New Roger Ebert Documentary 'The Last Movie Critic' Premieres at Final Ebertfest

Shatterglass Films announces its unconventional new documentary featuring Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Tilda Swinton, Ava DuVernay, and others.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:23am

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An extreme close-up of highly textured, glittering film reel material captured in dramatic studio lighting, conceptually representing the glamour and significance of the cinematic medium that was the lifelong passion of renowned film critic Roger Ebert.The premiere of The Last Movie Critic documentary celebrates the enduring impact of legendary film critic Roger Ebert on the art of cinema.Champaign Today

Shatterglass Films announces the premiere of its new documentary film 'The Last Movie Critic' at the final Ebertfest in Champaign, Illinois on April 17, 2026. The film, produced by Chaz Ebert and others, explores the life and legacy of renowned film critic Roger Ebert through the lens of a young film student searching for the secrets behind his philosophies and enduring impact on cinema.

Why it matters

The Last Movie Critic arrives at a pivotal moment, as the Ebertfest festival that Ebert built and loved is holding its final edition. The film aims to capture Ebert's unique perspective on the power of movies to foster empathy, curiosity, and our shared humanity - a mission that feels increasingly urgent in an era where cinema has been reduced to mere 'content'.

The details

Directed by Luke Boyce and Michael Moreci, the documentary follows a young film student who arrives at Ebertfest with questions about Roger Ebert's legacy. Guided by Ebert's own writings, the film illuminates his philosophies, passions, and conviction that movies have the power to make us more empathetic and human. The film includes never-before-seen archival footage and features tributes from filmmakers Ebert championed over the decades, including Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Tilda Swinton, Ava DuVernay, and others.

  • The Last Movie Critic premieres on April 17, 2026 at the final edition of Ebertfest in Champaign, Illinois.
  • Ebertfest, the festival Ebert built and loved, is holding its last edition in 2026.

The players

Chaz Ebert

Producer of The Last Movie Critic and Roger Ebert's wife.

Luke Boyce

Co-writer and co-director of The Last Movie Critic.

Michael Moreci

Co-writer and co-director of The Last Movie Critic.

Martin Scorsese

Acclaimed filmmaker who appears in The Last Movie Critic, paying tribute to Roger Ebert.

Ava DuVernay

Acclaimed filmmaker who appears in The Last Movie Critic, paying tribute to Roger Ebert.

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What they’re saying

“Empathy is the through line of everything I believe in, and it was the through line of Roger's work too. We set out to make a film from his words, his ideas, his soul.”

— Chaz Ebert, Producer, The Last Movie Critic

“Roger Ebert was one of the most important thinkers of the past century. The way Thoreau went to Walden Pond to commune with nature, Roger went to the movies to commune with humanity.”

— Michael Moreci, Co-Writer and Co-Director, The Last Movie Critic

What’s next

Tickets for the premiere of The Last Movie Critic at the final Ebertfest on April 17, 2026 are available at thevirginia.org.

The takeaway

The Last Movie Critic serves as a timely and poignant tribute to Roger Ebert's enduring legacy as a champion of cinema's power to foster empathy, curiosity, and our shared humanity - a mission that feels increasingly vital in an era where movies have been reduced to mere 'content'.