True/False Film Festival

True/False was started by Paul Sturtz and David Wilson (who also founded the Ragtag Cinema) in February 2004.[1] In 2006, it won the Riverfront Times best film festival.[2] In 2008, the film fest lost 1,200 seats due to the renovation work taking place at the Missouri Theatre. To adjust for the loss, the fest expanded beyond its usual boundaries in order to take advantage of additional screens at Macklanburg Cinema, Windsor Cinema, and The Den on the campus of Stephens College. After the completion of its restoration, the historic Missouri Theatre was once again a featured venue for the 2009 edition of the fest.[3] The True/False Film Fest and Stephens College amicably ended their partnership after the 2011 fest, and Stephens College continues to host the annual Citizen Jane Film Festival every fall.[4]

The first True/False Film Festival in 2004 sold 4,200 tickets and the fest has since experienced rapid growth, increasing attendance by 25% or more in all but two years through its first decade.[5] Since then, the festival has increased attendance each year with the exception of 2014, which saw a 3% decrease amid a winter snowstorm.[5][6] The latest event in 2017 saw another record high in ticket sales, nearly 3,000 more than 2016.[7][8]

Over the years, the festival has expanded its presentation of other arts, including music and decorative art.[9][10] The event kicks off with a parade, the "March March," and ends with "Buskers Last Stand," in which many of the invited musicians come together for a closing performance. It encourages additional attendee involvement through participatory events like the "True Life 5K run,"[11] and the "Gimme Truth!" game show. The festival has risen from its meager origins to earn recent praise from both the Chicago Tribune[12] and Los Angeles Times.[13]

In 2019, the festival received thousands of submissions and sold over 54,000 tickets, bringing thousands of people to mid-Missouri from around the world. The festival is sponsored by almost every downtown store, restaurant and bar, and has multiple other events such as a Camp for both local & national high schools, year-long film programs, and more.

True/False includes films by local and international filmmakers, with thousands of films being sent in each year for consideration.

The True/False Film Fest offers a single award. The True Vision Award is given annually to the filmmaker, or filmmakers, whose work shows a dedication to the creative advancement of the art of nonfiction filmmaking. Each winner is presented with an original bronze sculpture, created by nationally known Columbia artist Larry Young.

*The newest film presented by the chosen winner in each year's festival.

Since 2007, the True/False Film Fest has also featured the True Life Fund, a fundraising program which goes to demonstrate that documentaries can create change by offering tangible assistance to the real-life subjects of a new non-fiction film each year. The fund further acknowledges that documentary filmmakers and festivals thrive because of the stories provided by people of often limited means. The True Life Fund is presented by the Crossing (a Missouri church group) and is supported by the Bertha Foundation.

• Official website