CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — For the past 26 years, Ebertfest has been hosted by the alma mater of Roger Ebert, the U of I’s College of Media, but on Monday, the film festival announced an end to that partnership.

“The University was the perfect partner, but they, like many other institutions across the country, had to make changes,” a release on Ebertfest’s website said.

After the community asked for Ebertfest to return, the festival has decided to come back for one final year, with the dates running from April 17 to 18 at Virginia Theatre in Champaign.

The final edition will feature eight films, which will be announced at a later date, special guests, and signature Q&As that turn screenings into shared experiences. A farewell brunch at Steak n’ Shake on the morning of Sunday, April 19 will also be held.

Ebertfest looks to celebrate all films, genres, and formats, even those that have been overlooked by distributors, audiences, and/or critics. These include independent, international, and studio films whether or not they won wide audiences, overlooked formats such as 70mm, and overlooked genres such as documentaries and musicals.

For more information, visit www.ebertfest.com.