The True/False Film Fest allows filmmakers from around the globe to screen their films to a diverse audience of festival-goers. From March 2-5, six venues in downtown Columbia will show over 60 documentaries and short films — some of them debuting for the first time.

Several directors from different nations and backgrounds will present their creative projects to the public for the first time, along with directors who have already experienced success on the festival circuit. This year’s Fest brings in eight feature-length films making their world premieres featuring emotional stories of family hardships, community and relationships.

“Feet in Water, Head on Fire” – Directed by Terra Long

Showtimes: 

• Friday, March 3 at 6:45 p.m. – The Picturehouse

• Saturday, March 4 at 8:15 p.m. – Willy Wilson @ Ragtag 

• Sunday, March 5 at 12:30 p.m. – Showtime Theater @ The Blue Note

This 16mm film explores the shifting cultural and environmental landscapes of the date-growing regions in California. “Feet in Water, Head on Fire” combines personal narratives, scientific methods and historical connections between California and the Middle East and North Africa. Long portrays the story of California’s date palm industry across generations, detailing the interconnected nature of date agriculture and people whose livelihoods depend on it. 

“La Bonga” – Directed by Sebastián Pinzón Silva and Canela Reyes

Showtimes: 

• Thursday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. – Big Ragtag

• Friday, March 3 at 10:45 a.m. – Willy Wilson @ Ragtag

• Saturday, March 4 at 3 p.m. – The Globe

Twenty years ago, a civil war in the Afro-Colombian village of La Bonga drove residents from their land. Since then, many Bongueros have not returned. Maria de los Santos wants her children to know their history, and she begins to organize a procession of Bongueros back to La Bonga. Filmmakers Sebastián Pinzón Silva and Canela Reyes work to tell the story of the Bongueros as more than a simple ethnography, focusing instead on honoring La Bonga’s history and the greater connection between the community and their land.

“Tavuri” – Directed by Dervis Zaim

Showtimes: 

• Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m. – Willy Wilson @ Ragtag

• Sunday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m. – The Globe

“Tavuri” is the nickname for Mustafa Serttas — a Turkish Cypriot man who spent most of his life in jail for theft and fraud. Sertass’ childhood friend, director Dervis Zaim, tells the story of Sertass’ life while exploring themes of crime, society and compassion. For five years, Zaim follows Serttas as he faces jail, possible redemption, rebuilding relationships and ultimately, his death.

“Red Herring” – Directed by Kit Vincent

Showtimes: 

• Thursday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. – The Picturehouse

• Friday, March 3 at 2 p.m. – Missouri Theatre

• Saturday, March 4 at 5:45 p.m. – The Globe

When filmmaker Kit Vincent received a terminal cancer diagnosis, he turned to his family for help in his journey toward acceptance. The resulting film follows his father’s grieving process, as well as his conversion to Judaism. Vincent explores his relationships with those around him, and he examines the progression toward peace in times of tragedy through an intimate — yet darkly comedic — lens. 

“How To Have An American Baby” – Directed by Leslie Tai

Showtimes: 

• Thursday, March 2 at 7:15 p.m. – Showtime Theater @ The Blue Note

• Saturday, March 4 at 2:30 p.m. – Willy Wilson @ Ragtag

• Sunday, March 5 at 9:30 a.m. – Missouri Theatre

This film investigates the industry of maternity hotels in Southern California that caters to Chinese women on “birthing vacations.” Women on birthing vacations spend months away from their homes in the hopes of providing a better life for their children through United States citizenship. Director Leslie Tai documents the sacrifices these women make for their families, as well as the birthing vacation industry as a whole. 

“Natalia” – Directed by Elizabeth Mirzaei

Showtimes: 

• Friday, March 3 at 5 p.m. – The Globe

• Saturday, March 4 at 9:30 a.m. – The Picturehouse

• Sunday, March 5 at 7:45 p.m. – Willy Wilson @ Ragtag

In an exploration of faith and freedom of choice, this film follows 29-year-old Natalia on her journey toward becoming a nun. After shedding her identity as an engineering student, she is questioned by those around her about her motivations for making such a drastic change. Utilizing black and white footage, combined with tightly-framed, intimate shots, director Elizabeth Mirzaei invites viewers to witness Natalia’s candid reflections on her decision and new life as a novice nun. 

“The Taste of Mango” – Directed by Chloe Abrahams

Showtimes: 

• Friday, March 3 at 4:45 p.m. – Showtime Theater @ The Blue Note

• Saturday, March 4 at 3 p.m. – Big Ragtag

• Sunday, March 5 at 3:15 p.m. – Showtime Theater @ The Blue Note

Filmmaker Chloe Abrahams grew up witnessing the strenuous relationship between her mother and grandmother, which stemmed from a long-kept family secret of sexual trauma. In “The Taste of Mango,” Abrahams tells a difficult story of familial love and reconciliation. She weaves together archival family footage and interviews, confronting the traumatic experiences shared by so many women.

“Time Bomb Y2K” – Brian Becker and Marley McDonald

Showtimes: 

• Friday, March 3 at 7:15 p.m. – Missouri Theatre

• Saturday, March 4 at 10:30 p.m. – The Picturehouse

• Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m. – The Picturehouse

This film documents the mass hysteria that took over the world during the shift from 1999 to 2000. “Time Bomb Y2K” specifically details the “millennium bug,” an issue people thought would reset computer programs to the year 1900 instead of 2000. The resulting panic over the industrial and community impacts of the bug are explored in the film, transporting viewers to the chaotic events making up the start of a new millennium. 

Edited by Savvy Sleevar | ssleevar@themaneater.com

Copy Edited by Grace Knight