Roger Ebert's film festival will open this year with director Guillermo del Toro and his 2015 gothic horror movie "Crimson Peak."
Chaz Ebert says her late husband would have approved of the choice for the 18th annual Ebertfest in Champaign. This year's festival runs April 13-17.
She says the 51-year-old del Toro has an "incredibly creative mind" and loves to talk about movies. Del Toro's films include "Cronos," "Hellboy" and "Pan's Labyrinth."
Ebert died in 2013 at age 70. His wife, Chaz, has continued to present and host the five-day film festival.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for the Chicago Sun-Times was a native of Urbana and a graduate of the University of Illinois. The university's College of Media sponsors Ebertfest.
