Heartland Hawk Film Festival at Normal Theater May 7-8

The 2025 Heartland Hawk Film Festival will feature a free screening of an Emmy award-winning documentary and a collection of student-made films. 

Heartland Community College presents the documentary Chicago at the Crossroad during the first night of the two-day film festival held on May 7-8 at the Normal Theater.

The documentary, made over a 15-year period, tells the story of violence and racial segregation in Chicago, including the way policies and laws have shaped the city, ultimately asking the question: how can a city heal from so much heartache?

Immediately following the screening will be a panel discussion with the film's producer and director, Brian Schodorf, Heartland and Illinois State criminal justice professor Dewhitt L. Bingham, Heartland Workforce Equity Initiative Success Navigator Tommy Johnson, and Heartland Black Student Union President Faith Brothers. The screening begins at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7.

The Festival presents short films from students and alumni at the Festival from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 8.