Little Red Book - True/False Film Fest

Little Red Book Volunteer Guide

GREETINGS

A tick of the clock, the countdown is on; True/False is almost here, to usher a new dawn. New movies, new music, and new art are abound; come have a look it’s all just downtown. The stage is set, and we’re ready to hit our mark; the silver screen comes alive like a beacon in the dark. Counting on clickers and keeping the pace; welcoming the crowds with a smiling face. Many hands make work light; some early morning shifts, some late at night. Cashiers make sales, chauffeurs drive cars; Queens deliver Qs and bartenders, well, tender bars. Eighteen hours or forty plus; general or juggernaut T/F volunteers are a must! Four days of magic, three types of your; two things to say and that is Thank You. After all of this rhyming, we know one thing is true: the Fest would cease to exist if not for you.

– Team T/F

Thank you to MU Health Care and Valerie Ninichuck – Shelter Insurance for sponsoring the 2026 Volunteers.

CONTENTS

Health Policy

We encourage all Fest attendees, staff, and volunteers to be mindful of their own and others’ health and well being. We ask that everyone be proactive about regularly washing hands, staying up-to-date with vaccinations, masking to your comfort level, and staying home if you’re feeling ill and/or showing symptoms.

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Volunteer Expectations

Remember: you are not alone! There are lots of knowledgeable people around who are happy to answer any questions you have—use their expertise! Here are some tips for a successful volunteer experience and to help keep the venues and events safe and running smoothly:

  • Ask for help. You will be surrounded by knowledgeable staff and volunteers who can assist you. Keep lines of communication open; don’t be afraid to solve a problem, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
  • Sign your volunteer waiver and review Fest policies and procedures before you come to your first shift!
  • Wear your T/F volunteer or juggernaut shirt, and always wear your pass during shifts. Dress for the weather.
  • Do not lose your volunteer pass. Replacements will not be issued and you will not be admitted to films or events without it.
  • If you are under 21, you may not drink at the festival. Even if you are of age, you MAY NOT DRINK while you are ON SHIFT. If you are an underage volunteer caught drinking or an of-age volunteer who appears intoxicated or is neglecting duties due to drinking, you will not be able to volunteer and your pass will be confiscated.
  • Marijuana is not allowed in our venues; please do not smoke on shift. If you carry a medical card, and need to smoke, please be sure to step outside and smoke in the proper area. If you are unable to perform your duties as a result of smoking marijuana, you will be relieved of your duties and your pass will be revoked.
  • Be sure that you understand your schedule and volunteer duties before your shifts. Please arrive early for your assigned shifts so that you can be prepared when your shift starts.
  • Let us know if you are going to be late or miss your shifts. Email us… just let us know by contacting your team leader, or by contracting the Volunteer Coordinators (email: [email protected]).
  • As a volunteer, regardless of your specific job, a positive festgoer experience is always part of your responsibility. Greet festgoers, be prepared for questions and concerns, and know how to answer questions or how to find someone who can.
  • Take responsibility. If you see something out of place or something that needs to be taken care of, act on it! This can include everything from emptying an overflowing trash can to reporting suspicious behavior to a VC, an AVC, or your Team Lead
  • Be vigilant. During the natural ebb and flow of activity during a shift, it can be tempting to mentally check out for a time. Keep your awareness up throughout your shift as it is easy to miss something significant in either the chaos or the calm.
  • Familiarize yourself with the venue/event location. Be sure to take a moment to identify the location of these elements: emergency exits, fire extinguishers, flashlights, bathrooms, light switches, and disability entrances, lifts, and seating. Say hello to the venue/event staff and volunteers, and establish a connection before things get busier.
  • Handle all complaints in a professional and diplomatic manner. Remember, complaints are not personal, and they are often helpful. If you are unable to immediately and reasonably resolve a complaint, direct the complaint to the VC, an AVC, or Core staffer, and they will resolve the matter.
  • Enjoy the Volunteer Appreciation Party on Sunday night! The party is a celebration of a job well done, but we do encourage you to celebrate responsibly. Just as safety is important during the other Fest events, it is also important during and after the Volunteer Appreciation Party.

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Volunteer Benefits

The following are the venues and parties where you can gain entry, as well as post-Fest perks. You MUST wear your pass at all times during the fest, and save it for admission to T/F documentaries shown at Ragtag throughout the coming year.

GENERAL

  • Admission for one person to fest films Thursday thru Sunday via the Q
  • Access to a special Volunteer Q at three screenings held at larger venues; the Volunteer Q is let in after Silver Circle Bay and before the regular Q
  • Admission for one person to the @CTION Party AFTER midnight
  • Admission to the Sunday night Volunteer Appreciation Party
  • Access to The Nest (aka Volunteer Headquarters, 123 S. Ninth St.)
  • Complimentary entry (WITH PASS) to all T/F docs shown at Ragtag Cinema until the next edition of T/F – we’ll send out announcements as these are scheduled

JUGGERNAUT

  • Admission for one person to fest films Thursday thru Sunday via the Q
  • Three free tickets from Box Office on Friday, March 6th at 9am
  • Admission to three films via the Silver Circle Bay (with provided vouchers –
     does not apply to non-film events, such as Gimme Truth)
  • Admission for one person to the @CTION Party
  • Admission to all concerts (space permitting)
  • Admission to the Sunday Night Volunteer Appreciation Party
  • Access to The Nest (aka Volunteer Headquarters at 123 S. 9th St.)
  • Admission to special Juggernaut-only post-fest screenings at Ragtag Cinema on Thursday, March 12 (film time TBA)
  • Complimentary entry (WITH PASS) to all T/F docs shown at Ragtag Cinema until the next edition of T/F. We’ll send out email announcements and post in the volunteer Facebook group as these are scheduled.

