While centered on cinema, the energy of True/False Film Fest extended to the crowds of filmmakers, artists and community members lining the streets of Columbia from Thursday, March 3, until Sunday March 6. From walking in the March March street parade to dancing in darkness at the Short Circuit Party, True/False events brought art enthusiasts together.

The festival’s events included parties, concerts, receptions and opportunities to speak with filmmakers. Most events included music, with musicians playing all across town in theater lobbies and on the streets, but the 10 concerts, organized by music coordinators Wil Reeves and Lily Moore, spotlighted the festival’s 35 musicians.

“I think that music has the ability to convey emotion similar to how a film can convey emotion and tell a story, and lift you up, bring you down — take you all sorts of directions,” Reeves said. “So, the two kind of go hand in hand.”

Stacie Pottinger, director of development and communications for Ragtag Film Society, explained the role of music in the cinema-centered festival.

“Everything’s sort of symbiotic,” Pottinger said. “We sometimes joke that we’re a film festival that coincides with a music festival because the music that we bring and musical showcases are also a huge part of … the whole environment of the fest.” 

In addition to music, events featured work from local artists following this year’s theme, “In/visible Villages,” which emphasized making constructs of the imagination and spirit tangible through art. Art was featured at many events and locations such as the Filmmaker Fête with artwork like “Certain Exclusions” by Amanda Burnham and the Sculpture Yard on Ninth Street with sculptures from various artists.

“The art is also the third part of that triangle where all these three parts of it interact with each other and develop the theme of each year’s fest,” Pottinger said.

Other events included food, drink and a chance to meet other art enthusiasts. Abbie Brown, a seventh-year Q Queen and a 12th-year volunteer, reconnected with specific friends through True/False each year. 

“This is a community of people who come together once a year to create art, to install art, to build sets, to create music, to organize merchandise, to dress in ridiculous costumes to just usher at these venues,” Brown said. “We all have a sense of ownership over the festival and also just a sense of family and community.”

Edited by Cara Penquite, cpenquite@themaneater.com and Lucy Valeski, lvaleski@themaneater.com