Heartland Hawk Film Festival at Normal Theater May 6-7

The Heartland Hawk Film Festival kicks off with a look at how tornadoes and other extreme weather events shape the geography and the cultural identity of the Midwest. 

Heartland Community College presents the documentary A Brief History of Chasing Storms during the first night of the two-day film festival held on May 6-7 at the Normal Theater. 

A Brief History of Chasing Storms, directed by Chicago-based filmmaker Curtis Smith, presents a history of the tornado as both a destructive weather event and a cultural icon in the “tornado alley” of the midwest. The film follows various individuals including an amateur storm chaser, the CEO of a Wizard of Oz-themed storm shelter company, and others impacted or fascinated by tornadoes. 

The festival kicks off on with a screening of A Brief History of Chasing Storms along with a director Q&A on Wednesday, May 6. 

On Thursday, May 7 the festival continues with a student and alumni short film showcase. Prizes will be awarded, including the audience favorite award.

Students can submit films for consideration until April 30, 2026. A finished short film should be submitted as an MPEG-4 file via Google Drive or a YouTube link. Submissions and questions can be directed to: Adam Scott at adam.scott@heartland.edu.

Both nights of the Heartland Hawk Film Festival are free and open to the public.