Lee Shoquist – Film Critic 

Lee Shoquist is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and editor of ChicagoFilm.com. He leads a network of film discussion groups in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, and is a frequent speaker at cultural and arts organizations including Facets, the Women’s Athletic Club, The Fortnightly of Chicago, Michigan Shores Club, Lake Shore Country Club, The Cliff Dwellers, the Casino Club, Google Headquarters and Cinema Chicago. His work examines artistic intent, social resonance and cinema’s place in contemporary culture. 

Chaz Ebert – RogerEbert.com

Chaz Ebert is an active producer of television and movies, and the CEO of Ebert Digital LLC—publisher of the preeminent movie review site, Rogerebert.com. For twenty-four years, she shared a life with Pulitzer-prize winner, Roger Ebert. In their work to foster empathy through cinema and around the globe, they established the Ebertfest Film Festival and the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies at the University of Illinois. She is the author of the best-selling book It’s Time to Give a FECK: Elevating Humanity Through Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness. 

Bing Liu – Director

Bing Liu is the director of Preparation for the Next Life and Minding the Gap, which was nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the 2019 Academy Awards, an Independent Spirit Award, an Emmy and won a Sundance Special Jury and Peabody Award. He was a segment director on Starz’ AMERICA TO ME and co-directed his second feature documentary All These Sons, which won Best Cinematography at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and the Maysles Award at the Denver International Film Festival. 

Michael Phillips – Writer, Talker

Before joining the Chicago Tribune in 2002 as drama critic, Michael Phillips worked as theater critic of the Los Angeles Times, the San Diego Union-Tribune, the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Dallas Times-Herald. His work in other mediums includes co-hosting the long-running syndicated series “At the Movies”; on-air host for Turner Classic Movies; and appearances on the Chicago podcast “Filmspotting”. Michael has taught arts journalism for DePaul University, Columbia College, the University of Chicago and University of Illinois.