Ragtag Film Society’s mission is to champion independent film and media art and serve film communities both locally and globally. True/False showcases the very best nonfiction films, music, and art from around the world. The recent restrictions on immigration directly affect us and our ability to fulfill our mission.

At True/False, we bring the filmmakers to our audiences. Last year, True/False hosted two Iranian citizens making their first trip to Columbia, Missouri: Mehrdad Oskouei (True Vision honoree for Starless Dreams) and Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami (Sonita). Our audiences were moved by these films and the presence of the filmmakers added immeasurably to their experience. Today, both filmmakers would be blocked from entry to the U.S. because they are citizens of Iran.

As we work to finalize our program for this coming fest, our ability to secure participation and attendance from international filmmakers is gravely threatened. Whether directly blocked or deterred by the chilling effect of the recent executive order, many of our international guests no longer feel welcome in the United States.

While we experience direct losses to our programming from these restrictions, we recognize the much broader threat they pose to American values. To target one religious group for registration and suspicion violates the highest values that underpin our First Amendment, and imperils the free exercise of religion for all who worship in America. But the First Amendment does a lot more.

The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights (1791): Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In a very real sense, the First Amendment is the banner that protects everything we do. It protects our ability to present innovative cinema from around the world. It protects the artists, both cinematic and otherwise, who bring and install provocative work to True/False. It protects our sponsors and allies’ ability to worship and share their space and their resources with our organization. It even protects our festivalgoers’ right to peaceably assemble and march a few blocks down the streets of downtown Columbia for the sake of the arts.

For the democratic future of our children and their children’s children, cultural and civic organizations must forcefully uphold our country’s highest values. As a festival, we thrive when assembling artists and thinkers from diverse backgrounds. Our very existence is dependent on a union that celebrates pluralism, a welcoming of differences.

Today we affirm that the First Amendment is the bedrock of our society and of events like True/False. We hope everyone will understand the vitality of these rights and take appropriate steps to join us in their defense. We want to bring the best global artists to the United States, but we cannot do so if they are detained at our borders.

See you at the Fest.

The Ragtag Film Society:

True/False Film Fest & Ragtag Cinema