Wednesday, Mar 4 • Thursday, Mar 5 • Friday, Mar 6 • Saturday, Mar 7 • Sunday, Mar 8
Wednesday, Mar 4
- 5:15pmNeither/Nor ReceptionWednesday, March 4, there will be a special pre-Fest Neither/Nor screening event at Ragtag Cinema. At 5:30pm, join filmmaker Lisa Steele for a reception presented by The Missouri Film Office. Steele’s film The Gloria Tapes starts at 6:15pm and will be followed by a Q&A. The reception & screening are free and open to the public, but a ticket is required. Tickets will be available at the Ragtag Cinema Box Office on March 4 at noon.
- 6:00pmN/N: The Gloria TapesIn this penetrating look at a woman navigating the welfare system, Kansas City's Lisa Steele draws from a decade of working at a women and children's shelter.
- 9:00pmEastside Kick-off ConcertLocal rockers Cowgirl Jordy and Fumes are joined by the hip hop infused instrumental jazz of Indianapolis duo After Ours for the perfect kick-off into the weekend’s festivities. Free for Super & Silver Circle, Lux, Stay Up Late, passholders; $5 general admission.
Thursday, Mar 5
- 4:30pm45365An ode to the colors and characters of small-town Americana, True Vision honorees Bill and Turner Ross’ debut is a sweeping portrait of their birthplace, Sidney, Ohio, and its idiosyncrasies.
- 4:30pmSome Kind of HeavenAmerica’s largest retirement community, The Villages is where people come to live. Presented by Fresh Ideas
- 4:30pmCollectiveIn the aftermath of a horrific and deadly nightclub fire, Romanian bureaucrats and journalists fight tenaciously to bring integrity to broken systems. Presented by the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy
- 5:00pmThe FacultiesA film student forgets the plot to Battleship Potemkin and a botany student mistakes ovules and ovaries in this intense and brilliantly structured study of young scholars undertaking oral examinations at the University of Buenos Aires.
- 5:30pmCrestoneAs the world burns, millennials descend on Crestone, Colorado, to grow weed, spit bars, and fill their bellies with bologna.
- 5:30pmThe JubileeFor opening night, we'll kick off the festivities with a masquerade gala at Missouri Theatre right before screening Time. Masks & black tie encouraged!
- 6:00pmEastside Thursday Happy HourAustin’s Little Mazarn and Columbia’s Cosmic Riders display their unique takes on Americana in this calm and captivating Thursday evening concert. Free & open to the public; donations encouraged.
- 7:00pmTimeDirector Garrett Bradley delicately captures one family’s milestones and everyday joys amidst their monumental fight to free their father from a 60-year prison sentence.
- 7:00pmThe Metamorphosis of BirdsAn epistolary love story spanning decades of marriage, six children, and an ocean.
- 7:15pmN/N: Films of Tom PalazzoloTom Palazzolo's short films find wry humor in American rituals, such as wedding showers, beauty contests, and lottery drawings.
- 7:15pmCrip CampA rambunctious story about the fight for disability rights in America and the Summer of Love when it all began. Presented by Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital
- 7:30pmMucho Mucho AmorLarger-than-life Puerto Rican TV astrologer Walter Mercado captivated millions with his theatrical horoscope readings, magnificent capes, and uplifting message—until he mysteriously vanished.
- 7:30pmSo Late So SoonA half-century into their marriage, two Chicago artists look back at their lives together and contend with a never-ending series of house repairs.
- 8:00pmMayorMeet the mayor of Ramallah, Palestine, as he contends with provincial predicaments: potholes, holiday parties, and the occupation of his city’s land by another government’s military.
- 8:00pmBerlin Thursday Night ShowcaseA remarkable exhibition of American singer-songwriters, featuring the talents of Brooklyn’s James Tillman, Los Angeles’ Sunny War and St.Louis’ Cara Louise. Free for Super/Silver, Lux, & Stay Up Late passholders, general admission is $8 in advance, $10 day-of show.
- 9:45pmFaithThe Warriors of Light live in total isolation. Acolytes partake in rigorous daily exercises and prayer under the tutelage and control of their Master ... until one person tries to escape.
- 10:00pm@CTION PartyIn 2020 this legendary party moves to The Atrium on Thursday night. Artists transform the space into a surprise-filled wonderland where you can dance the night away to transcendent sounds.
- 10:00pmPier KidsAn unfiltered look at life and the families that form along the piers at the end of Christopher Street, told by three homeless queer and trans youths of color.