ZIGGURAT

  • All Juggernaut volunteer benefits plus:
  • Admission to The Jubilee, Reality Bites, and a super-secret event we can’t even talk about

HOW TO USE THE Q

 
Your volunteer pass will grant you free admission to T/F films through the Q line. Here’s how it works.

  • At any theater, Q numbers (numbered slips of paper) are distributed by the Queen outside that venue beginning 1 hour before the start of a film.
  • If you are really eager to see a film, you may queue earlier, but numbers will not be given out any earlier than 1 hour before.
  • With your Q number in hand, feel free to wander away from the venue, but be sure to be back in your place in the Q line 15 minutes prior to the start of the film.
  • Numbers from the Q are let in by ascending order until all seats are filled.
  • DO NOT BE LATE,or you might have to go back to the end of the Q.
  • If your Q number is seated, show your volunteer pass for free admission.
  • Trust in the Q! It works! You WILL see films! Plus, it is a great time to mingle with fest-goers and participate in the excitement of the Fest!

VOLUNTEER HQ (THE NEST)

Sponsored by Calvary Episcopal Church and Valerie Ninichuck – Shelter Insurance

All persons possessing a volunteer (general, juggernaut, or ziggurat) pass have access to The Nest. Stop by here to check-in Wednesday from 5pm-8pm, Thurs-Sat from 9am-9pm and Noon-9pm on Sunday.

At The Nest, you can enjoy:

  • Bag/coat check
  • Shortwave coffee throughout the day
  • Snacks and refreshments available during Nest hours

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Special Events 

THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH

THE JUBILEE | PRESENTED BY SIMMONS BANK  5:00 pm at Missouri Theatre and 9th Street Closure

Our annual kick-off masquerade gala

Who gets in: ticketholders (Center and above; Artist, Guest, Core and Ziggurat) film ticketed separately

@CTION PARTY | PRESENTED BY NETFLIX
 10PM-1AM at Harpo’s
 Dance party with DJs and more

Who gets in: All Passholders (except Classic); Artist, Guest; Core, Ziggurat, and Juggernaut; General volunteers after midnight

FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH

MARCH MARCH
5:00 PM at Ninth St. (from the Courthouse Square to the 9th St Closure)

The festival’s signature parade 

Parade Marshal: Ron Ribiat

Who gets in: everyone!

REALITY BITES
 5:00 PM at 9th St. Closure & Missouri Theatre

Sample appetizers from Columbia’s restaurants

Who gets in: ticketholders (Center and above; Artist, Guest; Core, Ziggurat and Juggernaut); film ticketed separately

CAMPFIRE STORIES | PRESENTED BY AGILE TICKETING SOLUTIONS
9PM at Firestone Baars Chapel (Stephens College)

Directors swap stories over a campfire.

Who gets in: Q, ticketholders, (Juggernaut vouchers not accepted in the Silver Bay at events)

Short Circuit | PRESENTED BY 30 for 30

10:30PM at Hexagon Alley

Who gets in: ticketholders (Supers, Silvers, Center, Artist, Guest, Core)

SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH

FILMMAKER FÊTE| PRESENTED BY LABRUNERIE FINANCIAL

4PM at Orr Street Studios & Gallery

Reception honoring visiting filmmakers
Who gets in: Supers, Silvers, Core, Guest, filmmakers

GIMME TRUTH! | PRESENTED BY MISSOURI FILM OFFICE
10PM at The Blue Note

America’s favorite documentary game show!
Who gets in: ticketholders & Q (Juggernaut vouchers not accepted in the Silver Bay)

SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH

CLOSING NIGHT RECEPTION
5:30PM at 9th St. Closure & Missouri Theatre

An event catered by Addison’s for the past 23 years.
Who gets in: ticketholders (Supers, Silvers, Center, Artist, Guest, Core)

BUSKERS LAST STAND
After the closing night film inside Missouri Theatre

Cap off T/F 2026 by joining a ragtag crew of buskers for an uplifting wake with music and libations!

Who gets in: Super, Silver, Stay Up Late, Guest, Artist & Ticket holders to closing night MOT film (other passes on space available basis)

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Venues & Important Places

[View Map]

