What people say about True/False:

"For any documentarian, True/False is nirvana. You walk down the street of Columbia Missouri — and you are stopped by students and secretaries, college professors and construction workers, and they all want to talk to you about your film, the intricacies of its subject and the aesthetic choices made! This is the way it's supposed to be and never is: the town lives and breathes docs. When I went to True/False, I remembered what I sometimes forget: the unalloyed joy of making and watching docs." (Alex Gibney, Oscar-winning director, Taxi to the Dark Side, and 2009 True Vision honoree)

"Over the past few years, True/False has come to occupy an unshakable place in the hearts of many of us who make documentaries. Few festivals are guided by truer motives and none are organized by a team of people more deeply committed to documentaries." (Eugene Jarecki, director of Why We Fight)

"If there was one festival that I would recommend to anyone involved or interested in documentary filmmaking, it would be True/False. The whole town is alive with passionate debate about documentaries, the films they show are really well chosen and [they] were brilliant hosts." James Marsh, director of Man On Wire

"What summed up the 2009 T/F film festival better was that unforgettable line from Big River Man: "Now I have crossed over into the 4th dimension." An overwhelming weekend — filled with intensely passionate views and impeccable taste — that left me in emotional shambles... and totally recharged." Michael Palmieri, co-director, October Country

"The more festivals I attend, the more my (already) intense love and appreciation of True/False grows. When people ask why I love it so much, I say "because it's a festival, in the truest sense of the word. It's a celebration... of filmmaking, of music, of let's-get-togetherness. It's full of revelry, feasting, merrymaking, good conversation, provocation, significance and fun." Eric Metzgar, director of Reporter, Chances of the World Changing, and Life. Support. Music.

"Without a doubt TRUE/FALSE is my favorite film festival ever anywhere. The high quality of the films, the sold out shows — screening after screening filled with an audience that is hungry for intelligent work, the high quality of musicians performing before each screening, and busking on the street. You kind of swear they put ecstasy in the town water or something." Vanessa Renwick, director, Oregon Department of Kick Ass

"I loved every minute of True/False — the laidback and funky atmosphere, the eclectic films and filmmakers, the intelligent and genuine audiences, the energetic volunteers, and the imaginative freebies that I'm still enjoying many months afterwards. All I want to do now is make another film that gets me invited back." Henry Singer, director of Falling Man

"I have now returned to Denmark from what I would consider the best film festival ever.... I have to get back to True/False!" Pernille Rose Gronkjaer, director, The Monastery

"True/False is one of the smartest and most original festivals in the U.S. More curated than programmed, it reminds me of a young Rotterdam Film Festival." Kirby Dick, 2006 True Vision Award winner and director of This Film is Not Yet Rated

"Three things that make True/False the best US documentary festival. First, the perfect number of films. Second, a collegial, egalitarian, non-competitive environment for all the filmmakers. Third, the most stylish hooded sweatshirt." John Pierson, independent film guru

"A real achievement — and judging by the turn out at the films, one which the town embraced with open arms. It was an honour to be associated with the True/False festival." Kevin Macdonald, director, Touching the Void

"For all of us True/False was a real revelation: knowledgeable, appreciative audiences and an almost instant sense of community among the filmmakers.... The whole festival was marked by a thoughtful, hand-crafted feeling that cut right to the genuine." Aaron Woolf, director, King Corn

"When a friend called and said, "You want to go to Missouri with me?" I was like, "Uh...I don't know...do I?" But who knew that such a cool, fun, artistic and intelligent place existed? I loved Columbia, I loved the festival, I fully intend on finding my way back there next year." Maia Rossini, New York author

"Filmmakers have gotten the word that T/F is an important and truly communal experience — so many films were here straight from Sundance." AJ Schnack, director, Kurt Cobain About a Son

"Just got back from a few festivals and was thinking about True/False. Your festival has really emerged as the favorite — nothing so far has really measured up. So much care went into the True/False Film Festival. Every detail was thoughtfully crafted and there was a camaraderie to the festival that really stood out to me — people were comparing it to the early days of Telluride. This camaraderie fostered great conversations, many with filmmakers whose work I admired. It was quite an intimate experience." Margaret Brown, director, Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt

"It would be hard to find a college town with a more enthusiastic festival audience. Every film at True/False is presented personally by the filmmakers. Along with the quality of the programming, this is one of the reasons T/F is emerging as a destination festival." Joel Heller, editor, Austin-based Docs That Inspire blog

"A true cultural treasure for the city that brings creative people from around the globe to Columbia. Educationally, culturally, and as a source of entertainment, it is the brightest star on the bright cultural landscape of Columbia, Missouri. Ann Mehr, Columbia-based teacher

"This is the smallest town, the biggest theater and the most raucous audience I've seen." Ward Serrill, director of The Heart of the Game

"I have been to many festivals over the years and I think what best defines True/False is the generosity and enthusiasm of the audience and their appetite for good films. I especially liked the theme of True/False which acknowledges the evolution and transitions taking place in documentary. The festival does not seek to define or restrict documentaries — but rather celebrate them in all their form and finery." Mark Lewis, director, Cane Toads

"I've been to a lot of festivals and True/False is one of my all-time favorites. It has a great spirit, inspired and eclectic programming, audiences that are super excited to see movies and an all star cast of out-of-town filmmakers." Sam Green, director, The Weather Underground

"By far the most intelligent and enjoyable festival of film I have been to. The range of films showed a real imagination in programming, and the festival managed to attract an extraordinary range of top-class filmmaking from around the world. And all this happened in a tiny town in the middle of America which was completely involved in the festival — and also gave fantastic parties. It's a brilliant idea for a festival, completely unique, and I loved it. Adam Curtis, director, The Power of Nightmares

"Making any film is a loving, grueling and often lonely adventure... But it's experiences like being surrounded by hundreds of hungry film lovers in the grand, classic Missouri Theatre or sitting around a pizza till two in the morning with a group of fellow nutjobs who also put everything they had (and a little they didn't) on the line to tell a story they believed in, that makes it all worthwhile." Matt Mahurin, director, I Like Killing Flies

"My friends in SF couldn't believe I saw movies before they did (Lost Boys of Sudan, The Yes Men). That was a first. Even more important, of course, is that each film made an impact. I've even signed up to volunteer as a tutor for refugees because of Lost Boys." Marisa Milanesa, festival-goer

"A brilliant festival. You rounded up an exceptional program and lured a very fine group of people to hang out with. It was all low-key and unpretentious, which is how it ought to be." Mark Achbar, co-director, The Corporation