Last year, Aine and I went to the volunteer party and directors party and talked to both volunteers and artists, capturing experiences from the wide spectrum of people who help make True/False happen.
Each year, T/F features around 60 films and is supported by around 850 volunteers. I’ve been a volunteer since 2017 and have assisted theater operations, the education team, Camp True/False, and the music team. This year I made some videos and graphics for their music Instagram.
Here are some friends, volunteers, artists, and attendees we spoke to!
Tyler McGuirk and Priyanka Chaudhary, attendees
What’s your favorite part of True/False?
Tyler: My favorite part of True False is that everybody who moved away comes back for a weekend and we’re all together. It’s the only weekend of the entire year where that happens. And there’s a lot of stuff happening, so it’s never hard to find something to do. It’s all a big social event and its so sweet. I have such a fun time every single year at True False.
How do you think True/False influences the art scene in Columbia?
Tyler: It makes Columbia 10x better, especially since Roots and Blues isn’t a thing anymore. Dismal Niche is spread throughout the year, so True/False is the only festival we have left in Columbia. There’s history and tradition in True/False, it’s been happening for two decades. It brings a lot of artists to Columbia from around the world, who would never come to Columbia otherwise.
It gives everybody creative in this community a chance to showcase their work and network at these events. True/False is made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals who come together. Volunteers, artists, graphic designers, attendees. A bunch of people come together to put on this event.
Priyanka: I like that it brings in all sorts of artists from all over the world to our humble Midwestern Columbia.
Anna Demeyer, volunteer
I was on Theater Ops as an usher and a ticket taker. We have the best family at the Missouri Theater. I’ve gone back to True False every year since 2020.
What’s your favorite thing about the festival?
My favorite thing about True/False is standing in the Q. I know it sounds really weird, but you meet some cool people in the queue because most of the people who stand in the Q are not rich, right? They’re not silver circle pass holders, a lot of them are volunteers and they all love film, talking about film, and talking about Columbia and how amazing True/False is. So yeah, I love the Q.
Favorite film
Writing Hawa. It is probably most people’s not favorite film, but I thought it was really amazing and it's about Afghan women who are contemplating fleeing their city and their country as they tackle oppression of Taliban and its a very poignant take on families and familial love, especially girlhood. It’s just amazing.
Brandon Ross, attendee
How’s your weekend?
It’s been whimsical. Pajmon put me on the list and I said sure. Now I’m just partying. Who could ask for anything more? This is my first time in Columbia, I’ve never been here and I’m thriving.
Leslie Frymire, attendee
Pearl Zwingle, volunteer
As a Columbia townie, what do you think True/False brings here?
Pearl: Everyone is welcoming. Every time someone comes into a movie or when they attend a music event, they’re happy to be there. There’s never a feeling of exclusivity or being uncomfortable, because everyone is just so happy to be together, and that’s important. I’ve been to concerts before where everyone’s angry for some reason. But everyone’s happy and it makes all the difference because then you can dance with people and enjoy all the things you’re supposed to.
Lily Franck, director (Hope Chest)
This is your True/False directorial debut, how does this feel?
It’s been a very surreal experience. True/False is almost religious, it’s very sacred to anybody who’s in Columbia. You understand that it’s a very sacred space, and that everybody here holds a special place for cinema. It’s been a very humbling and other worldly experience. Very strange and very honored. I don’t even have the words for it.
Hope Chest is an exploration of my family archives that were just kind of sitting around in my house. I was raised extremely religious in the Mormon church. I begged my mother to go through her hope chest multiple times and the first time I was successful was when I was 13 years old. I remember going through it and just being entranced by everything inside. There's like a certain kind of magic to holding something that your mother drew whenever she was six years old or the letters that she wrote to your grandmother.
Topher Cundith & Aurora Nichol, volunteers
Favorite film
Topher: Sally, which was about the first female astronaut and her secret lesbian relationship. There was a lot of archival footage and I always get down for that.
Aurora: I loved Predators. Maybe ‘loved’ isnt the right word. But it made me ask a lot of questions, as all True/False films do.
Favorite parts of this weekend?
Aurora: Talking to the other volunteers was a lot of fun. And seeing all the cool outfits people were wearing.
Topher: Going to all the movies and Qing, because it's free. I didn't get to do too much this year, but conceptually, I love [Qing]. My least favorite thing is that there is so much to do, that i cant do it all. So… what now?
Ashwini Mantrala, music director
Artists you were looking forward to this year?
All of them honestly, but Shabaka was very special, I was very excited for that. I was very excited for Bianca Oblivion and Umami, I was very excited for Resavoir from Chicago and Cavalier from New Orleans.
I hear that right after this fest is done, you’re already planning for next years. Who do you have your eye on bringing to Columbia?
That’s a good question. There’s a couple things. I’m not gonna give anything away, but y’all can definitely expect more of it all. We’re going to explore more into jazz, go further into electronic music, house music, hip hop. We’re gonna keep this thing we’ve been doing and build upon that.
Natalie Soumokil, volunteer
I was on theater operations, the biggest team at True/False. And arguably the most important. I mean, every team is important at True/False, but theater ops is right in the thick of it, getting you to your film. And what is True/False if not for a film fest? It’s amazing to be a part of. It’s great to see the fest from this perspective and see how many departments and people are involved. It’s crazy to see how many people are involved in this. My sister actually, Marisa, has been a part of the paid/core staff for five years and she has been involved and volunteering for over ten years. The dedication from every single person that is working together to make this happen, is awesome.
Tri County Liquidators, artists
It's the best weekend in Columbia. so many friends come from out of town, so many familiar and new faces. Great movies and the arts just come alive for the weekend. It’s also been fun to play shows.
Favorite film
The Dating Game.
Sare Schuh, attendee
How was your first True/False?
My first TF experience was fire. My buddies hooked me up, I was just along for the ride. My drink is strong. The vibes are good.
Bianca Oblivion, artist
What are your first impressions of Columbia?
I haven’t really seen much of it yet, but the crowd looks very interesting, very fun. I’m excited to see some films tomorrow and get a taste of the film festival. And I had some really good food at Irene’s, so shout out to that. The barbeque in this part of the country is always popping.
Maggie Feldermeyer and Greta Frymire, volunteers
Maggie: Volunteering is awesome because first of all you get to make everything happen but also you get to experience the festival for free like it's insane. It's it's crazy that you just get to like buy like helping out in a pretty minimal way like you're able to experience the entire best for a very, very very low price and like as a college student does absolutely perfect. I love it so much. I'm so happy to be here. It's year three and I'm overjoyed. It's wonderful.
Favorite film?
Maggie: My favorite movie this year has been Middletown. I thought it was really good and when they opened with Veruca Salt on the soundtrack I was like I'm gonna like this movie, and then I did.
Daly Rosenbloom, volunteer
Favorite film?
The Dating Game, it was so good and a light-hearted break from every other film that was so heavy from the fest.
Favorite event?
The Blue Note dance party with Takuya Nakamura. It was so much fun and I get to write a blog post about it for KCOU.