Lisa Cortes, the Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer and director, will attend Ebertfest to discuss her film “Little Richard: I Am Everything,” a documentary about Little Richard, the unique, flamboyant, rock ‘n’ roll icon who shaped the world of music with hits like “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally” (Read Sheila O’Malley’s review of the film here). Lisa gives us a very detailed look at his life and his influence on so many who came after him. It is always a pleasure to see Lisa. I saw her last weekend at the Spirit Awards and she was eagerly looking forward to Ebertfest. She will love our Ebertfest audiences and they will love her.
We will also continue our tradition of music in films and on stage. Ebertfest was born out of Roger’s conviction that movies can be a machine that generates empathy. And that conviction has evolved into what I call my FECK Principles: Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion and Kindness. I think that movies combined with music can have a profound effect on encouraging more compassion in the world. The films and musical performances we have chosen for our 25th anniversary are ones that would make Roger proud.
I am also introducing my new book, It’s Time to Give a FECK: Elevating Humanity Through Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion and Kindness. It will be published on Thursday, May 7th. But I am so happy to be able to discuss it with the Ebertfest audience who has exhibited so much empathy, compassion and kindness over the years.
Director Diane Moore, a filmmaker who has worked in the visual arts field for more than 15 years, and Roderick Cox, a world-renowned orchestra conductor and winner of the 2018 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, will join the stage to discuss “Conducting Life,” a documentary that follows the remarkable journey of Cox as he pursues his dream to secure a top position with a major orchestra. Maestro Cox will come in from Berlin to join us.