Series brings foreign, independent films to campus

Ocotober 01, 2008
Andrew Thomason
Staff Writer

For the 12th semester in a row, the Independent and Foreign Film Series has returned to the University of Illinois at Springfield’s campus.

Cynthia Thompson, Director of Student Life at UIS, said the series came about as a way to help mold the university as the cultural center of the city.
“Also, there were some students who were asking...for different kinds of things that weren’t offered,” she said.

A committee composed of students, faculty and staff was then organized to select the movies. Thompson sends out e-mails at the beginning of every semester asking for movie suggestions for the upcoming semester. She presents that list to the committee, who also bring their own suggestions. Out of these movies emerge the final list for that semester.

At first, the series seemed to be a hard sell, but over time it has grown in popularity.

“We started by getting about 10 people in the movies. Last spring there were about 80 to 100 people at every screening,” Thompson said.

Films are shown every Friday at 7 p.m. in the Brookens Auditorium and are free to everyone. So far this semester, three movies have been shown: Saint of 9/11, Persepolis, and Ten Canoes.

Up coming movies are as follows:

October 3 – Arctic Tale, Rated G	October 10 – Kinky Boots, Rated PG 13
October 17 – 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama, This film is not rated	October 24 – I'm Not There, Rated R
October 31 – Dr. Strangelove, Rated PG	November 7 – Taxi to the Dark Side, Rated R
November 14 – 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, This film is not rated	November 21 – The Birds, Rated PG 13

For a full description of these movies visit check out www.uis.edu or call the Office of Student Life at 206-6665.