  1. TRUE/FALSE OFFICE
    28 N. 8th Street, Suite 300-308
  2. BOX OFFICE PRESENTED BY MU HEALTH CARE
    1025 E. Walnut (Sager Reeves Gallery)
    Box Office Manager: Stephanie Maitri
  3. THE NEST SPONSORED BY CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND VAL NINICHUCK – SHELTER INSURANCE
    123 S Ninth St.
    Team Lead: Trischa Splitter & Courtney Petersen 
  4. MISSOURI THEATRE PRESENTED BY SIMMONS BANK
    203 S. Ninth St.
    Capacity: 1200
    VC: Tyler Parton
  5. THE BLUE NOTE (film venue, Friday Night Dance Party, Gimme Truth)
    17 N. Ninth St.
    Capacity: 450
    VC: Breanna Schuett
  6. PICTUREHOUSE
    204 S. 9th St.
    Capacity: 360
    VC: Emily Tracy-Smith
  7. THE GLOBE PRESENTED BY VETERANS UNITED HOME LOANS
    16 Hitt St.
    Capacity: 283
    VC: Marissa Soumokil
  8. RAGTAG CINEMA
    10 Hitt St.
    Capacity: 138 (Big Ragtag) 66 (The Willy Wilson Theater or “Little”)
    VC: Lindsay Morrison
  9. WINDSOR AUDITORIUM (STEPHENS COLLEGE) (Film Venue)
    1200 E BROADWAY Capacity: 333
    VC: Jeremy Howard
  10. ARTIST LOUNGE
    906 E Broadway
    Thu: 3pm-8pm, Fri-Sat: 9am-8pm, Sun: 9am-5pm
    Team Lead: Sam Heth & Carli Rabon
  11. CAFE BERLIN (Music Showcase)
     220 N. 10th St.(corner of 10th & Park)
  12. COURTHOUSE SQUARE North of Walnut & 8th St. (MARCH MARCH)
  13. EASTSIDE TAVERN (Music Showcases)
    1016 E. Broadway 
  14. 573 TEES  (Merch + Music Merch Store)
    8 Hitt St.
  15. HARPO’S
    29 S 10th St.
    @ction Party presented by NETFLIX
  16. THE LAB
    1600 Business Loop 70 East
    Team Lead: Marley Magner 
  17. FIRESTONE BAARS CHAPEL (Music Showcase)
    1306 E Walnut
  18. HEXAGON ALLEY (Short Circuit)
    111 S Ninth St. 
  19. KIMBALL BALLROOM (Music Showcase)
    6 N College Ave. 
  20. 9th St Closure
    9th street between Locust and Elm, outside Missouri Theatre

  21. THE DISTRICT/ CORE LOUNGE 11 S 10th St, Columbia, MO 65201

  22. WHITMORE RECITAL HALL AT UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI (Music Showcase) 505 Hitt Street, Columbia, MO 65201

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Walking Time Matrix

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How The Fest Works

PASSES & TICKET PURCHASE

All ticketing for T/F is handled through the Box Office (1025 E. Walnut) in the Sager Reeves Gallery (they kindly share the space for a couple of weeks; if you see anyone from the gallery, thank them for hosting us!).

Purchasing a T/F pass (Super Circle, Silver Circle, Center, Spring, Classic, or Stay Up Late) is the only way to gain access to pre-Fest reservations. Passes can be purchased online prior to the Fest or while supplies last. Ticket reservations begin with Super Circle passholders, on Sunday, February 15th at 6pm (every 24 or 48 hours, each subsequent pass level follows). Individual ticket sales begin on Monday, February 23rd online at 10am.

Important details to know about tickets and passes: A pass does not negate the need for a ticket. A ticketholder must present their ticket or pass (with QR code associated with their tickets) to gain first entrance to a film, event, or concert. Individual tickets may be printed from home or presented on a mobile device. There will be a handful of tickets printed from the Box Office location.

Several showings will be completely reserved within the first 48 hours of ticket reservations, and the number of reserved shows increases significantly by the time the Box Office opens for ticket sales. We call these showings “NRT” (meaning “No Reserve Tickets” remain). “SOLD OUT” is not part of the T/F vocabulary! This is very important—we are NEVER “Sold Out.” There are more seats available than tickets printed, thus there will ALWAYS be a limited number of seats at the door to be filled via the “Q”.

Passholders will pick up their pass and tickets at the Box Office. Express pick-up will be available for passholders to pick up their pass(es) and reserved tickets on Wednesday, March 4th from noon – 8pm. No exchanges or ticket purchases will be permitted at this time. This is for pick-up only.

Ticket reservations are available only for passholders. Only T/F Passholders can reserve tickets prior to the Fest. Non-passholders will be able to purchase individual tickets online beginning Monday, February 23rd at 10am. Due to passholder reservations, a number of films will be NRT by the time individual tickets go on sale.

Day-of-show ticket purchasing. All patrons may purchase individual Fest tickets online or in person when the Box Office opens on Thursday, March 5th. With their pass, passholders may exchange or pick-up additional tickets free of charge (only one ticket per film). If a show is “NRT,” Fest-goers still have an opportunity to attend the showing by using the “Q”.

PUBLIC PASS TYPES

Super Circle ($995) – FULL COLOR ON SILVER PAPER, BRAIN

  • Admission for one person to festival films from Thursday through Sunday;
  • Admission to Filmmaker Fete, T/F receptions and late night parties (ticket automatically included);
  • Admission with a reserved ticket to the @CTION party;
  • Admission with reserved ticket to music showcases;
  • Ticketless walk-up privileges (up to 15 min before the film) at The Blue Note and Missouri Theatre;
  • Ticketless admission via the “Silver Circle Q” at all other theaters (based on seat availability);
  • First crack at pre-Fest online ticket reservations, including a 48-hour window
    of exclusive access before all other passholders;
  • One of our custom swag bags with goodies from local businesses and
     artisans;
  • Early announcements of festival happenings and film news throughout the
    year;
  • Invitation to the Super and Silver Circle Preview party in early 2026, where
     we’ll unveil a few movies & musicians to be part of the Fest line-up;
  • Invitation to a special off-season Missouri Theatre screening and reception;
  • 30 minutes of one-on-one consultation with one of the festival programmers to help plan their film selections and schedule for the weekend;
  • $400 of the purchase price may be tax deductible as a charitable donation
     to the festival;
  • Option for local pass delivery a few days before the Fest and access to a concierge phone number.