- 10:00pmBloody Nose, Empty PocketsAn eclectic cast of barflys convenes in its favorite dive for one final night of cheap beer, well whiskey, and mischief.
- 10:00pmCatskinA German boy and his family confront ghosts from their country's past in this slippery, mesmeric portrait.
- 10:30pmA Machine to Live InIn BrasĂlia, utopian geometry, monumental myth-making, and alien-centered architecture present concrete plans for their country’s crumbling foundation
- 10:30pmLovemobilAlong German country roads, immigrant sex workers sit alone in dimly lit camper vans, hoping to attract clientele.
Friday, Mar 6
- 11:00amSunless ShadowsServing time for murder, five young women form a new family inside a Tehran juvenile detention center.
- 11:00amN/N: still/hereChristopher Harris returns home to north St. Louis and creates his own cinematic language to look at its vacant spaces.
- 11:00amThe Metamorphosis of BirdsAn epistolary love story spanning decades of marriage, six children, and an ocean.
- 11:00amLovemobilAlong German country roads, immigrant sex workers sit alone in dimly lit camper vans, hoping to attract clientele.
- 11:00amUnskinnedA Portuguese tannery employee mysteriously abandons her post, leaving co-workers to process her departure in this transfixing study of labor and beauty.
- 11:15amThose That, at a Distance, Resemble AnotherA perfect, gleaming ivory tusk is fabricated by a team of expert hands in this dazzling voyage into the world of preservation.
- 11:15amDick Johnson is DeadKirsten Johnson kills her father over and over again in this black comedy that asks, What if you never had to lose the people you love? Presented by Burrell Behavioral Health
- 11:30amDope is DeathIn 1973, the government turns to methadone and mass incarceration to combat soaring drug addiction in American cities. The Black Panther Party and the Young Lords join forces to promote an alternative, the radical use of acupuncture. With support from the Consulate General of Canada
- 1:30pmFeels Good ManThe story of a little frog who gets lost in the dark web.
- 1:30pmN/N: Films of Mike HendersonMarshall, Missouri's Mike Henderson creates abstractions out of household appliances and finds radical ways to explore history in his mesmerizing short films.
- 1:30pmField Session: OscillationUrsula Liang (Down a Dark Stairwell) and Khalik Allah (IWOW: I Walk on Water) freely alternate between journalism, photography, and cinema as they approach their subjects. The two artists will discuss their investment in exploring intersubjectivities and reshaping documentary grammar.
- 1:30pmPier KidsAn unfiltered look at life and the families that form along the piers at the end of Christopher Street, told by three homeless queer and trans youths of color.
- 2:00pmRidgeDrawing from local lore, residents of the rural town of Kvidinge, Sweden, collaborate in this magical and mysterious collection of vignettes.
- 2:00pmShorts: RougeA vibrant suite that heightens the senses and takes the viewer on a journey of healing.
- 2:00pmThe Viewing BoothAn experiment that tests the limits of nonfiction images’ ability to function as evidence.
- 2:00pmTalking About TreesFollowing decades of government censorship, four retired filmmakers form the Sudanese Film Group and attempt to revive a deserted movie palace in this sweet and humorous ode to cinephilia.
- 2:30pmWelcome to ChechnyaThis vital, harrowing film embeds with everyday citizens as they band together to bring LGBT+ residents of Chechnya to safety.
- 2:30pmMayorMeet the mayor of Ramallah, Palestine, as he contends with provincial predicaments: potholes, holiday parties, and the occupation of his city’s land by another government’s military.
- 3:00pmField Session: ImmersionMarnie Ellen Hertzler (Crestone) and Mitch McCabe (“Civil War Surveillance Poems Part 1”) both draw from apocalyptic themes as they interrogate rustic communities. From thorny ethical questions to their creative processes, the directors will excavate personal meaning from their complex films.
- 3:25pmQ(uench) & A(nswers)A convivial reception spotlighting each short film program with eponymous complimentary beverages. Attendees can ask questions one-on-one and indulge in the libations. A True/False programmer will be present at each Q(uench) & A(nswer) to introduce filmmakers and briefly facilitate discussion. After the shorts program in Gannett, head over to the Palmer Room in the adjoining building. Open to ticketholders of the preceeding screening, as well as Super/Silver Circle passholders.
- 4:00pmSo Late So SoonA half-century into their marriage, two Chicago artists look back at their lives together and contend with a never-ending series of house repairs.
