Chaz Ebert
Chaz Ebert is the CEO of Ebert Digital LLC, publisher of the preeminent movie review site RogerEbert.com; also legal adviser and TV and movie producer at Ebert Productions. For twenty-four years, she shared a life with Pulitzer Prize-winner Roger Ebert.
In their work to foster empathy through cinema, they established the Ebertfest Film Festival and the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies at the University of Illinois. Chaz has passionately continued to lead all events while nurturing film critics, filmmakers, and technologists through the Roger Ebert Fellowship. She awards the Golden Thumb and Ebert Humanitarian Awards to filmmakers who exhibit an unusually compassionate view of the world.
Meet Chaz Ebert
Chaz Ebert started her professional career as an attorney in Chicago, and segued into the entertainment industry.
For twenty-four years, Chaz shared a life with Pulitzer-prize winner, Roger Ebert. In their work to foster empathy through cinema and around the globe, they established such well-known causes as the Ebertfest Film Festival and the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Since her Roger’s death on April 4, 2013, it has been Chaz Ebert’s fervent desire for things such as forgiveness, empathy, compassion, and kindness—the FECK Principles—to spread in such a viral way that they become a natural part of our lives. A next step to the work they began together, It’s Time to Give a FECK is a call for the elevation of unity among humanity and a movement to transform empathy into action.
Broad Reaching Contributions
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.
She has passionately continued to lead all established events, while endeavoring to nurture the next generation of film writers, critics, and filmmakers through the Ebert Fellowship—launched in 2014 by Sundance Institute Founder, Robert Redford, but expanded to include Ebert Fellows at various venues, most notably at the year-round program at the College of Media, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also continues to award the Golden Thumb and Ebert Humanitarian Awards at Ebertfest, and at the Toronto and Chicago International Film Festivals to filmmakers who exhibit an unusually compassionate view of the world.
A Passion for Empowering Programs
As president of the Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation, Chaz’s civic passions include programs to help break the glass ceiling for women and people of color; and to provide education and arts for women, children, and families.
As the founder of “Day4Empathy,” Chaz has become celebrated for spearheading efforts for kindness-induced change. In her pledge to foster the FECK Principles of forgiveness, empathy, compassion, and kindness, she has also become a sought-out lecturer who has touched tens of thousands of attendees at events like Cannes; Telluride Film Festival; the Palm Springs Film Festival; Toronto, Chicago and Hawaii International Film Festivals; and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
A Humanist Dedicated to Promoting Justice
Chaz’s contributions have garnered her the 2019 Beethoven Laureate for being “a humanist who promotes justice and a better world through the arts” by the International Beethoven Project.
She has also earned the 2022 FACETS Legend Award, 2022 Ruby Dee Humanitarian award at the Black Reel Awards, and the 2011 Focus Achievement Award from Women in Film Chicago. Previously as an attorney, she was also named Lawyer of the Year by the Constitutional Rights Foundation.
A Heart for Shaping a Better Tomorrow
Chaz currently acts as a life trustee of the Art Institute and serves on the boards of the Lyric Opera and the LA Opera, the Lincoln Presidential Foundation, After School Matters, FACETS Multimedia, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and The Advisory Committee of Film Independent.
She has also served on the Lawyers Committees of the presidential campaigns for President Clinton, President Obama, and Senator Hillary Clinton.
How It All Began
How It All Began
