2025-26 Ebert Fellows announced

The Roger Ebert Fellows chosen for the 2025-26 academic year are Paige Gaines, Amir Rehab, and Jin Wang.

The program, named after the late Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and University of Illinois journalism alum, allows students to work with former Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips in engaging with notable figures within the film and media industry and strengthening their critical analysis and writing skills.

This year, the Ebert Fellows will participate in monthly workshops both on campus and in Chicago, curate screenings through the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies at Spurlock Museum, and engage in radio exercises with Steve Morck, senior digital media producer at Illinois Public Media.

Phillips has been the advisor since the program began in 2015. When it comes to selecting the Ebert Fellows, he looks for something beyond the conventional: persuasive, compelling and “alive.”

“Ebert was a lot more than a ‘film critic,’ Phillips said. “He brought the world around him into the writing, which is not easy to do well, and he did it just about better than anybody.”

Another yearly highlight is the Fellows’ coverage of the True/False Film Fest in Missouri. This is a two-night excursion that entails covering the festival, where Phillips encourages the students to speak with people involved in the films that interest them the most.

“Whether it’s for radio podcasting, print, or introducing a film, anything we can do to get the students a little closer to the writer they want to become is the goal,” Phillips said.

Meet the 2025-26 Ebert Fellows

Paige Gaines is a senior earning a dual degree in media and cinema studies and in communication. She is looking forward to working with the other Fellows.

“Both of the other Fellows are in advertising, so it will bring different outlooks from what I have had,” Gaines said. “I’m really interested to see what I can learn from them and what they can learn from me.”

Gaines frequently attended Ebertfest as a child and is a distant relative of Roger Ebert. She wants to improve her review-writing skills and efficiency.

The True/False Film Fest is the event that Gaines is most excited for because of the screenings of documentaries revolving around social and political issues.

“I love telling stories about people who don’t have stories told about them as much,” Gaines said. “What better way to get exposure to that scene than going to where it’s hosted?”

One of Gaines’s favorite films is Therapy Dogs, a hybrid documentary-fiction comedy,because she saw it at an important part of her life, and it ignited her love for her career.

Amir Rehab, a senior in advertising, is looking forward to working with Phillips, meeting with directors, and evolving as a writer.

“Living in the USA and Algeria has given me so many different perspectives within our media that we consume,” he said. “Through design and editing, I learned how visuals can tell stories and evoke emotions.”

Rehab transferred to the University of Illinois last year and chose advertising as a major because it combines two things he has always loved—creativity and strategy.

He currently makes his own short-form documentaries and is interested in using this program to improve his storytelling capabilities and network.

“Putting yourself out there in uncomfortable situations in order to evolve is important,” Rehab said. ”If you’re just staying in the exact same spot, you’re not going to get anywhere.”

His favorite movie is Parasite, which won the 2020 Academy Award for Best Picture,because of the powerful message through the acting and visual storytelling.

“I was extremely impressed by the cinematography—the details in distinguishing class division and income inequality. It’s a very powerful message achieved not only through acting but also through visual storytelling and camera work!”

Jin Wang is a junior in advertising. She is most excited for the immersion trips to Chicago, where the students will work in the Ebert Fellow workshop and visit art exhibitions.

Wang is eager to learn more about film this year, as her criticism in the past has mostly revolved around paintings and sculpture.

“Criticism is essential because our experiences shape how we see the world,” Wang said. “It brings different viewpoints together and helps people express their own ideas.”

She is excited to collaborate with the other Fellows by contributing different ideas and opinions.

Wang’s favorite movie is the Korean film Wedding Dress because of the themes about family and love.

“It reminds me that love isn’t just about happy moments, but also about sacrifice,” Wang said. “It’s so emotional and it makes me feel deeply connected to the story and the characters.”