- 4:00pmSeven Years in MayOn the run and away from home for more than seven years, Rafael's life-changing experience with police is restaged as he faces down his demons.
- 4:15pmThat Cloud Never LeftIn the Indian village of Daspara, a lunar eclipse is approaching. The villagers recycle 35mm film reels into enchanting toys.
- 4:30pmCatskinA German boy and his family confront ghosts from their country's past in this slippery, mesmeric portrait.
- 4:45pmThe Giverny Document (Single Channel)“Do you feel safe in your body?” Ja’Tovia Gary asks black women on a sunny day in Harlem as she reflects on her own image and self worth in Claude Monet’s garden. (Plays with Reckless Eyeballing, and A Song About Love)
- 4:45pmTimeDirector Garrett Bradley delicately captures one family’s milestones and everyday joys amidst their monumental fight to free their father from a 60-year prison sentence.
- 5:15pmMarch MarchWhat better way to encourage the tremulous start of spring than to lead by example and march into March?
- 5:30pmReality BitesA tradition as old as the fest itself, Reality Bites is our communal breaking of bread (and other delectables) directly following the March March. No ticket required; open to Super/Silver Circle and Lux passholders.
- 5:30pmReality BitesA tradition as old as the fest itself, Reality Bites is our communal breaking of bread (and other delectables) directly following the March March. No ticket required; open to Super/Silver Circle and Lux passholders.
- 6:00pmEastside Friday Happy HourLos Angeles outfit El Haru Kuroi bring their unique style of Latin jazz and Kansas City natives NuBlvckCity bring their energetic brand of neo-soul to this lively Friday evening bill. Free & open to the public; donations encouraged.
- 6:45pmNofinofyA Malagasy barber tends to the scalps and dreams of his clientele in this warm and tactile portrait of a community fixture.
- 7:00pmCrestoneAs the world burns, millennials descend on Crestone, Colorado, to grow weed, spit bars, and fill their bellies with bologna.
- 7:00pmShorts: BockArtists from across the globe locate radical and ingenious ways to interrogate power structures.
- 7:00pmSome Kind of HeavenAmerica’s largest retirement community, The Villages is where people come to live. Presented by Fresh Ideas
- 7:00pmA Machine to Live InIn BrasĂlia, utopian geometry, monumental myth-making, and alien-centered architecture present concrete plans for their country’s crumbling foundation
- 7:00pmDown a Dark StairwellSet in motion by a tragic police-involved shooting, two communities of color navigate fraught perceptions of injustice, inequality, and discrimination in the eyes of the law.
- 7:15pmBoys StateThe Lone Star State’s best and brightest teenage boys assemble for a week of civics and shenanigans as they compete for the title of Texas Boys State governor. Presented by Veterans United Home Loans
- 7:15pmThe Mole AgentA kindhearted widower infiltrates a Chilean retirement home to investigate rumors of neglect in this compassionate and clever detective story.
- 7:30pmIWOW: I Walk On WaterReturning to the nocturnal streets of East Harlem, a groundbreaking portrait artist evolves his practice in this work of beauty, invention, and vulnerability.
- 8:00pmBerlin Friday Night ShowcaseModern jazz great Angel Bat Dawid (Chicago) is joined by fellow experimentalists Thanya Iyer (Montreal), Abstract Black (Nashville) and Saltbreaker (Michigan) in this dreamy avant-garde showcase. Free for Super/Silver, Lux, & Stay Up Late passholders, general admission is $8 in advance, $10 day-of show.
- 8:15pmQ(uench) & A(nswers)A convivial reception spotlighting each short film program with eponymous complimentary beverages. Attendees can ask questions one-on-one and indulge in the libations. A True/False programmer will be present at each Q(uench) & A(nswer) to introduce filmmakers and briefly facilitate discussion. After the shorts program in Gannett, head over to the Palmer Room in the adjoining building. Open to ticketholders of the preceeding screening, as well as Super/Silver Circle passholders.
- 9:00pmCollectiveIn the aftermath of a horrific and deadly nightclub fire, Romanian bureaucrats and journalists fight tenaciously to bring integrity to broken systems. Presented by the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy
- 9:15pmRidgeDrawing from local lore, residents of the rural town of Kvidinge, Sweden, collaborate in this magical and mysterious collection of vignettes.
- 9:15pmAswangA fog of state-sanctioned violence hovers over the Philippines where fear and death haunt the lives of a journalist, a coroner, and a motherless child.