Silver Circle ($595) – FULL COLOR ON SILVER PAPER, BLACK SQUARE WITH WAVELENGTHS

  • Admission for one person to festival films from Thursday through Sunday;
  • Admission to Filmmaker Fete, T/F receptions and late night parties (ticket
     automatically included);
  • Admission with a reserved ticket to the @CTION party;
  • Admission with reserved ticket to music showcases;
  • Ticketless walk-up privileges (up to 15 min before the film) at The Blue Note and Missouri Theatre;
  • Ticketless admission via the “Silver Circle Q” at all other theaters (based on seat availability);
  • Ability to reserve tickets online 24 hours before Center passholders;
  • One of our custom swag bags with goodies from local businesses and
     artisans;
  • Early announcements of festival happenings and film news throughout the year
  • Invitation to the Super and Silver Circle Preview party in early 2026, where
    we’ll unveil a few movies & musicians to be part of the Fest line-up
  • Invitation to a special off-season Missouri Theatre screening and reception.

Center ($345) – GOLD

  • Admission for one person to festival films from Thursday through Sunday;
  • Ability to reserve tickets online 48 hours before Spring passholders;
  • Admission, with reserved ticket, to the @CTION party;
  • Admission to pre-film receptions (ticket automatically included)
  • Admission to any film without a ticket (via the Q) on a space-available
    Basis;
  • Free admission, with reserved ticket, to music showcases.

Spring ($195) – GREEN

  • Admission for one person to festival films from Thursday through Sunday;
  • Ability to reserve tickets online 24 hours before Classic passholders;
  • Admission, with reserved ticket, to the @CTION party;
  • Admission to any film without a ticket (via the Q) on a space-available
    basis;

Classic ($135) – the Film Only pass – RED 

  • Admission for one person to festival films from Thursday through Sunday
  • Ability to reserve tickets online before the Box Office opens to the public
  • Admission to any film without a ticket (via the Q) on a space available basis
    Does not include admission to any fest events not open to the public

Stay Up Late ($70) – LIGHT PURPLE
 

  • Admission, with reserved ticket, to music showcases;
  • Admission (free, via the Q) to any films that start at 9pm or later Thu-Sat; or 3pm or later on Sunday. 
  • Admission, with reserved ticket, to @CTION, our late-night dance party;
  • Admission to Buskers Last Stand at Missouri Theatre on Sunday night;

Stay Up Late does not grant access to Gimme Truth!, Campfire Stories, or
other special events. It also does not allow free ticket pick-up at the Box Office, or online reservations for films.

INTERNAL PASS TYPES

Artist – Filmmakers: SOFT PINK; Musicians & Visual Artists: PALE BLUE

  • Artist passes are given to filmmakers, visual artists, and musicians
  • Admission for one person to festival films from Thursday through Sunday
  • Ticketless walk up privileges (up to 15 min before the film) at Missouri
     Theatre and The Blue Note
  • Ticketless admission via the “Silver Circle Bay” at all other theaters (based
    on seat availability)
  • Admission to pre film receptions & parties (BLUE ARTIST PASS DOES NOT GET FETE OR SHORT CIRCUIT)
  • Free admission to all concerts (space available)
  • Admission to the Artist’s Lounge (906 E Broadway)

Guest Pass – SILVER METALLIC PAPER

  • Admission for one person to festival films from Thursday through Sunday
  • Ticketless walk up privileges (up to 15 min before the film) at Missouri
    Theatre and The Blue Note
  • Ticketless admission via the “Silver Circle Bay” at all other theaters (based
    on seat availability)
  • Admission to pre film receptions & parties (FETE ONLY IF ON LIST)
  • Free admission to all concerts
  • Admission to the Artist’s Lounge (906 E Broadway)

Core Pass – TEAL

  • Ticketless admission via the “Silver Circle Bay” at all theaters (based on
     seat availability)
  • Ticketless admission to ALL T/F events and parties
  • Admission to all concerts

WORKING PASSES
These passes grant their wearers access to venues for work-related issues only, with the exception of the Media Pass, which also grants admission to films via the “Q” (but no special events).
All-Access Pass – NEON PINK PAPER
 Those with All-Access Passes are generally Production, SpecOps, Photo/Video or Core;
 they often need to get into venues quickly, so if they are in a hurry please allow them in the venue with no questions asked (if needed, questions can be asked after the problem has been solved).
Tech Pass – NEON LIME PAPER
 Audio Techs, Projectionists, etc. Those with Tech passes often need to get into venues quickly, so if they are in a hurry please allow them in the venue with no questions asked (if needed, questions can be asked after the problem has been solved).
Media Pass – NEON ORANGE PAPER
 These folks are, of course, from various media outlets. In addition to admission to films via the Q, those with media passes may gain limited venue access for media-related work, but may not stay to watch the film unless they have used the Q. Media Pass alone does not grant party access.
See Volunteer Benefits for info on Ziggurat, Juggernaut, and General Volunteer pass information.

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Volunteer Team Basics

FILM VENUE SPECIFICS & THEATER OPERATIONS

Each Venue will have one Venue Captain, multiple Assistant Venue Captains, Stage Managers, Tech Staff, a Queen, and Operations.

