Ragtag Film Society, the nonprofit organization that operates Ragtag Cinema and True/False Film Fest, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea Luque Káram as its new executive director. Andrea brings a wealth of experience and a passion for community engagement to this leadership role. She has worked extensively in nonprofit arts organizations, where her innovative approach and dedication to enhancing the public’s access to the arts have proven to be invaluable assets.
Most recently, Luque Káram was the managing director of the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI) at the University of Missouri where she collaborated with world-class performers and composers as well as college-level students preparing to advance into higher music education. Notably during her tenure at the MNMI, she organized the Mizzou International Composer Festival (MICF), an annual exhibition of contemporary composers, and helped expand the Creating Original Music Project and the Missouri Composers Project (MOCOP). In 2024, Andrea worked with Alarm Will Sound and the National Arts Strategies to increase the impact of MICF while also transforming and challenging traditional adjudication practices.
Her academic background and experience in arts administration equip her with the unique perspective to foster the intersection of arts, education, and community-building. With a Ph.D. in Arts Administration, Education, and Policy from The Ohio State University she is poised to guide the organization into its next chapter of growth.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andrea as our new executive director,” said Board President Carrie Barnett. “Her expertise, passion, and dedication to the arts and community make her the perfect fit to lead Ragtag Film Society. We look forward to working with her as we continue to elevate Ragtag as a vibrant and inclusive place for film lovers in Columbia and beyond.”
Andrea Luque Káram succeeds the interim leadership of Chloé Trayner, Artistic Director, Grace Piontek, Operations Director, and Emily Edwards, Communications Director, who have served in this capacity since June 2024. This directorial team is excited to welcome Andrea to Ragtag Film Society and will continue at the organization in their original roles. Andrea will begin her position as executive director on April 21, 2025.
“I have a deep admiration for the community hub that Ragtag and True/False represent in Columbia and beyond,” Luque Káram said. “It is truly an honor to be joining such a remarkable organization. I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of the Ragtag Film Society, as well as ensuring its lasting status as a beacon of independent cinema for mid-Missouri, and the world.”
As executive director, Andrea will lead the Ragtag Film Society’s administrative operations, development initiatives, and strategic planning while also enhancing its mission to provide exceptional cinematic experiences that inspire, challenge, and engage audiences. Her leadership will focus on building stronger community connections, advancing the visibility of Ragtag’s offerings, and securing funding as the organization stays committed to its values of integrity, playfulness, inclusivity, and sustainability.
Ragtag Film Society is a nonprofit organization that has been a staple of the downtown Columbia arts community and international nonfiction film community for over two decades. Through its innovative programming, Ragtag provides the region with access to high-quality independent cinema and year-round, community-driven arts initiatives. True/False Film Fest, the Society’s annual nonfiction film fest, offers a heightened long weekend of creative placemaking in which filmmakers, artists, musicians and others remake Columbia, Missouri into a one-of-a-kind wonderland. The transformative, rambunctious, ecstatic experience of T/F creates a cathartic journey that invites participants to do nothing less than to re-imagine reality.
For more information about Ragtag Film Society, visit ragtagcinema.org and truefalse.org
Contact:
Emily Edwards, Communications Director, [email protected]
Carrie Barnett, Board President, [email protected]