- 9:30pmTalking About TreesFollowing decades of government censorship, four retired filmmakers form the Sudanese Film Group and attempt to revive a deserted movie palace in this sweet and humorous ode to cinephilia.
- 9:30pmCampfire StoriesGather round the hearth and come hear some stellar storytellers spin yarns in our cozy forest clearing. Presented by National Geographic Documentary Films
- 9:30pmmałni—towards the ocean, towards the shoreSky Hopinka’s debut feature is a meditative journey through the lush Pacific Northwest, guided by the Chinookan origin-of-death myth.
- 10:00pmCrip CampA rambunctious story about the fight for disability rights in America and the Summer of Love when it all began. Presented by Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital
- 10:15pmFeels Good ManThe story of a little frog who gets lost in the dark web.
- 10:30pmShort Circuit PartyIn honor of True/False’s shorts filmmakers we host an electric celebration in which they hold court (or in this case, drink tickets). Spark up a conversation and maybe if you ask nicely they'll offer you a round. Open to Supers, Silvers, and Guests/Artists
- 11:00pmThe Blue Note After-party with Dam-FunkA T(ruly)/F(unked) out affair featuring fest favorite and the preeminent purveyor of modern funk music Dam-Funk DJ’ing the dance floor into a frenzy. Free for Super/Silver Circle, Lux, & Stay Up Late passholders, $10 general admission.
Saturday, Mar 7
- 9:30ammałni—towards the ocean, towards the shoreSky Hopinka’s debut feature is a meditative journey through the lush Pacific Northwest, guided by the Chinookan origin-of-death myth.
- 9:30amThe Viewing BoothAn experiment that tests the limits of nonfiction images’ ability to function as evidence.
- 9:30amThe Mole AgentA kindhearted widower infiltrates a Chilean retirement home to investigate rumors of neglect in this compassionate and clever detective story.
- 9:30amMayorMeet the mayor of Ramallah, Palestine, as he contends with provincial predicaments: potholes, holiday parties, and the occupation of his city’s land by another government’s military.
- 9:30amThose That, at a Distance, Resemble AnotherA perfect, gleaming ivory tusk is fabricated by a team of expert hands in this dazzling voyage into the world of preservation.
- 9:45amBoys StateThe Lone Star State’s best and brightest teenage boys assemble for a week of civics and shenanigans as they compete for the title of Texas Boys State governor. Presented by Veterans United Home Loans
- 10:00amSunless ShadowsServing time for murder, five young women form a new family inside a Tehran juvenile detention center.
- 10:00amDown a Dark StairwellSet in motion by a tragic police-involved shooting, two communities of color navigate fraught perceptions of injustice, inequality, and discrimination in the eyes of the law.
- 10:00amCity So RealFrom the Back of the Yards to the booths of Daley’s diner, legendary Chicago filmmaker Steve James (The Interrupters, Hoop Dreams) delivers a lively, multilayered chronicle of the city during the pivotal mayoral race of 2019. City So Real is an episodic piece and will be presented in multiple ways. The A screening is the complete work: episodes 1-4. The B and C screenings are the first half of the series: episodes 1 & 2. The D screening is the second half of the series: episodes 3 & 4. Q&As will follow screenings A and D only.
- 11:45amCrip CampA rambunctious story about the fight for disability rights in America and the Summer of Love when it all began. Presented by Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital
- 11:45amHyperallergicJoin online arts magazine, Hyperallergic, editors Dessane Lopez Cassell (Reviews) and Dan Schindel (Documentary) for a panel discussion with leading critics, makers, and programmers on the challenges and quirks of writing about documentary in the current era. How do we navigate considerations of form, storytelling, audience expectations, and ever-evolving methods of distribution and access? These and many other questions will serve as a jumping-off point for some lively discourse.
- 12:00pmThe RambleA mind-expanding poetic improvisation masquerading as a conventional downtown walking tour. Free and open to the public.
- 12:15pmCatskinA German boy and his family confront ghosts from their country's past in this slippery, mesmeric portrait.
- 12:15pmTimeDirector Garrett Bradley delicately captures one family’s milestones and everyday joys amidst their monumental fight to free their father from a 60-year prison sentence.
- 12:15pmShorts: BlancA celestial collection of secrets, ceremonies, and ageless places.
- 12:15pmWelcome to ChechnyaThis vital, harrowing film embeds with everyday citizens as they band together to bring LGBT+ residents of Chechnya to safety.
- 12:30pmFeels Good ManThe story of a little frog who gets lost in the dark web.