Venue Captain (VC):

  • General go-to at each venue for the entire Fest. This is the person from
     whom you receive venue specific-instructions and training.
  • The VC is responsible for the smooth operation of the venue, orienting and managing venue staff and volunteers, all safety and security concerns, and materials and maintenance issues.
  • The VC is the primary liaison to T/F Core Staff and festival guests.
  • All theater operations volunteers must check-in with their Venue Captain first thing to be officially counted as present for their shift.

Assistant Venue Captain (AVC):

  • The AVC assists the VC in all duties and is equally knowledgeable about venue operations.
  • AVCs manage all volunteers, keep track of ticketing and the movement
     of festgoers in and out of the theaters, and oversee house loading
     procedures.

Tech Staff:

  • Each film venue will have a projectionist and a sound engineer and benefit from some floating technical and lighting staff.
  • If you notice a technical issue, alert your VC or AVC immediately.
  • The Tech staff may give you instructions on turning lights off and on for films or the technical needs of musicians and filmmakers.
  • Only tech staff should operate or be near the projection and sound equipment.

Stage Managers:

  • The primary point of contact at the venue for musicians, ringleaders (intro/Q&A leader), and filmmakers.
  • Responsible for managing pre-film and post-film showtime procedures.

Queens:

  • Queens manage the Q lines at the venue, pass out Q numbers, and answer
     questions for festgoers.

Operations Volunteers:

  • Theater Ops volunteers aid the VCs and AVCs by taking tickets, managing crowd flow, ushering festgoers to their seats, maintaining the venue, and any other venue tasks as needed.
  • Theater Ops volunteers may also be responsible for venue ticket sales and attendance reporting.
  • All Ops volunteers should stay at their post unless otherwise directed by an AVC or the VC.

EVENT BASICS
Team Lead: Samantha Bosclair 

Late Night Event Coordinator: Alix Towler

All T/F Events are operated by volunteers as well as T/F and location staff. Please be aware of the roles of the venue staff (above) if an event that you are working is being held in, or connected to, a venue. 

  • Each event will have a point person. If you are volunteering during an
    event, make sure that you know who that person is.
  • The event coordinator is in charge of making sure that the event runs smoothly, that the venue or party space is maintained, and that everyone knows their roles. 
  • As an event volunteer, you may find yourself in a wide range of tasks including serving food at The Jubilee, checking passes at the door at one of the many T/F parties, or cleaning up a venue after a party.
  • Make sure that you are clear about your exact role by the start of each shift.

MERCH BASICS
Team Lead: Emily Merrit

  • T/F merch is sold at the Box Office leading up to and throughout the Fest.
    Merch tables are also open at Missouri Theater during screening hours. 573Tees will be the third satellite merch store, selling True/False Merch, Music Merch and Ragtag Cinema Merch.
  • Merch volunteers are responsible for all aspects of merchandise sales: set-
    up, restocking, assisting customers in purchases, using a cash register, etc.
  • Merch volunteers will be knowledgeable about merch sales throughout the Fest, so other volunteers should steer interested festgoers to visit merch areas at the Box Office and the venues listed above.

MUSIC BASICS

Team Lead: Em Downing

  • Musicians will play in the venues before films and during some events
    throughout the Fest; musicians in this role are referred to as openers.
  • The musicians will play together at Buskers Last Stand (MO Theatre + 9th
    Street Closure). Showcases & Concerts: In addition to openers, some musicians will play at various showcases and concerts throughout the Fest.
  • Showcase & Concert Venues: The Blue Note, Café Berlin, Eastside Tavern, Harpo’s, Missouri Theater, Whitmore Recital Hall, Firestone Baars Chapel, and Kimball Ballroom
  •  Music Volunteers:
  • Please learn as much as you can about the musicians at the Fest. Read
    about them on the T/F website and the program (available during the Fest).
  • As a volunteer you may be responsible for driving musicians/instruments or
    running the door at showcases/concerts.
  • Music Merch will be sold at 573Tees.

HOSPITALITY BASICS
Team Lead: Sam Heth & Carli Rabon

  • Filmmaker Liaison volunteers are responsible for welcoming and assisting invited guests, communicating their schedule throughout the Fest, and maintaining a presence at the Fest and at lodging places to meet guest needs.
  • Chauffeur volunteers are responsible for pickup and drop offs of T/F invited guests. These volunteers must be 23 years old or older and have a valid Chauffeur’s License.

SPONSORSHIP BASICS

Team Lead: Sarah Helen Johnson & Sarah Rogers

  • Sponsorship volunteers PRE-FEST are responsible for assisting the sponsorship team with deliveries to and from partner/sponsor businesses, moving boxes of items for our gift (swag) bags, stuffing our gift (swag) bags, moving the bags to the Box Office, and pass/bag deliveries to sponsors
  • Sponsorship volunteers DURING the fest are responsible for assisting the sponsorship team, communicating their schedule throughout the Fest, and maintaining a presence at the Fest and at the “CORE (staff) Lounge” (The District Downtown, 11 S 10th St) to assist with deliveries of signage to different sponsored events, picking up coffee & meals from various Sponsors, setting up our meal and coffee area in the Staff Lounge, keeping that area tidy, clean and refreshed, shuffling food between Staff Lounge & Volunteer Nest.

BOX OFFICE BASICS

Team Lead: Stephanie Maitri & Aidan Pittman

  • Box Office volunteers provide great customer service to festgoers as they pick up their passes and tickets to enjoy the Fest, so be prepared with a smile and plenty of Fest spirit!
  • Make sure you understand the different passes, events, music, art and films before your shifts. The festgoers will have plenty of questions, and you should know how to provide them with the information they need to have a great Fest!

