“Hands Up” Film Screening and Director Q&A

TICKETS

Join us at the Dairy Arts Center for a powerful evening of cinema and conversation with a screening of Hands Up, followed by a live Q&A with director Chuck Whitman.

Set against the backdrop of Chicago amid the rise of Black Lives Matter protests, Hands Up is a gripping and urgent coming-of-age drama that confronts systemic violence, grief, and the fight for survival in one of America’s most notorious murder capitals.

Film Synopsis

After his cousin is shot and killed by a white police officer, a Black inner-city teenager struggles to find a way out of Chicago as protests erupt across the city. Caught between trauma, anger, and limited options, he must navigate a world shaped by loss, injustice, and resilience.

Post-Screening Conversation

Following the screening, director Chuck Whitman will join us for a live Q&A, discussing the making of the film, its social and political context, and his approach to telling stories rooted in lived experience. The evening will also include a short trailer preview of Whitman’s upcoming film project.

Tickets: Free, registration required (capacity is limited)

This event is presented in partnership with Louise Cutler Studio.

Film Credits

Director: Chuck Whitman (Charles “Chuke” Whitman)

Writers: Robert Kreiling, Chuck Whitman

Starring: Jermaine Johnson, Jamal Woolard, LaRoyce Hawkins