- 12:45pmDope is DeathIn 1973, the government turns to methadone and mass incarceration to combat soaring drug addiction in American cities. The Black Panther Party and the Young Lords join forces to promote an alternative, the radical use of acupuncture. With support from the Consulate General of Canada
- 1:00pmField Session: InterrogationRa'anan Alexandrowicz (The Viewing Booth) and Basir Mahmoor (“Good Ended Happily”) have created provocative films with embedded social and historical commentary. Together, they will examine their curiosities and the nuances of perspective.
- 1:15pmQ(uench) & A(nswers)A convivial reception spotlighting each short film program with eponymous complimentary beverages. Attendees can ask questions one-on-one and indulge in the libations. A True/False programmer will be present at each Q(uench) & A(nswer) to introduce filmmakers and briefly facilitate discussion. After the shorts program in Gannett, head over to the Palmer Room in the adjoining building. Open to ticketholders of the preceeding screening, as well as Super/Silver Circle passholders.
- 2:00pmTavia Sanza Artist TalkCome hear an artist talk by Tavia Sanza, whose piece, Growth, will be on display in Jesse Hall.
- 2:00pmUpstream Showcase at Logboat BreweryEscape the chaos of downtown Columbia and head upstream to Logboat Brewery where folksy favorites Monzie Leo and Hot Missoury tickle your ears while you delight in some of Columbia’s best brews. Free & open to the public.
- 2:00pmLovemobilAlong German country roads, immigrant sex workers sit alone in dimly lit camper vans, hoping to attract clientele.
- 2:15pmIWOW: I Walk On WaterReturning to the nocturnal streets of East Harlem, a groundbreaking portrait artist evolves his practice in this work of beauty, invention, and vulnerability.
- 2:45pmNofinofyA Malagasy barber tends to the scalps and dreams of his clientele in this warm and tactile portrait of a community fixture.
- 2:45pmSome Kind of HeavenAmerica’s largest retirement community, The Villages is where people come to live. Presented by Fresh Ideas
- 2:45pmThat Cloud Never LeftIn the Indian village of Daspara, a lunar eclipse is approaching. The villagers recycle 35mm film reels into enchanting toys.
- 3:00pmField Session: DimensionsDirectors Steve James (City So Real) and Meredith Zielke (A Machine to Live In) situate their films in eclectic cities real and imagined. Join them as they consider things they have in common, challenges and rewards in navigating complex cityscapes, and their holistic approaches.
- 3:30pmThe RambleA mind-expanding poetic improvisation masquerading as a conventional downtown walking tour. Free and open to the public.
- 3:30pmCollectiveIn the aftermath of a horrific and deadly nightclub fire, Romanian bureaucrats and journalists fight tenaciously to bring integrity to broken systems. Presented by the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy
- 3:30pmCrestoneAs the world burns, millennials descend on Crestone, Colorado, to grow weed, spit bars, and fill their bellies with bologna.
- 3:45pmThe FacultiesA film student forgets the plot to Battleship Potemkin and a botany student mistakes ovules and ovaries in this intense and brilliantly structured study of young scholars undertaking oral examinations at the University of Buenos Aires.
- 4:00pmTimeDirector Garrett Bradley delicately captures one family’s milestones and everyday joys amidst their monumental fight to free their father from a 60-year prison sentence.
- 4:00pmFilmmaker FêteThe Fête is our banquet to honor visiting Fimmakers. Hosted by our friends at Orr Street Studios and featuring choice culinary creations. Open to Super/Silver Circle passholders; ticket included in packet. Presented by HBO Documentary Films
- 5:00pmN/N: Films of Mike HendersonMarshall, Missouri's Mike Henderson creates abstractions out of household appliances and finds radical ways to explore history in his mesmerizing short films.
- 5:00pmTchoupitoulasOur True Vision honorees take us on an intoxicating nighttime journey through the Big Easy as experienced by three bright-eyed brothers.
- 5:15pmThe Viewing BoothAn experiment that tests the limits of nonfiction images’ ability to function as evidence.
- 5:30pmmałni—towards the ocean, towards the shoreSky Hopinka’s debut feature is a meditative journey through the lush Pacific Northwest, guided by the Chinookan origin-of-death myth.
- 5:45pmAswangA fog of state-sanctioned violence hovers over the Philippines where fear and death haunt the lives of a journalist, a coroner, and a motherless child.
