Introducing the Alloy Orchestra’s "Wild and Weird" collection of short films on Friday at Ebertfest, film Professor David Bordwell said it offers "a quick trip in a time machine of 20 years of cinema."

CHAMPAIGN — If the 2012 Ebertfest were to have a real-life hero of a sort, it might be Raymond C. Lambert, a black entrepreneur who founded All Jokes Aside in 1991 in the South Loop in Chicago.

Ebertfest emcee Chaz Ebert said she and her husband, Roger, wanted to start out the first day of his 14th annual film festival with a lot of laughs.

"We decided not to make you cry the first day," she said.

They succeeded with the first three movies:

Tied up on a movie set, actor-comedian Patton Oswalt canceled his appearances at Roger Ebert’s Film Festival today.

Usually I don’t get to the opening movie of Ebertfest until a few minutes before — or after — it begins. But I went over to the Virginia Theatre an hour or so ago and was surprised to see two women sitting in the festival pass-holder line. Or what will be the beginning of the line.

CHAMPAIGN — Movie buffs don’t have to leave home (or their office) to participate in the 14th annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival.

I had wondered how superstar violinist Joshua Bell would perform and conduct the Academy of St. Martin in the Field on Thursday night at Krannert Center.

A member of WBEZ forwarded me a copy of Ira Glass’ letter about the station's retraction relating to its program that aired Mike Daisey’s  one-man show. "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs," in which Daisey tells of visiting a factory in China owned by Foxconn that manufactures  iPhones and iPads.