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Something nice happened to us while we were preparing the schedule for Ebertfest 2012, which plays April 25-29 at the Virginia Theater (above) in Champaign-Urbana, Ill. We'd invited Patton Oswalt to attend with his "Big Fan. He agreed and went one additional step: "I'd like to personally choose a film to show to the students, and discuss it." That sounded to me like a splendid idea, embodying the spirit of this festival, which combines the love of good films with volunteerism. This is a rare festival where no business takes place. No films are bought or sold. No deals are signed. It's simplicity itself: We join in a classic 1920 palace, 1,600 of us, and watch a film as it should be seen, on a vast screen with perfect sound. Then we talk about them afterwards. The festival and the theater come to us through the work of countless volunteers from the University and the community of Champaign-Urbana.

Chicago – As a graduate of the University of Illinois, I can tell you there is one time of the year that is very close to my heart, and many others in the Champaign-Urbana community. That is the last weekend of April every year which brings us Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (aka Ebertfest). And tonight, the lineup for the 14th Annual Ebertfest was announced and includes some very exciting guests.

Returning to the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Il, Ebertfest 2012 will feature 14 different films with special guests and panel discussions after each screening. The past few years have featured Ang Lee, Charlie Kaufman, Bill Nighy, Tim Blake Nelson, Tilda Swinton, and many more, and this year features some exciting guests as well, including Patton Oswalt, Michael Shannon, and Jacob Wysocki.

Oswalt will be appearing at the festival for his film “Big Fan,” and he will also be on hand to introduce...