Chambana Film Society

06/21/2026

I forgot that I'm out of town all next week. I'll be in Chicago at IND/EX, a trade conference for arthouse theaters, film festivals, distributors and all sorts of connected industries, like theater chairs!

So, I sped up a little bit, and now CineSonic has been fully announced!

You can RSVP to all of the FB events here: https://www.facebook.com/ChambanaFilmSociety/events

You might start seeing these flyers around town this week, as my amazing volunteers might start putting them up while I'm gone. It's definitely not my finest work, but as a design ripoff of the show flyers from one of my favorite concert venues, Lounge Ax, it works.

See an example here: https://www.concertarchives.org/image_uploads/photo/image/733010/large_2.21.98.jpg

Oh! And I almost forgot! There's an announcement about more film screenings coming on Wednesday! We're partnering with an organization to bring 6-7 screenings to Urbana. I'll try to repost it as soon as it's announced.

Next week, I'll get to work on a better poster, and more publicity will start soon. Be good while I'm gone.

Thanks everyone!

06/18/2026

CineSonic Film #2 - Sunday July 19 @ 2pm - Savoy 16 + IMAX

🍅 100% on RT! *Audience Award* SXSW - *Jury Award* Lake County Film Festival - Director Q&A Expected After Screening!

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/resynator

Inventor Don Tavel died suddenly when his newborn daughter was just ten weeks old. Growing up surrounded by mythical stories of her “genius” father, Alison’s life is consequently absent from any meaningful connection to him. Not until she is in her mid-twenties and on tour with rock musician Grace Potter is the seed planted to discover what he invented. Resynator is a narrative documentary that begins when Alison rescues Don’s synthesizer prototype from her grandmother’s attic. What starts off as a curious resurrection project of her dad’s Resynator soon launches into an insatiable, globe-trotting quest to untangle the web of myths and unlock the deep secrets surrounding his life and invention.

Aided by estranged family, lost friends, fellow inventors and celebrated musicians (Grace Potter, Peter Gabriel, Fred Armisen, Gotye, Jon Anderson and more), Alison soon comes to discover Don’s brilliance herself. But in unpacking his life, she also discovers unsettling truths about her father that don't align with her long-held perception of him, as the picture of a vulnerable man emerges to replace the superhero version she had imagined all her life. Not only can she finally relate to him on a human level, but their parallel Resynator journeys reveal an indomitable bond between them. The score features the resurrected Resynator.

SXSW World Premiere on March 10thFor more info visit:www.resynat...

06/16/2026

CineSonic Film #1 - Sunday, July 12 @ 2pm - Savoy 16 + IMAX

In case you missed it yesterday, the first film in the CineSonic Music Film Festival screening series is LIFERS: A Local H Movie! Written & Directed by Local H's Scott Lucas, LIFERS is like no other movie I've seen before. Framed as a night out at a concert, LIFERS mixes full-song videos of performances of the band with narrative scenes happening during the concert. All filmed in (pretty much) real time!

While this film has been playing festivals and theaters for almost two years, Lucas has said he has NO INTEREST in releasing it for home viewing. The only way to see it is as he intended it, IN A THEATER! You snooze, you lose.

The first movie from LOCAL H is almost here! Written, directed and ...

06/14/2026

OK, CineSonic isn't COMPLETELY scheduled yet, but it's very close. I have some backups in place, but I'm still hoping some first choice titles come through with final permissions.

That said, TOMORROW I'm going to announce the first title, and will hopefully announce our next ten screenings over the next two weeks, one per weekday.

06/08/2026

Submissions are now open for the 2027 Savoy Lumière, running from March 18 - March 29. You can find us on Film Freeway and Hike. Links in the comments!

06/01/2026

We must know what we are doing, we brought 4 of these films to town.

Between ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms,’ the kids are taking cinemas by storm.

06/01/2026

It still needs some work, but I started building this page last week.

I count 90 screenings total since we started showing films in 2024. Currently working on a schedule that will take us over 100 by mid-September.

Links in bold are available to watch at home. Other links will take you to pages that have more info about the film. 2024.03.31: QWERTY (with Q&A) 2024.04.28: Trapped Balloon2024.05.26: Bike Vessel2024.06.30: Shorts: funny strange & funny haha• Don't Forget• Room Tone• There Will Be Sound• Q...

05/23/2026

Thanks to everyone that came out to any of the Savoy Lumière screenings, and everyone that pitched in to help with everything. This was the best time I've had with one of my festivals in at least 15 years. I'll be back with a June newsletter soon, but probably won't have announcements about CineSonic screenings until mid-June.

See you then!

05/22/2026

How weird to turn on The Daily Show tonight and see "Weird Al" Yankovic! Don't miss Tight & Nerdy @ Savoy Lumière tonight at The Savoy 16 + IMAX! Short Film Maybe It's This at 6pm, Tight & Nerdy at 7!

“Weird Al” Yankovic, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning comedy music leg...

05/21/2026

The Savoy Lumière finally ends Friday night! We've got Maybe It's This at 6pm, and at 7pm we have Tight & Nerdy - The Weird Al Burlesque Movie. Both of these films have 30 minute Q&As scheduled afterwards.

After that is A Draglesque Finale to the Savoy Lumière!

Thanks so much to Smile Politely for the coverage in the Weekender. I can't say for sure that the films are going to sell out, but if they follow the same trend of pre-sales vs. walkups as we usually see, it definitely will!

Fuel up on Green Street for this long weekend. Then head to see film and live music, learn to play a game, and get outside.