flexibility in their festival experience. Alternatively, a festival badge is available at $140, which provides access to all screenings and cinematic offerings.
For more information on the festival schedule and ticketing details, visit the official festival subsite at https://2025lumiere.chambanafilmfestival.org.
Tagged: Savoy Lumière Film Festival 2025, Chambana Film Society events, film festivals in Central Illinois, independent films Savoy IL, Savoy 16 Theaters movie screenings
ST. JOSEPH - Originally called "Fly Swatter Cafe" during production, the movie filmed in St. Joseph in January 2020 was released on YouTube on Friday. A Fargo Christmas Story, starring the late Ed Asner, Cynthia Aileen Strahan, and Richard Riele, is a film based on several short stories from Fargo, North Dakota. Just a few months before most of the world sheltered in place due to the pandemic, Geschenk Coffee House was the location chosen as the cafe featured several times in the one hour and 37-minute presentation.
While the majority of the production was completed in North Dakota, the writer and director, Monticello native Robin Christian Peters, told WCIA in 2020, "We were looking around for places to shoot, looked at 30 cafes, and found one in St. Joe that fit the, you know, the feeling. The charm wasn’t too modern, wasn’t too old."
Released on December 1, the movie can be viewed for free on YouTube or below.
The film also features Sadie Katz, Robert Donavan, and former Associate Chief Administrative Law Judge of the United States Social Security Administration, Paul Lillios.
Known for his iconic roles in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Lou Grant", and the movie "Elf", Grant passed away on August 29, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Peters, who is Executive Producer and Director for Dreamscape Cinema, has produced ten films to date, and currently has two other projects in post-production.
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