SUSTAINABILITY
Team Lead: Becca Griffin

  • Green Team volunteers will be the face and heart of our sustainability initiatives and zero-waste goals! You’ll be decreasing landfill waste by promoting and tracking compost and recycling at T/F events and venues across the fest. 
  • You should be ready to be on your feet collecting and removing waste from Fest venues and encouraging festgoers to have a great time while greening the Fest wherever possible. Select volunteers will also be working to track energy usage, assisting the booze and event staff during events, and interacting with restaurant staff during compost collection.

SET UP / BREAKDOWN BASICS

Team Lead: Marley Magner

  • The trusty Set Up/Break Down crew transforms festival venues into True/False movie palaces before the Fest begins, then returns them to their humble origins after the Fest ends.
  • Many of your hours will have been completed before the Fest, but if you are able after the Fest to help with breakdown, let us know you are willing to help!

 
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND EDUCATION BASICS 

Team Lead: Gabby Galarza & Ouma Amadou
SHOW ME TRUE/FALSE is a special community screening that takes place on Saturday, March 7th at the historic Missouri Theatre in conjunction with our year-round program: the Show Me Series. At this event, our local community has the opportunity to watch a film and participate in an extended community conversation. Show Me True/False tickets are $6 at the door. This year’s Show Me T/F film is Seized.

Camp T/F is a high school program for approximately 65 Columbia Public High School students. Campers are broken up into small groups and are led by camp counselors who are local college students. Each group attends films and participates in art workshops throughout the weekend. They gain entry to T/F ticketed events with tickets, rather than passes, and will arrive early to try to find seats together. Camp T/F runs throughout the Fest, and their headquarters are in the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri.

The Education Screening is on Thursday, March 5th starting at 9AM. This is a chance for  ~1400 local high school sophomores to experience their very own T/F Screening. Held at Jesse Auditorium this screening is a partnership between RFS and Columbia Public Schools.  Performing prior to the film and Q&A, will be a medley of performances from Hickman High School’s music club Sicc Jams. This year we will be screening the 2025 True/Life Fund film The Track with special guest appearance from one of the subjects of the film Mirza Nikolajev.

VOLUNTEER HQ—The Nest

Team Leads: Trischa Splitter & Courtney Petersen
The volunteer team works at The Nest (Volunteer HQ) from 9am-9pm Thursday-Saturday and Noon-9pm on Sunday of the Fest. You’ll help with volunteer services such as bag/coat check, refreshments, information, late check-in and providing awesome service and kudos to our hard- working volunteers.

OTHER SPECIALIZED TEAMS

  • Specialized teams such as ART (Team Lead: Lois Kay), TECH (Team Leads: Travis Bird, Brad Carlson), BOOZE (Team Lead: Mark Alexiou), PHOTOGRAPHY (Team Lead: Kylie Shaw, Jeanna Ross), and others will get information directly from their Team Leads.
  • If you are on one of these teams, make sure you know your team lead and what your responsibilities are during, before, and after The Fest.

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Policies and Procedures

Familiarize yourself with fest policies and procedures, found below and online.

OBJECTIVE
True/False Film Fest (T/F) is a project of the Ragtag Film Society. Ragtag Film Society (RFS) strives to create and maintain a work environment in which people are treated with dignity, decency and respect. The festival environment should be characterized by mutual trust and the absence of intimidation, harassment, and exploitation. For that reason, Ragtag Film Society will not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment of any kind. All volunteers are covered by and are expected to comply with the following policies and should take appropriate measures to ensure that prohibited conduct does not occur.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
 Ragtag Film Society follows an equal opportunity employment policy and accepts volunteers without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, or military status. All qualified volunteers with a disability are entitled to reasonable accommodations or modifications that would permit the individual equal opportunity and use of festival premises. This policy also applies to RFS internal operations, training, terminations and dealings with the general public. Discrimination in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary measures up to and including termina- tion. Issues of discriminatory treatment on any of these bases should immediately be reported to your direct manager or RFS Executive Director, Andrea Luque Káram ([email protected]).

Discrimination of this kind may also be strictly prohibited by a variety of federal, state and local laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This policy is intended to comply with the prohibitions stated in these anti-discrimination laws.

ANTI-HARASSMENT
Ragtag Film Society has a zero-tolerance policy with regards to workplace harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment, and will take appropriate action in response to complaints or knowledge of violations of this policy. For the purposes of this policy, harassment includes, but is not limited to, any verbal or physical conduct intended to threaten, intimidate or coerce any individual working for or on behalf of RFS. Verbal taunting that impairs an employee or volunteer’s ability to perform his or her work is included in the definition of harassment. Incidents should immediately be reported to your direct manager or RFS Executive Director, Andrea Luque Káram ([email protected]).

DRUGS & ALCOHOL
RFS seeks to promote a safe and fun experience for all volunteers, attendees and guests. In order to make sure that T/F provides a world-class customer service experience, volunteers are not allowed to drink or use any illegal drugs while they are working a shift for the organization. Volunteers who are required to operate a motor vehicle of any kind shall not consume any drugs or alcohol prior to their shift. Volunteers will not share or distribute any alcohol during their shift unless required to do so by their job description and will not share or distribute any drugs at any time. Impairment by drugs or alcohol by a Volun- teer will be subject to disciplinary measures up to and including termination. If you see something related to this policy or our prohibition against drinking and driving, please say something to your direct manager or RFS Executive Director, Andrea Luque Káram ([email protected]).

