Crowds gathered bright and early Thursday morning at the Virginia Theatre for the 9 a.m. showing of “Megalopolis,” filmmaker and festival special guest Francis Ford Coppola’s ambitious sci-fi drama.

Michael Barker, co-president and co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics, was in attendance and introduced the movie as a “roaming epic set in modern times.” 

Drawing inspiration from Roman history, “Megalopolis” centers on an architect’s battle to rebuild a decaying metropolis, based on New York City, into a futuristic utopia.

“You have to let (this movie) happen to you,” Barker said. “Because Francis is not just a filmmaker — he is a visionary, a philosopher.”

When it premiered, the film garnered mostly negative reviews, with some critics calling it an “epic fail.” However, other critics were impressed by its ambition, describing the experience as “wandering through the dreams of one of the most important filmmakers of all time.”

Assistant professor in Media, Senior Associate Director at  the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning and audience member Robert Baird highlighted the importance of Ebertfest and its role in connecting the local community with meaningful cinema.

“This event is just a great opportunity, people having conversations about film, it’s a bustling time in town,” Baird said.

As part of the post-show panel, Barker returned to the stage alongside Dion Metzger, psychiatrist and film critic, and Giò Crisafulli, member of the National Organization of Italian Americans in Film & Television.

Crisafulli spoke about the historical layers of the film, which appear overshadowed by its more surrealist and sci-fi components.

“(Coppola’s) very knowledgeable about the history (Italians) share and brought to the world,” Crisafulli said. “And he specifically shows the Republic of Rome because American democracy was consciously emulating ancient Rome democracy.”

For many festivalgoers, the “Megalopolis” screening was their first time, as Barker said in his introduction, “seeing (the film) the way it should be seen” — on the Virginia Theatre’s 52-foot-wide movie screen.

Audience member Caroline Zimmerman, attending her first Ebertfest, said she was drawn to the event because of her interest in film and the fact that her son studied filmmaking.

“I enjoyed the movie,” Zimmerman said. “It was really different, but that whole idea of comparing it to the old Republic of Rome, it was great.”

After the screening, anticipation built as audience members waited for the special guest: Coppola himself, who appeared via Zoom on the theatre’s big screen.

Following a thunderous applause, Coppola reflected on the deeper meaning behind the film. To him, “Megalopolis” is ultimately about family and the hope carried by new generations.

“In different parts of the world, human children who are potential Archimedes and Mozarts and Beethovens are being slaughtered,” Coppola said. “The children are our sacred future, and no one should lose their life over the stupidity of war.”

Chaz Ebert, Roger Ebert’s widow and festival host, closed out the event by thanking attendees and volunteers for helping carry on her late husband’s legacy.

For Jill Hieronymus, one of the many volunteers who make Ebertfest what it is, the event was enriching and eye-opening.

“Being part of the Ebertfest, it’s a wonderful experience because you’re introduced to movies that you ordinarily would not select for yourself,” Hieronymus said. “It’s all just so thought-provoking. Second of all, it’s a festival, you know? So it’s fun.”

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