Many thanks to Roger Ebert’s favorite reporter covering Ebertfest, Melissa Merli, for a wonderful interview.

This is her third year at Ebertfest, where she handled the onstage Q-and-A after “Short Term 12” was shown Thursday afternoon. That movie made her Top 10 list last year. As for Ebertfest, she “absolutely” loves it.

“What I love most about it is there is no intense air of competition. Everybody watches the same movies together and talks about them afterward,” she said Friday between screenings.

And for the most complete coverage, be sure to check out rogerebert.com.  Hope to see you all there in 2015!