These policies and the T/F Lab policies can be found online at: http://truefalse. org/volunteer/policies. You are required to sign your volunteer waiver and verify that you understand all of these policies before you begin your first shift.

ADA/DISABLED SERVICES INFORMATION
All venues are ADA compliant, and our staff is there to provide assistance as needed. Never question someone’s ADA request. Please consult each venue manual for available seating, entrances, and exits.

FOOD HANDLING/ALCOHOL REGULATIONS
Always wash your hands before serving food or beverage items. Follow all guidelines given to you by the Event Coordinator and/or VC. If you touch any food item directly, always wear plastic gloves. In general, if it’s directly going into a customer’s mouth, don’t come into direct contact with it. Money is not sanitary. Wash your hands after handling money.

No one under the age of 21 is allowed to sell, serve, handle, or consume alcohol on any T/F premises. If alcohol is at your venue, make sure that it is always attended, and when shutting the venue down, make sure that the appropriate people have come to get it, or lock it in a store room away from the general public.

LOST & FOUND
Lost items will be logged and kept at the venue at which they were found until Saturday night or Sunday morning of the festival. After noon on Sunday, March 8, all items will be held at the True/False Box Office, which will be open until 5pm on Sunday, and then again on Monday from 9am-5pm. After March 9, all Lost and Found items will be stored at the T/F Office. Volunteers should NOT escort a patron to look at the lost and found. Have them describe the item they are missing and look for it yourself. Remember to sign items in and out in the Lost and Found logbook.

Emergency Procedures

EMERGENCY PLAN
 Each Venue will have its own protocols and procedures for dealing with emergency situations, should they arise. Emergency management information can be found in each venue bible, and all VCs, AVCs, and Team Leads will be briefed on this information as well. Although emergency situations are infrequent, we strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with the venue floor plans and keeping the following guidelines in mind.

Remain Calm/Do Not Panic: Though this is cliche, it is absolutely true. In an emergency, think through it, don’t panic, contact the appropriate people, and do your best to keep people in the area calm. Inform them that the situation is under control and we are doing everything possible as swiftly as we can to resolve the situation.

Know who to contact: In the case of most true emergencies, you will first contact 911. These people are professionals who are there to help. Next, alert your VC, AVC(s), or Team Lead immediately.

Communicate: If there is a general emergency, you may have to address a large crowd. Do so confidently and calmly. Inform them of the situation and that you need them to listen to you and cooperate. This is most helpful in the event of a venue evacuation, such as in case of fire, weather emergency, or power outage.

IN THE EVENT OF…

MEDICAL EMERGENCY: If it is clearly a minor event, alert your VC/AVC or team leader for assistance. In the case of a medical emergency (such as loss of consciousness, excessive bleeding, etc), call 911 and alert your VC/AVC or team leader. As you call 911, be sure you know your location. Do not do anything you are not trained to do. Secure the scene and ask patrons to move away from the scene, especially if emergency personnel are en route. Do not move the injured person. If the injured person is conscious, ask them questions to gather more information about signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent medical history, last food or drink and events leading up to the inci- dent. If the injured person is unconscious, shout to get the person’s attention, using the person’s name if it is known. If there is no response, tap the person’s shoulder and shout again, while checking for normal breathing. Again, do not do anything you are not trained to do. If another patron identifies themselves as a medical professional with necessary skills to assist in assessing the situation, allow them to help. Continue to assess the scene and wait for medical professionals to arrive.

SEVERE WEATHER: Consult the VC or your Team Lead for details. In general, make sure all festgoers are in an official shelter area. If they are not, calmly direct them to the nearest shelter in an orderly fashion. Do not direct festgoers outdoors. Keep away from doors and windows. Locate flashlights and be prepared to assist people in the event of a power outage.

SMOKE OR FIRE: Consult the VC or your Team Lead for specific details. In general, calmly and quickly notify the VC, an AVC, or Core Staff,  if you see smoke or fire. If it is clear that there is immediate danger, call 911 first. Be prepared to calmly and confidently address festgoers and calmly and quickly evacuate them from the area. Evacuate those nearest the danger first, row by row, as efficiently as possible. Tell festgoers your plan for evacuation so that they cooperate and remain calm. Assist those who need any help.

ELECTRICAL OUTAGE: Immediately locate flashlights and be prepared
 to assist festgoers. Alert the VC, an AVC, your Team Lead, or a Core Staff member. Remain calm and immediately and calmly inform festgoers to remain in their seats, and that we’re working on the problem and will update them as soon as possible.

EVACUATION: Consult the VC or your Team Lead for specific details. In gen- eral, be aware of all emergency exits and building exits. If possible, station a volunteer with a flashlight at each aisle and exit, and have a lead person guide the exit process by telling groups of people to exit. Maintain communication with festgoers and help direct the lines of people safely and smoothly from the building. Unless an exit is blocked because of a hazard, direct festgoers to the nearest exits. Assist those who need assistance.

VIOLENCE: If you see an act of violence, do not become involved. Do not attempt to break up a fight or confrontation. Immediately contact the VC, an AVC, your Team Lead, Core staff, or 911 if necessary. If you feel that you or someone else is immediately threatened, do not hesitate to call 911.

