You can always find tickets for ChambanaFilm events at:
https://the-chambana-film-society.square.site
Only one more film left in the 2026 CineSonic Film Fesival:
August 30 – RADIOHEART: The Drive & Times Of DJ Kevin Cole
Winter Hymns
Tuesday, September 8: Winter Hymns [trailer]
📍 Savoy 16 + IMAX – 6:30pm – $5 [tickets]
I ended up writing a lot about this film at the top of this month’s newsletter, so I’d suggest reading that, or my letterboxd review of this film.
This film will start as close to 6:30 as possible, and end around 9pm.
The screening will be followed by an in-person Q&A with writer/director Nathan Deming.
Morris From America
Wednesday, September 24: Morris From America [trailer]
📍 Savoy 16 + IMAX – 7pm – FREE [but please buy a $0 ticket]
This screening marks two major milestones for The Chambana Film Society. First, It marks 2-and-a-half years, to the week, or our first screening. Second, it marks our 100th screening in town! Before we mark a new chapter in our history two days later, (see below), we thought it would be great to have a bit of a celebration.
So, we’re having a FREE movie screening! Morris From America is one of my films, and SEVERELY overlooked. Starring Craig Robinson from The Office (Curtis), and newcomer Markees Christmas (Morris), as a single father & son that relocated to Heidelberg, Germany.
Morris, who fancies himself the next Notorious B.I.G., is a complete fish-out-of-water—a budding hip-hop star in an EDM world. To complicate matters further, Morris quickly falls hard for his cool, rebellious, 15-year-old classmate Katrin. Morris sets out against all odds to take the hip-hop world by storm and win the girl of his dreams.
Morris From America premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, and a Special Jury Award for Individual Performance for Craig Robinson. It has an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
To make this milestone even more exciting, we’ll be following the screening with a Zoom Q&A with writer/director Chad Hartigan! Please reserve a seat by buying a $0 ticket.
Pygmalion 2026
That’s right, The Chambana Film Society is THRILLED to be presenting film at Pygmalion! It’s their first time showing films, and it’s our first time presenting films at another event, much less one that is so much bigger, and more established than us. It’s an amazing way to start a new chapter with our 100th screening in town!
Friday, September 25: Steal This Story, Please
📍 Spurlock Museum– 7pm – $15
Amy Goodman is an investigative reporter, host, and executive producer of Democracy Now!, and global news program, which is broadcast daily, and syndicated nationally on radio, television, and the web. She is known for elevating voices not covered by corporate radio.
Steal This Story, Please is the new documentary covering Amy, and her thirty year history chasing stories, and giving them more exposure. It has had astounding success since opening theatrically in April, with a huge opening in New York, and the biggest opening weekend of any documentary at The Music Box In Chicago in their recorded history. It’s played a ton of festival dates, and taken home two handfuls of audience awards.
To make this screening even more special, we’ll be following the screening with a Zoom Q&A with co-director Carl Deal. Carl is an Academy-Award nominated director for 2009’s Trouble The Water, and has been a frequent collaborator with Michael Moore.
If you’re interested in this screening, I suggest getting tickets early. I have a strong suspicion it will sell out.
THE REST OF FILM AT PYGMALION
All other film screenings at Pygmalion, three on Saturday & three on Sunday are FREE. Screenings are at Tiernan’s Hall, which is on the third floor above Encanto, at 115 W. Main St, Urbana.
Title links take you to the Pygmalion page with more info about the films.
Saturday, September 26
Doors: 5:00pm | Show 6:00pm
The Green Mill A Real Chicago Joint
[trailer]
Documentary • USA • 2025 • 56 Minutes
The Green Mill is known as an old hangout for Al Capone and where Billie Holiday sang, and as a swinging jazz joint for generations of Chicagoans. For more than a century, this legendary nightclub was a melting pot of humanity and the music never stopped.
In 2024, owner Dave Jemilo and five longtime employees gathered to talk about working till dawn, about playing the music, pouring the drinks, and living the nightlife.
After the film the audience will be joined by director & participant Paul L. Carr for an in-person Q&A.
Doors 7:30 PM | Show 8:00 PM
Shorts: Animation After Dark
Spike & Mike. Adult Swim. Don Hertzfeldt. While usually considered a form for children’s films, there is some great animation that explores adult themes, situations, and content. Join us for some recent great examples.
Doors 9:30 PM | Show 10:00 PM
Röckët Stähr’s Death of a Rockstar
[trailer]
Narrative • USA • 2020 • 92 Minutes
In the year 2164, when rock n roll is banned, a group of underground rebels, lead by a mad scientist, attempt to start a non-violent revolution by waking up the docile masses via a cloned rockstar sent on a guerrilla tour to “rock n roll them free from their misery”.
But they soon find out, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
Death Of A Rockstar is a science-fiction, animated, retro-rock opera. Its creator, Röckët Stähr spent eight years animating the entire film, which he also wrote all of the music for, entirely on his own. Additionally, he sang and performed almost all of the music. The entire project took thirteen years to complete. Death Of A Rockstar is a fun rock n’ roll trip to the future that has its feet firmly planted in the glory days of rock.
Sunday, September 27
Doors 3:30 PM | Show 4:00 PM
Shorts: Jewish-American
Originally shown during the 2026 Savoy Lumière, this program explores the quiet push and pull between heritage and everyday American life, revealing the contradictions and intimacy of ordinary moments through personal, character-driven stories that feel human rather than political. And food. Lots of delicious food.
Doors 5:30 PM | Show 6:00 PM
Shorts: HomeGrown
All these short films were grown organically and locally sourced, and brought fresh to the table for you.
After the screenings, we’re expecting to have a live Q&A with a representative from every film.
Doors 8:00 PM | Show 8:30 PM
Slouching Towards Branson
In his new comedy special “Slouching Towards Branson,” singer-songwriter and alt-comic Will Wood performs for audiences across the U.S., intertwining songs from his discography with a drug-addled, rat-filled, spiritually confused “about as true as a true story can be while still being a story” story about accidentally going viral, timeshare presentations, and the end of the world.
