Updated Feb. 8 with additional films and events.
Columbia's fourth annual True/False Film Festival has released most of its schedule for the documentary series March 1-4. Tickets go on sale Monday at the Missouri Theatre, 203 S. Ninth St., or online, www.truefalse.org. Films will be shown at five locations.
Here is the schedule so far for the 40 feature and 30 short films (three more films will be announced the week of the festival):
(See also: True/False film preview for links to video clips and other information about some of the films.
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Opening night film: “In the Shadow of the Moon” (Never-before-seen footage highlights this intimate epic about the only men who have walked on the moon.) 7:30 p.m. March 2; Missouri Theatre; passholders are invited to Reality Bites at 6 p.m. It’s a culinary world tour led by some of Columbia’s best chefs, plus champagne, wine, and beer.
Closing night film: “American Shopper” HOMETOWN SNEAK PREVIEW. 7:30 p.m. March 4; Missouri Theatre; prior to the film, join us for a feast prepared by Addison’s at 6:30 p.m. in the Missouri Theatre lobby.
The made-in-Columbia story of an unlikely new sport — “aisling” — and those who put their grocery carts to the test to become its champion. At once funny and touching, Shopper is that rare hybrid that offers the best of both fiction and documentary.
OTHER FILMS
“99 Ways to Tell a Radio Story.” In 2006, the Third Coast International Audio Festival conducted this audio experiment that invited people to produce short audio works, following specific rules. Some of the highlights will be played before selected True/False features.
“Air Guitar Nation” (with co-director Alexandra Lipsitz). Every year, air guitar fanatics gather to compete in the world Air Guitar Championships. “Air Guitar Nation” follows several hopefuls as they prepare for the cutthroat competition. 10 p.m. March 2; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
“The Armstrongs” (with director Fergus O’Brien). A real-life “Office,” this BBC series-turned-film tracks the daft husband and wife owners of U-Fit, a double glazing company in Coventry. Things don’t go according to plan, especially with the arrival of Basil Meanie, a Zimbabwean motivational guru. 10:30 a.m.March 3; Missouri Theatre.
“Banished” (with director Marco Williams). Leave or die: this was the choice white majority residents in various cities around the U.S. gave African Americans between the end of the Civil War and the Great Depression. “Banished” examines this shameful, hidden chapter in the history of American race relations by revisiting three of the communities — including Pierce City, Missouri — that forcibly expelled their entire African American populations. 10:30 a.m.March 3; Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth Street.
“Buddha’s Lost Children” (with director Mark Verkerk). In the Golden Triangle region of Thailand, peasant children thrive under the tutelage of an unconventional kickboxer-turned-monk who offers them a challenging regimen of horsemanship and martial arts. 4 p.m. March 4; Missouri Theatre.
“The Devil Came on Horseback” (with co-directors Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg). Armed with only a camera, former Marine captain Brian Steidle found himself a helpless observer to the genocide in Darfur. True/False alumnae Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern of “The Trials of Daryl Hunt” document his personal transformation from witness to activist. 1:30 p.m.March 4; Missouri Theatre.
“Enemies of Happiness” (with co-director Eva Mulvad). In September 2005, Afghanistan held its first parliamentary elections in 35 years. Among the candidates for 249 assembly seats was Malalai Joya, a 27-year-old woman who had ignited outrage among hard-liners when she spoke out against corrupt warlords at the Grand Council of tribal elders in 2003. 1 p.m. March 3; Missouri Theatre.
“The Falling Man” (with director Henry Singer and photographer Richard Drew). One of the most unforgettable images from Sept. 11 was a photograph of a falling man, frozen in midair against theWorld Trade Center. “Falling Man” is a philosophical detective story which seeks to discover the identity of the man and to give memorial to the unknown victims of the tragedy. 9:30 p.m. March 1; Missouri Theatre.
