With a fond farewell, Ragtag Film Society announces the departure of the artistic director, Chloé Trayner. Trayner joined the RFS team in 2021 in her role working on artistic vision across both the Ragtag Cinema and True/False Film Fest. Chloé lived and worked in London since 2012 and built her career as a film and events programmer with a specialism in non-fiction cinema and talent development. She came to RFS with nearly a decade of experience in the film festival and development landscape, including her work as Festival Director at Open City Documentary Festival, founder of Assembly, a development lab for creative documentaries, and as Programmer at Bertha DocHouse, one of the only dedicated documentary cinemas in the world. Chloé relocated from London to Missouri to join Ragtag Film Society at a pivotal moment exiting the COVID-19 pandemic and has helped guide the organization with integrity and intention. 

“Chloé’s fiercely personal, international-focused programming, and careful leadership came at a time when the Fest and the organization desperately needed a strong curatorial vision, as we worked our way out of the pandemic era and into the future. Chloé will be missed, but I’m really excited for whatever she does next!” says Robert Greene, Ragtag Film Society Board Member who played a key role in Chloé’s recruitment.

Bringing her deep passion for artist support and project development, Trayner developed a robust network of programs at True/False that focused on creating a nurturing space for artists to connect and collaborate. These included the Confluence Fellowship for emerging Midwest-based nonfiction that took place during festival weekend and prioritized the exceptional talent of True/False’s home region. Along with art installations curator Sarah Nguyen, Trayner worked to redevelop the art program to include a virtual artist residency program that continues to provide a space for visual artists to learn and create together in the lead up to the Fest. Trayner also delivered four editions of Rough Cut Retreat, in partnership with Catapult Film Fund, working with filmmakers at the crucial rough cut stage to find their paths to completion. Selected projects during her tenure went on to premiere at Sundance, Berlinale, Tribeca and Venice Film Festival. 

True/False co-founder David Wilson says, “Chloé excelled at many aspects in her time as Artistic Director for Ragtag & True/False. She innovated new programs like Confluence, she maintained successful initiatives like the True Life Fund and she brought visionary curatorial skills to the programming of the fest. But, most importantly, she never forgot that the job is, ultimately, about being a champion for the artists whose work we showcase.”