In 2021, the 18th annual True/False Film Fest will be a microcosm of its own artistic theme: The Nature of Uncertainty. Acknowledging and responding to a collective pandemic consciousness, the 2021 theme is a reminder that tumultuous times invite creative reimaginings. In that spirit, True/False 2021 will be an outdoor, communal celebration of resilience and the arts. Running from May 5th to 9th (two months later than the Fest’s usual dates), True/False will inhabit the 116-acre Stephens Lake Park for an in-person experience that maintains awareness of current circumstances, meets a need for shared joy, and delivers the world-class cutting edge nonfiction film that is the hallmark of the festival.

Over its five evenings, True/False will present a carefully selected group of brand-new films. During daylight hours, audiences will be invited to take in performances from an equally curated roster of musicians, site-sympathetic visual art across the park, and other essential festival events like Gimme Truth! and Campfire Stories. Outside of the screening venues, the park will be an open space, allowing everyone to access the festival atmosphere with both free and ticketed offerings. There will be an additional drive-in screen, and exclusive, private screenings at Ragtag Cinema throughout the five days.

May 7, the Friday of the Fest, will be a celebration of and in downtown Columbia, the once and future T/F home. On Friday evening, the May-March parade from downtown to the park will bridge the two ecosystems, and on Saturday and Sunday of the Fest, the energy will be amplified with the addition of a pop-up dining and shopping district in the park.

While the heart of the Fest will take place in-person, a virtual component known as The Teleported Fest will also be available on a limited basis. This option offers a complete at-home immersive experience, from elaborate daily package deliveries to interactive happenings and, of course, a hyper-curated group of brand-new films. Like nothing else to date, The Teleported Fest gets as close to the handmade ethos and communal conviviality of T/F as is possible from afar. 

Ragtag Film Society has spent the past 8 months working closely with the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide safe cinematic experiences. As True/False will likely be the first in-person festival of its size in the U.S. in 2021, safety will continue to be a top priority in all decisions moving forward. All Park venue seating will be socially distanced, masks will be required, and hand sanitizer will be abundantly available. True/False has been called “Columbia at its best”, and organizers expect T/F 2021 to be Columbia at its best in a pandemic.

All passes for the 2021 Fest will be available at truefalse.org beginning November 28, 2020. More information about a pre-Fest celebration, the Rites of Spring event, to be held March 6, 2021, will be released in early 2021.