A somber mood hung in the air the night of Sunday, March 6 at the Missouri Theatre as True/False filmmakers, volunteers and festival-goers alike joined arm in arm for a rousing rendition of R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly.” Featured bands Toughcats and Pearl and the Band led the number as part of the fest’s final hurrah, Buskers Last Stand.
The musical send-off, considered the funeral of the fest, followed the closing night film, Life in a Day. The film was a favorite for MU junior Thomas Leonard, a veteran T/F volunteer. “This new-media masterwork compiled thousands of submissions from a YouTube project asking users to film their day on July 24, 2010,” Leonard says. “The result was a unique and modern look at the commonalities of everyday life all around the world—it was totally beautiful!”
A new tradition was born this year in the Jubilee masquerade ball Thursday night. Guests were handed masks at the door and invited into the Missouri Theatre for food and music. “It was fun to work the Jubilee because it was the kickoff to the festival, and everyone was already so wrapped up in the spirit of True/False,” MU sophomore Kathryn Bailey says. “There were crazy costumes, and everyone just seemed really excited to be a part of it.”
The festival prides itself on drawing filmmakers and subjects from around the globe, and this year was no exception. Audiences were delighted to speak with the directors and stars in person, from horse trainer Buck Brannaman to “the Interrupters” themselves: Ameena Matthews, Cobe Williams and Eddie Bocanegra.
One screening even included a conversation via Skype after the film. “My favorite film was Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times,” MU sophomore Lucie Costanza says. “After the film, the audience Skyped the reporter, David Carr, and it was a lot of fun to see him interact with everyone in the crowd. The festival provides a lot of opportunities students wouldn’t otherwise have.”
As the trays of appetizers were cleared off, instruments were packed up and the final credits rolled, the eighth edition of the festival came to a bittersweet end. True/False junkies trailed out of the theaters, already looking forward to next year’s fest.