“Freeheld” (with director Cynthia Wade), plays with “Waiting Room: Launderette.” While police lieutenant Laurel Hester’s battled cancer, she didn’t bargain for another Titanic struggle: to leave her pension to her domestic partner. “Freeheld’s” nail-biting personal drama plunges us into the middle of a hot political issue. “Waiting Room: Launderette” is a visually rich and surprisingly emotional portrait of the varied characters doing their wash. 12:30 p.m. March 4; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
“Ghosts of Cite Soleil” (with director Asger Leth). “Ghosts” introduces two brothers, 2pac and Billy, who live in one of the worst slums of Haiti. Ambulances won’t enter their neighborhood, but director Leth follows an intrepid French aid worker in and reveals the politics and realities of life in Cite Soleil. 6:30 p.m. March 4; Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth St.
I Am A Map (with director Mark Aitken). In these four films from around the world, we meet people who struggle, overcome and come to terms with their personal topography. 10 a.m. March 4; Ragtag Cinema.
“Kamp Katrina” (with director Ashley Sabin and producer David Redmon). Ms. Pearl, a flamboyant New Orleans resident, transforms her backyard into a tent city for fourteen Katrina victims. Noon on March 3; Ragtag Cinema.
“King Corn” (with director Aaron Woolf and producer/star Curt Ellis). “King Corn” tells the story of two young city dwellers who move to Iowa to grow an acre of the nation’s most powerful crop, and follow their harvest to its final consumption as corn-fed meat, corn syrup sodas and processed food. Plays as part of “Reel-Gone Round-Up”at the Bull Pen livestock barn; Business Loop 70.
“Kurt Cobain About a Son” (with director AJ Schnack). This bold, experimental character study directed by a former Columbian draws upon 25 hours of never-before-heard interviews with Kurt Cobain to reveal unknown truths about this misunderstood man. 1 p.m. March 4; Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth St.
“Manda Bala” (with director Jason Kohn). Brazil is known for its beautiful beaches, lush rain forests, and vibrant culture. However, in recent years, the country has developed more of a reputation for corrupt politicians, kidnapping and plastic surgery. Manda Bala, of “Send a Bullet)” artfully connects these seemingly disparate elements into a stylish film reminiscent of Erroll Morris’s work. 8:30 p.m.March 3; Missouri Theatre.
“Manufactured Landscapes” (with cinematographer Peter Mettler). Internationally acclaimed for his large-scale photographs of quarries, recycling yards, factories, mines and dams — Edward Burtynsky creates stunningly beautiful art from civilization’s degradation. The film follows him through China, as he tracks the most shocking industrial revolution of all time. 5 p.m. March 3; Ragtag Cinema.
“Miss Navajo” (with director Billy Luther). The Miss Navajo Nation competition, inaugurated in 1952, redefines “pageant” as an opportunity for young women to honor and strengthen Navajo culture and reveal the beauty within. Billy Luther, whose mother was crowned Miss Navajo 1966, opens the door to a surprising world, where contestants are challenged to answer tough historical questions in the Navajo language and showcase their spiritual and practical knowledge of practices like butchering a whole sheep. 2:30 p.m.March 4; Forrest Theatre, Tiger Hotel.
“The Monastery” (with director Pernille Rose Gronkjaer). An unlikely love story between an aging Danish eccentric and a no-nonsense Russian Orthodox nun as they attempt to transform his ramshackle castle into a monastery. 6 p.m.March 3; Missouri Theatre.
“Nimrod Nation” (with director Brett Morgen). SNEAK PREVIEW Off the map in the far-off Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a small town lives and dies with its basketball team, the Nimrods. Time and place to be determined.
“Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa” (with co-directors Jeremy & Randy Stulberg). In the rural Southwest, an oddball array of citizens, ranging from Gulf War veterans to radical runaways, form an unlikely community. Plays with “Buscando Victoria.” 10 a.m. March 3; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
“Operation Homecoming” (with director Richard Robbins). Utilizing a creative array of collage, animation and found footage, the journals, essays and fiction of returning American veterans are brought to life. 8 p.m. March 3; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
Oscar-nominated documentary shorts, 2006 (with director Leslie Iwerks). These nominated films, all intense, range from portraits of intensely difficult life to ones of inspiration. 6:30 p.m. March 1; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
“Radiant City” (with co-directors Gary Burns and Jim Brown). Not your typical anti-sprawl movie, “Radiant City” packs a powerful visual punch and a surprising twist. 3:30 p.m. March 3; Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth St.