- 6:00pmEastside Saturday Happy HourFest favorites Tonina (St. Louis) and Mesonjixx (Lincoln) bring their splendid soulful stylings to an evening showcase perfectly suited to start your Saturday night. Free & open to the public; donations encouraged.
- 7:00pmSanctuary ShowcaseTwo giants in the world of contemporary guitar face off in downtown’s historic Calvary Episcopal, as East Coast representative Yasmin Williams and Chicago’s Andreas Kapsalis regale the crowd with extraordinary technique and songwriting. Free & open to the public.
- 7:00pmShorts: RyeA wry, wily trip across America on the cross-talk express.
- 7:00pmDick Johnson is DeadKirsten Johnson kills her father over and over again in this black comedy that asks, What if you never had to lose the people you love? Presented by Burrell Behavioral Health
- 7:00pmPier KidsAn unfiltered look at life and the families that form along the piers at the end of Christopher Street, told by three homeless queer and trans youths of color.
- 7:15pmUnskinnedA Portuguese tannery employee mysteriously abandons her post, leaving co-workers to process her departure in this transfixing study of labor and beauty.
- 7:15pmBloody Nose, Empty PocketsAn eclectic cast of barflys convenes in its favorite dive for one final night of cheap beer, well whiskey, and mischief.
- 7:30pmCity So RealFrom the Back of the Yards to the booths of Daley’s diner, legendary Chicago filmmaker Steve James (The Interrupters, Hoop Dreams) delivers a lively, multilayered chronicle of the city during the pivotal mayoral race of 2019. City So Real is an episodic piece and will be presented in multiple ways. The A screening is the complete work: episodes 1-4. The B and C screenings are the first half of the series: episodes 1 & 2. The D screening is the second half of the series: episodes 3 & 4. Q&As will follow screenings A and D only.
- 7:30pmDope is DeathIn 1973, the government turns to methadone and mass incarceration to combat soaring drug addiction in American cities. The Black Panther Party and the Young Lords join forces to promote an alternative, the radical use of acupuncture. With support from the Consulate General of Canada
- 8:00pmSo Late So SoonA half-century into their marriage, two Chicago artists look back at their lives together and contend with a never-ending series of house repairs.
- 8:00pmBerlin Saturday Night ShowcaseA bill filled with head-nodding hip hop and swagged-out soul, featuring Virginia-based Mckinley Dixon, Columbia’s own Loose Loose, Chicago-bred Jay Wood, and Nigeria-via-New York DJ/saxophonist Eli Fola. Free for Super/Silver, Lux, & Stay Up Late passholders, general admission is $8 in advance, $10 day-of show.
- 8:15pmQ(uench) & A(nswers)A convivial reception spotlighting each short film program with eponymous complimentary beverages. Attendees can ask questions one-on-one and indulge in the libations. A True/False programmer will be present at each Q(uench) & A(nswer) to introduce filmmakers and briefly facilitate discussion. After the shorts program in Gannett, head over to the Palmer Room in the adjoining building. Open to ticketholders of the preceeding screening, as well as Super/Silver Circle passholders.
- 9:30pmAswangA fog of state-sanctioned violence hovers over the Philippines where fear and death haunt the lives of a journalist, a coroner, and a motherless child.
- 9:30pmTrue/False After-party at Rose Saturday NightThis annual showcase features the congregation of Toronto dance cavaliers Doomsquad, LA indie luminary Chris Cohen, and sonic tinkerers Square Peg Round Hole for Saturday’s climactic close. Free for Super/Silver, Lux, & Stay Up Late passholders, general admission is $10 in advance, $12 day-of show.
- 9:45pmMucho Mucho AmorLarger-than-life Puerto Rican TV astrologer Walter Mercado captivated millions with his theatrical horoscope readings, magnificent capes, and uplifting message—until he mysteriously vanished.
- 9:45pmSeven Years in MayOn the run and away from home for more than seven years, Rafael's life-changing experience with police is restaged as he faces down his demons.
- 9:45pmThe Metamorphosis of BirdsAn epistolary love story spanning decades of marriage, six children, and an ocean.
- 10:00pmA Machine to Live InIn BrasĂlia, utopian geometry, monumental myth-making, and alien-centered architecture present concrete plans for their country’s crumbling foundation
- 10:15pmFaithThe Warriors of Light live in total isolation. Acolytes partake in rigorous daily exercises and prayer under the tutelage and control of their Master ... until one person tries to escape.
