Video: ‘Life Itself’ Q&A with Chaz Ebert, Alec Baldwin & Others

Matt Zoller Seitz, Chaz Ebert and David Nugent. Photo: Eugene Gologursky

Matt Zoller Seitz, Chaz Ebert and David Nugent. Photo: Eugene Gologursky

This past Saturday, the 2014 HIFF SummerDocs season kicked off with the poignant, charming and altogether lovely film called Life Itself. Directed by Steve James (Hoop Dreams) and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Life Itself chronicles the life and times of the Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert, who passed away in April of 2013. Amazingly, Ebert’s decade-plus bout with cancer coincided with one of his most prolific and creative periods of writing—both critical and personal—during which he endeared himself to his devout followers on social media.

After the screening at Guild Hall of East Hampton, the audience enjoyed a lively conversation about movies, criticism, Roger Ebert, and his inimitable curiosity and spirit. SummerDocs host Alec Baldwin was joined on stage by Chaz Ebert, Roger’s widow and publisher of RogerEbert.com, which still produces excellent criticism; critic Matt Zoller Seitz, who is also the editor-in-chief of RogerEbert.com; and David Nugent, HIFF’s Artistic Director.

If you missed the screening, you can catch it in theaters across the country beginning July 4. You can also follow the movie on Facebook and Twitter. In the meantime, check out the video of Saturday’s SummerDocs Q&A:

Next up at SummerDocs:

Keep On Keepin’ On, directed by Al Hicks

Friday, July 25
♦ 7:30 pm
♦ Guild Hall of East Hampton
Get tickets