“Raiders Adaptation” (with co-directors Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos). When the average boy falls in love with a film, there’s a good chance that he’ll buy a copy, memorize a few lines and move on. When 12-year-old Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos fell in love with “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” they took a radically different route, creating a shot-by-shot remake that has become a national sensation. 3:30 p.m. March 4; Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth St.
“Row Hard, No Excuses” (with director Luke Wolbach). In the fall of 2001 John Zeigler and Tom Mailhot spent 58 days in a rowboat chasing a dream that would take them on a three thousand mile race across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Barbados. An inherently exciting sports and adventure story on the surface, “Row Hard No Excuses” is more importantly an intimate portrait of two middle-aged American men and a deeper exploration of their personal quest. 10 p.m. March 3; Ragtag Cinema.
“Running Stumbled” (with director John Maringouin). Tales of dysfunctional families abound, but none reach the Southern gothic heights of this disturbing and fascinating spiral into oblivion. As captivating as a car wreck, with the visual palette of a true auteur. 10:30 p.m. March 2; Ragtag Cinema.
“Secret Screening Red” In our ongoing efforts to bring you, the True/False faithful, the freshest and the best films, we’re going super-stealth in 2007. You can’t read about this film online, but you do have our word that it’s worth your while. 9:45 p.m. March 1; Ragtag Cinema.
“Souvenirs” (with co-director Shahar Cohen). Like a father-son Hope/Crosby duo, filmmaker Shahar Cohen and his 82-year-old father take a road trip through the Dutch countryside to locate potential half siblings, “souvenirs” of his father’s days in World War II. 7:15 p.m. March 1; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
“Super Amigos” (with director Arturo Perez Torres). Five real-life masked Lucha Libre wrestlers are bursting with political indignation, ideas and the strength to change the world, or at least in Mexico City. Is it too good to be true? Plays with Blue Karma Tiger, an animated documentary about three Swedish graffiti girls. 10:30 p.m. March 3; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
“The Third Monday in October” (with director Vanessa Roth). A true slice of American politics, this intimate film follows 12-year-olds as they vie to lead their student councils, all the way from making posters to the final dramatic speeches. 10:30 a.m.March 4; Blue Note.
“The True Life Fund Screening” (with director and producer). A brand new True/False initiative, the True Life fund is our attempt to give something back to those who appear in front of the camera. When we saw this film, we knew we’d found the perfect first recipients. With help from the audience, we’ll be giving money to a fund set up to help the children in this film. What film? Well, it’s a secret. But take our word for it, it’s an extraordinary story and one you’ll be glad you got to see. 3:30 p.m. March 3; Missouri Theatre.
“True Vision Award” (with director Brett Morgen). Director Brett Morgen has, over the course of just three features, announced his mission to change the face of documentary film. Wielding whatever techniques necessary to tell his story, Morgen has laid new groundwork and lived up to the hype. 1 p.m. March 3; Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth St.
“War/Dance” (with co-directors Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine). For the last 20 years, northern Uganda has been at war with a rebelgroup, the Lord’s Resistance Army. The LRA employs a horrifically effective process to fill its ranks, abducting children. War/Dance follows the historic journey of three of these children and their school in the Patongo refugee camp, the first school from the northern war zone to make it to the finals of Uganda’s national music and dance competition. 7 p.m.March 2;; Forrest Theatre, Tiger Hotel.
“Welcome Europa” (with director Bruno Ulmer). The urgent, improbable story of several young Kurdish, Moroccan, and Romanian immigrants who come to Europe looking for work and a better life. 2:30 p.m. March 3; Ragtag Cinema.
“Working Title” (with co-directors Yoni Brook and producer Musa Syeed). For some, labor is an enjoyable and fulfilling endeavor, for others a difficult and unpleasant necessity. These filmmakers have crafted beautiful portraits of their subjects, whether it’s the work they do day in and day out or the reasons behind it. 10 a.m. March 3; Ragtag Cinema.
