Editing Ebertfest (section)

== Venue ==
Since its inception in 1999, Ebertfest has been held at the [[Virginia Theatre (Champaign)|Virginia Theatre]], an old-time movie palace in Champaign built in 1921 and listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Emerick |first=Laura |date=May 1, 2006 |title=A community for cinema: Ebert and fans give bypassed movies an avid audience |newspaper=Chicago Sun Times |edition=Final |page=39}}</ref><ref name="milestones" /> The theatre is now owned by the [[Champaign Park District]]. Ebert spoke of having attended films at the Virginia while growing up in Champaign-Urbana and attending the University.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebertfest.com/PDFs/2011EbertProgram.pdf |title=Renovations bring local treasure back to life |last1=Silverberg |first1=Melissa |date=April 2011 |website=ebertfest.com |page=15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509063304/http://ebertfest.com/PDFs/2011EbertProgram.pdf |archive-date=9 May 2016 |access-date=22 May 2016}}</ref> It was Ebert's intention that all festival attendees see all of the films in a single theatre in order to create a sense of community among film lovers.<ref name="show">{{cite news |url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2006-04-26/show.html |title=On with the show |last1=Merli |first1=Melissa |date=April 26, 2006 |website=News-Gazette |location=Champaign, Illinois |access-date=10 July 2016}}</ref>

In 2014, a bronze [[statue of Roger Ebert]] was unveiled outside of the Virginia Theatre as tribute to both Ebert and Ebertfest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebertfest.com/PDFs/2014EbertProgram.pdf |title=Life-size statue commemorates Ebert |last1=Weber |first1=Ryan |date=April 2014 |website=ebertfest.com |page=17 |access-date=6 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509114015/http://ebertfest.com/PDFs/2014EbertProgram.pdf |archive-date=9 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Growth ===
Through donations, the Virginia has been able to fully equip its projection and sound system with a second projector, the latest in digital sound equipment and top quality lenses.<ref name="FAQ1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ebertfest.com/faq.html |title=FAQs/General Festival Questions |website=eberfest.com |access-date=22 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527192426/http://www.ebertfest.com/faq.html |archive-date=27 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebertfest.com/PDFs/2014EbertProgram.pdf |title=Sponsors |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=April 2014 |website=ebertfest.com |page=84 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509114015/http://ebertfest.com/PDFs/2014EbertProgram.pdf |archive-date=9 May 2016 |access-date=22 May 2016}}</ref> The theatre's screen is 56 feet wide by 23 feet high, with a viewable image of up to 50 feet wide x 21½ feet high. The main speakers sit directly behind the screen during film presentations and are augmented by 36 surround sound speakers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thevirginia.org/venue-information/venue-rentals/#screen |title=Venue Rentals |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=thevirginia.org |publisher=Champaign Park District |access-date=21 April 2017}}</ref>

Instrumental in these upgrades has been notable [[Chicago]]-based projection expert James Bond who doubles as one of the projectionists during the festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebertfest.com/PDFs/2014EbertProgram.pdf |title=Welcome to Ebertfest! |last1=Ebert |first1=Chaz |date=April 2014 |website=ebertfest.com |page=7 |access-date=6 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509114015/http://ebertfest.com/PDFs/2014EbertProgram.pdf |archive-date=9 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Capacity ===
Since 2013, the Virginia Theatre has a seating capacity of 1,463.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thevirginia.org/history/ |title=The Virginia Experience |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=thevirginia.org |publisher=Champaign Park District |access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref> The theatre was closed from 2012 until April 2013 for renovations that included replacing all of the seats. Capacity dropped from about 1,550<ref name="champions" /> to 1,463 but the new seats are more comfortable and the theatre offers wheelchair and companion access.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vorel |first=Jim |date=May 24, 2012 |title=Champaign's Virginia Theatre begins final phase of renovation |url=http://herald-review.com/entertainment/local/champaign-s-virginia-theatre-begins-final-phase-of-renovation/article_28ab0c3a-a5cb-11e1-a916-0019bb2963f4.html |newspaper=Herald & Review |location=Decatur, Illinois |access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref>