Roger Ebert Film Festival revenue declines over past 3 years

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - In each of the last three years, total net revenue has declined for the Roger Ebert Film Festival presented by the University of Illinois College of Media, according to a recent report.

The 2015 event brought in about $111,105, compared with about $125,220 in 2014 and about $137,200 in 2013, The (Champaign) News-Gazette (http://bit.ly/20vlN0x ) reported on Sunday after reviewing financial records from the past three festivals.

Four of the 37 films shown at the festival from 2013 to 2015 failed to generate at least $1,000 in ticket sales. All four of them were shown in 2015, but last year's event also saw biggest revenue-generating movie in the last three years, with $5,612 for the "The End of the Tour" showing.

Sales of all-session festival passes also have declined in each of the past three years, while individual ticket sales have fluctuated.

Last year, 835 passes were sold, down from 989 in 2014 and 1,011 in 2013. Individual ticket sales improved last year, jumping to 1,870 tickets from 1,461 in 2014, but slightly less than the 1,902 sold in 2013.

The 18th annual Roger Ebert Film Festival is set to begin this week at the Virginia Theater in Champaign.

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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com