“Zoo” (with director Robinson Devor and screenwriter Charles Mudede). A Seattle area man dies after having intercourse with a horse. But that tabloid-worthy seed grows into a film of rare beauty, thoughtfulness and expression. Plays with “Joe,” a simple yet striking segment from the new “This American Life” TV show about a 14-year-old who doesn’t believe in love. 8 p.m. March 2; Ragtag Cinema.
Special Events
Buskers’ Last Stand. After the final film “American Shopper,” join some of our visiting musicians for a rousing finale to this year’s fest in the lobby of the Missouri Theatre. 9:30 p.m. March 4; Missouri Theatre.
Editing Master Class with Yana Gorskaya. Think you have what it takes to be a professional editor? Dive head-first into the world of cutting docs as master editor Yana Gorskaya shares wisdom and war stories on her life in the nonfiction trenches, including footage from the genre-defining “Spellbound.” 3 p.m.March 2; Forrest Theatre, Tiger Hotel.
Filmmaker Fete. Columbia’s chance to rub elbows with our visiting directors, producers and stars, all at one of our favorite downtown restaurants. Sycamore hosts this fantastic foray into fine food as chef Mike Odette serves up tasty tapas complemented by Belvedere Vodka, Moet Champagne and Schlafly Beer. With decorations by My Secret Garden.
Gimme Truth. The ’60s-style game show and local filmmaker competition returns. 6:30 p.m.March 3; Blue Note.
Indy-Pendent Filmmaking: How Three Teenagers Remade a Hollywood Epic for Next to Nothing. $45; $35 for Gold/Silver Circle passholders. Most kids watch “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and dream of being Indiana Jones. For Chris Strompolos, Jayson Lamb and Eric Zala the film was an obsession. In 1982 these three12-year-olds set out to remake the film with nothing but camcorders and imagination. Six years later they emerged with a shot-by-shot replication of “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Join director Eric Zala and actor Chris Strompolos for a discussion on low-budget, independent filmmaking, and hear some great stories from their experience making “Raiders: The Adaptation.” For ages 11-16; 16 person capacity 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 3; The New Annex Building of the Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. Ninth Street, Rooms 106-111. Plus: Don’t miss the Missouri premiere of “Raiders: the Adaptation” on Sunday afternoon at The Blue Note.
Night Mail (with live original soundtrack by Gutbucket). New York avant-jazz vikings Gutbucket breathe new life into this classic documentary about the British mail train. 10 a.m. March 4; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
The March March. Since this is the first year in which True/False has not been in February, we thought we’d celebrate our new month with a fresh tradition: The March March. Join us at Kevin’s World across from the Blue Note for a listening party and toast between 4:30 and 5:30, then join in the craziest march that Columbia has seen or heard, climaxing at 5:50 at the Missouri Theatre. 5:15 p.m. March 2; Ninth Street.
The No Quarter Party. Our infamous opening night Rise Up Party transmogrifies into a multi-media bash at Illumia Gallery on Walnut Street. 10 p.m. March 2; Illumia Gallery, 916 Walnut St.
Reel Gone Round-up feat. “King Corn” (with director Aaron Woolf and producer/star Curt Ellis). Hop on board the musical buses at 9 a.m. Sunday outside Kevin’s World and make our annual pilgrimage to the closed down Bull Pen livestock barn. After a sustainable, locally-produced brunch, a short hoedown and an auction we play “King Corn,” which tells the story of two young city slickers who move to Iowa to grow an acre of the nation’s most powerful crop. The film follows their harvest to its final consumption as corn-fed meat, corn syrup sodas, and processed food. 9 a.m. March 4; Bull Pen livestock barn, Business Loop 70.
Reel Kids Film Camp (with “Tryps”director Jill Womack and special appearances by visiting filmmakers). Open 5-10 pm at the Missouri United Methodist Church across from the Missouri Theatre. Discounted for Gold and Silver Circle passholders. 5 p.m. March 2; Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. Ninth St.