- 10:15pmThe Giverny Document (Single Channel)“Do you feel safe in your body?” Ja’Tovia Gary asks black women on a sunny day in Harlem as she reflects on her own image and self worth in Claude Monet’s garden. (Plays with Reckless Eyeballing, and A Song About Love)
- 10:15pmGimme Truth!America's favorite documentary game show challenges the audience plus a panel of esteemed contestants to determine whether these two-minute docs made by local non-professional filmmakers are totally true or totally false. Reserved ticket required; general admission via the Q. Presented by Showtime Documentary Films
Sunday, Mar 8
- 9:30amCity So RealFrom the Back of the Yards to the booths of Daley’s diner, legendary Chicago filmmaker Steve James (The Interrupters, Hoop Dreams) delivers a lively, multilayered chronicle of the city during the pivotal mayoral race of 2019. City So Real is an episodic piece and will be presented in multiple ways. The A screening is the complete work: episodes 1-4. The B and C screenings are the first half of the series: episodes 1 & 2. The D screening is the second half of the series: episodes 3 & 4. Q&As will follow screenings A and D only.
- 9:30amThe FacultiesA film student forgets the plot to Battleship Potemkin and a botany student mistakes ovules and ovaries in this intense and brilliantly structured study of young scholars undertaking oral examinations at the University of Buenos Aires.
- 9:30amSunless ShadowsServing time for murder, five young women form a new family inside a Tehran juvenile detention center.
- 9:30amThe Mole AgentA kindhearted widower infiltrates a Chilean retirement home to investigate rumors of neglect in this compassionate and clever detective story.
- 9:30amBloody Nose, Empty PocketsAn eclectic cast of barflys convenes in its favorite dive for one final night of cheap beer, well whiskey, and mischief.
- 9:30amWeird Wake-upHand brewed coffee from Kaldi’s and breakfast burritos courtesy of Uprise Bakery will more than make up for a lost hour of sleep! Join us for breakfast (in the Willy Wilson) and a Supa weird film (in Big Ragtag) that will wake you right up.
- 10:15amA Supa Special Wakaliwood Event for All True/False CommandosRibs get tickled then broken in this exhilarating action-packed presentation from Uganda. Ticket required for Weird Wake-up breakfast plus film; general admission via the Q is to the film only.
- 12:00pmThe RambleA mind-expanding poetic improvisation masquerading as a conventional downtown walking tour. Free and open to the public.
- 12:00pmThe Giverny Document (Single Channel)“Do you feel safe in your body?” Ja’Tovia Gary asks black women on a sunny day in Harlem as she reflects on her own image and self worth in Claude Monet’s garden. (Plays with Reckless Eyeballing, and A Song About Love)
- 12:15pmShorts: BlancA celestial collection of secrets, ceremonies, and ageless places.
- 12:30pmN/N: The Gloria TapesIn this penetrating look at a woman navigating the welfare system, Kansas City's Lisa Steele draws from a decade of working at a women and children's shelter.
- 12:30pmSo Late So SoonA half-century into their marriage, two Chicago artists look back at their lives together and contend with a never-ending series of house repairs.
- 12:45pmShorts: BockArtists from across the globe locate radical and ingenious ways to interrogate power structures.
- 12:45pmWelcome to ChechnyaThis vital, harrowing film embeds with everyday citizens as they band together to bring LGBT+ residents of Chechnya to safety.
- 12:45pmCrip CampA rambunctious story about the fight for disability rights in America and the Summer of Love when it all began. Presented by Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital
- 1:00pmCity So RealFrom the Back of the Yards to the booths of Daley’s diner, legendary Chicago filmmaker Steve James (The Interrupters, Hoop Dreams) delivers a lively, multilayered chronicle of the city during the pivotal mayoral race of 2019. City So Real is an episodic piece and will be presented in multiple ways. The A screening is the complete work: episodes 1-4. The B and C screenings are the first half of the series: episodes 1 & 2. The D screening is the second half of the series: episodes 3 & 4. Q&As will follow screenings A and D only.
- 2:30pmA Machine to Live InIn BrasĂlia, utopian geometry, monumental myth-making, and alien-centered architecture present concrete plans for their country’s crumbling foundation
- 2:30pmRidgeDrawing from local lore, residents of the rural town of Kvidinge, Sweden, collaborate in this magical and mysterious collection of vignettes.
- 2:45pmFaithThe Warriors of Light live in total isolation. Acolytes partake in rigorous daily exercises and prayer under the tutelage and control of their Master ... until one person tries to escape.
