Since 2003, the University of Illinois at Springfield has been playing host to its Foreign and Independent Film Series.
This spring’s event kicks off Friday with “Black Orpheus”, an Academy Award-winning 20th century portrayal of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Cynthia Thompson, director of Student Life at UIS expects a high turnout for this spring’s four films, all of which are critically acclaimed.
“We’ve been putting it on since 2003,” says Thompson, who adds that the festival has “always been very popular – especially in the wider community” and is currently hosted by the Office of Student Life.
The festival was started, she says, to help create more cultural programs at UIS – which has proven a fruitful strategy since the series has drawn a full house (192 seats) more than once.
Besides being culturally significant and entertaining, it’s also free of charge.
This story was published online in The State Journal-Register on January 28, 2015.
Read the entire article online.