Saturday Night Concert. The Apples in Stereo will bring their psych pop traveling roadshow to Columbia. Opening is Mucca Pazza, a 31-piece circus-style marching band from Chicago and Scream Club — a hip hop duo from Olympia Washington. 9:30 p.m.March 3; Blue Note.
Seminars
Hot Spots: Shooting in the Trenches (presented by Pictures of the Year International) with Molly Bingham, Steve Connors of “Meeting Resistance” and Jan Grarup, a Pictures of the Year judge. Making films and taking photographs in conflict areas is for only the hardiest. Today we are joined by three courageous photojournalists and filmmakers who have succeeded against all odds. Free. 11 a.m. March 2; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
It’s Rocket Science: An Editing Master Class with Yana Gorskaya, director of “Spellbound.” Think you have what it takes to be a professional editor? Dive into the world of cutting documentaries as master editor Yana Gorskaya shares wisdom and war stories on her life in the nonfiction trenches, including footage from the genre-defining “Spellbound.” 3 p.m. Meach 2; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
Me & My Shadow (presented by the Missouri School of Journalism). The relationship between filmmaker and subject can sometimes become be messy and problematic, whether it’s with a gang leader, an aging eccentric, an abusive father, or a righteous Marine. Moderator AJ Schnack, “Kurt Cobain About A Son” facilitates discussion among four directors whose lives became all tangled up, as Pernille Gronkjaer, director of “The Monastery,” Asger Leth, director of “Ghosts of Cite Soleil,” John Maringouin, director of “Running Stumbled,” and Annie Sundberg, director of “The Devil Came on Horseback” share their stories. Noon, March 3; Cherry Street Artisan, 111 S. Ninth St., Suite 10.
The Shock of the New: Fresh Directions in Documentary. Nonfiction films are breaking through the wall that separated them from narrative features, pushing stylistic innovations – and sometimes ethical questions – to the limit. Moderator Thom Powers, documentary programmer, Toronto International Film Festival, and author of a forthcoming book on cinema verite, lowers the boom on four genre-busting directors: Jason Kohn of “Manda Bala,” Brett Morgen of “Chicago 10” and “Nimrod Nation,” Fergus O’Brien of “The Armstrongs,” Arturo Perez Torres of “Super Amigos.” Free. Noon, March 4; Cherry Street Artisan, 111 S. Ninth St, Suite 10.
Unscripted: Tales of Doc Derring-Do (presented by Stephens College). With documentaries, well-made plans usually go out the window, as filmmakers endeavor to catch real life on the run. Three directors swap stories of following high-stakes competitions for the Afghan parliament, American middle-school councils and a fake musical contest. Join Eric Daniel Metzgar of “The Chances of the World Changing” as he facilitates discussion with Eva Mulvad, of “Enemies of Happiness,” Alexandra Lipsitz, of “Air Guitar Nation” and Vanessa Roth, of “The Third Monday in October.” Free. 1 p.m. March 1; Forrest Theater, Tiger Hotel.
Tomorrow, I’ll Eat My Music (show & tell and discussion of a half-done film being made by Columbian-turned-Scotsman Peter Gerard). Gerard and his co-director Nicholas Soldan wanted to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary about Ntzu, an immigrant to Scotland who returns to Ghana in order to record his music. But Ntzu became dependent and then resentful toward the pair; as the film became more about this internecine struggle, it laid waste to their strategy to remain outside the frame. 5:15 p.m. March 1; Ragtag Cinema.
Dre Merello “Colors Make Shapes.” Merello’s paintings are an expression of her intimate relationship with color, highlighting her mission to bring visual and sensual joy to the viewer. Through this joy, she says, “the viewer can connect to truths that are known but often made false through spoken language.” Opening Ragtag Wed., Feb. 28 4-6pm
Vaughn Wascovich. In conjunction with our screening of “Manufactured Landscapes” about Edward Burtynsky, we present the curiously beautiful work of another environmental photographer who documents some of the most contaminated sites in the midwest. Opening reception, Tuesday, Feb. 27 between 5 and 7pm.