LOST CHILD: If a child is lost, stay with them and contact the VC, an AVC, your Team Lead, or a Core staffer. Keep them calm, and stay in one spot. Each venue and the Fest office should be contacted to report the lost child.

BOMB THREAT: In the event of a bomb threat, please follow your VC, AVC, or Team Lead’s lead; keep in mind that panic will generally cause more harm than the threat, so try to remain calm.

ACTIVE SHOOTER: In the event of an active shooter, please follow your VC, AVC, or Team Lead’s lead. If that is not possible, we advocate the following three recommendations: The Best Option: Escape/Evacuate (using any avail- able exit); The Next Best Option: Hide (if possible), block entry to your hiding place, lock the doors, and power off your cell phone; The Last Resort: Fight (extreme last resort).

PROTEST POLICY: T/F does not advocate for or against the subject matter of our films. This does not prevent outside persons or groups from protesting a Film or Event. There are several different types of protests and protesters that require different types of actions or non-action. The first major differentiation is between people or groups protesting outside of the physical footprint of a venue versus those attempting to do so within that footprint. The venue footprint is the interior of any building and any outside line of patrons (Q or ticketholder lines) waiting to get inside.

If a person or group is protesting outside of that footprint, immediately notify your VC or an AVC, who will notify festival management. Do not interact with a person or group outside of our footprint. T/F does not allow any type of protest or disruptive speech inside the physical footprint of any of its venues. This includes signage, vocalizations, or any disruptive behavior. If there is any protest-related disruption of any film or event, immediately notify your VC, an

AVC, or your Team Lead. They may decide to call 911 depending on the nature of the disruption. Stay safe; we do not expect or condone volunteers putting themselves into harm’s way. Under certain circumstances, the Fest may have additional security in place inside a venue. In these cases, you will be made aware of their presence to assist with any disruptive behavior.

LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY: 

True/False Film Fest works with the City of Columbia, including the Columbia Police Department (CPD), and the venues we occupy to operate a safe, community-first event. CPD presence at events is typically coordinated with the Fest and/or falls within the scope of their normal duties.

If law enforcement agents arrive at a festival event or seek to engage with festival staff, artists, or volunteers, True/False Film Fest does not voluntarily assist law enforcement unless legally required to do so. The Fest will comply with valid judicial warrants but does not consent to law enforcement access to any information, individuals, or areas beyond what is explicitly specified in the warrant.

Staff and volunteers should not act as enforcement agents or spokespersons for the Fest. Instead, they should immediately notify their Venue Captain. Only authorized festival leadership may review warrants and determine whether access is granted. All responses should prioritize calm communication, de-escalation, and the safety of attendees, staff, artists, and volunteers.

PUBLIC VS NON-PUBLIC SPACES

Public spaces are generally open to the public during the festival and may include sidewalks, outdoor areas, venue lobbies, and theatre seating areas.

Non-public spaces include, but are not limited to, backstage areas, green rooms, production offices, volunteer check-in and information desks, artist hospitality areas, and other staff-only spaces. These areas are not open to the general public and will be clearly designated by signage.

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Parking Info

Volunteers who live near campus or downtown are encouraged to take alternate forms of transportation. Bike parking is available within a block of each venue. Additional bike parking is available within the street closure of Ninth St. between Elm & Locust.

Garage and street parking are available throughout downtown. City garages are metered between 8am-6pm on weekdays, free after 6pm on weekdays, and free all day Saturday and Sunday. MU campus garages are free on the weekends, all MU parking regulations apply. Street parking meters are enforced 9am-7pm Monday to Saturday and most meters have a two hour limit. Metered parking is free after 7pm Monday to Saturday and all day on Sundays. The ParkMobile app can be used to pay for garages and meters using a credit card.

Please note that many bagged meters are used by T/F staff for loading and unloading throughout the Fest; please try to leave those spots free.

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When You See A Sponsor

The Fest would simply not be possible without our generous sponsors. When you see a sponsor (look for the red Sponsor lanyard), please greet them, thank them, and understand how important their support is. If you encounter any sponsor-related issues, have your manager contact the T/F sponsorship team immediately.

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Radio Guide

GLOBAL CHANNELS

Channel 1: Emergency channel for Venues (Special Ops + MOVO) Channel 2: Emergency channel for Venues (Same frequency as Channel 1)

These channels are for mild to severe emergencies involving films, events, and, most importantly, people. You will be addressing Special Ops in these situations. For an emergency, address this channel as “Mother.” If you do not immediately get a response in an emergency situation, the VC, an AVC, or your Team Lead will have emergency phone numbers. This channel does not have a sense of humor. If you get feedback on channel 1, switch to channel 2.

Channel 3: Production channel
Channel 4: Production channel (Same as channel 3)

These channels are for mild to severe production emergencies. The production and set-up crew will be using these channels to coordinate activities around the Fest. As a backup, this channel may be used for emergencies. If you get feedback on channel 3, switch to channel 4.

LOCAL VENUE CHANNELS

Use these channels to speak with people within the venue. You may not be able to reach them from a different venue. 

Channel 6: Missouri Theatre

Channel 7: The Blue Note

Channel 8: Windsor Auditorium 

Channel 9: The Globe

Channel 10: Ragtag

Channel 11: Picturehouse

Channel 12: Music Venues

Channel 13: Campfire Stories 

Channel 14: Jesse Auditorium (Ed Screening) 

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