- 3:00pmThat Cloud Never LeftIn the Indian village of Daspara, a lunar eclipse is approaching. The villagers recycle 35mm film reels into enchanting toys.
- 3:00pmShorts: RyeA wry, wily trip across America on the cross-talk express.
- 3:00pmNofinofyA Malagasy barber tends to the scalps and dreams of his clientele in this warm and tactile portrait of a community fixture.
- 3:30pmThe RambleA mind-expanding poetic improvisation masquerading as a conventional downtown walking tour. Free and open to the public.
- 3:30pmMucho Mucho AmorLarger-than-life Puerto Rican TV astrologer Walter Mercado captivated millions with his theatrical horoscope readings, magnificent capes, and uplifting message—until he mysteriously vanished.
- 4:00pmDown a Dark StairwellSet in motion by a tragic police-involved shooting, two communities of color navigate fraught perceptions of injustice, inequality, and discrimination in the eyes of the law.
- 4:45pmUnskinnedA Portuguese tannery employee mysteriously abandons her post, leaving co-workers to process her departure in this transfixing study of labor and beauty.
- 5:00pmCatskinA German boy and his family confront ghosts from their country's past in this slippery, mesmeric portrait.
- 5:00pmTchoupitoulasOur True Vision honorees take us on an intoxicating nighttime journey through the Big Easy as experienced by three bright-eyed brothers.
- 5:00pmSeven Years in MayOn the run and away from home for more than seven years, Rafael's life-changing experience with police is restaged as he faces down his demons.
- 5:15pmN/N: Films of Tom PalazzoloTom Palazzolo's short films find wry humor in American rituals, such as wedding showers, beauty contests, and lottery drawings.
- 5:30pmIWOW: I Walk On WaterReturning to the nocturnal streets of East Harlem, a groundbreaking portrait artist evolves his practice in this work of beauty, invention, and vulnerability.
- 5:30pmMayorMeet the mayor of Ramallah, Palestine, as he contends with provincial predicaments: potholes, holiday parties, and the occupation of his city’s land by another government’s military.
- 6:00pmClosing Night ReceptionA common meal for all who attend Dick Johnson is Dead at Missouri Theatre. Ticket required; the film ticket includes the reception. Presented by Addison's Americal Grill
- 7:00pmDick Johnson is DeadKirsten Johnson kills her father over and over again in this black comedy that asks, What if you never had to lose the people you love? Presented by Burrell Behavioral Health
- 7:15pmShorts: RougeA vibrant suite that heightens the senses and takes the viewer on a journey of healing.
- 7:30pmThose That, at a Distance, Resemble AnotherA perfect, gleaming ivory tusk is fabricated by a team of expert hands in this dazzling voyage into the world of preservation.
- 7:30pmmałni—towards the ocean, towards the shoreSky Hopinka’s debut feature is a meditative journey through the lush Pacific Northwest, guided by the Chinookan origin-of-death myth.
- 7:30pmBoys StateThe Lone Star State’s best and brightest teenage boys assemble for a week of civics and shenanigans as they compete for the title of Texas Boys State governor. Presented by Veterans United Home Loans
- 7:30pmFeels Good ManThe story of a little frog who gets lost in the dark web.
- 7:30pmCrestoneAs the world burns, millennials descend on Crestone, Colorado, to grow weed, spit bars, and fill their bellies with bologna.
- 8:00pmRidgeDrawing from local lore, residents of the rural town of Kvidinge, Sweden, collaborate in this magical and mysterious collection of vignettes.
- 9:00pmBuskers Last StandLink arms with your festival friends and join True/False Buskers under the stars in The Sculpture Yard (and for those who prefer a quieter farewell, in the lobby of Missouri Theatre), as we throw an instant wake for T/F 2020 following the Q&A after the closing night film. No ticket required; open to all passholders.
- 9:45pmHannibal Buress: Miami NightsDirected by Kristian Mercado Figueroa, Miami Nights is Hannibal Buress' 5th comedy special. Join us for this very special world premiere event at Ragtag to close out True/False 2020. No tickets: FREE admission via the Q (all passholders and general admin)
- 10:00pmHitt Rexx SessionsClose out the weekend with the contemplative indie rock croonings of L.A.’s Ada Lea and the quirky indie pop of Iowa’s Karen Meat. Free & open to the public; donations encouraged.
- 12:30amToastedToasted is a free-wheeling talk show (with breakfast!) where Nic Rapold trades repartee with other critics for the Film Comment podcast. Event is free to all, breakfast is not.