Details continue to surface...

My apologies for the long absence, but sometimes you have to let the dust settle before you really have a sense of your surroundings. So it goes for T/F. From my vantage point, it seems like ages since the curtain went down on T/F 2007 - yet it has only been a month. And a funny thing's happened: the less I've paid attention, the more I've heard about what went down that weekend.

I'm starting to think that T/F could save some money if they better orchestrated some sort of homestay for filmmakers - like when I was a kid and families from the local parish were asked to put up members of a touring Catholic boys choir for the weekend. Of course, my experiences with the awkward, 14-year-old choirboy from Iowa didn't quite measure up to my Judy Blume-inspired imaginings, but T/F isn't child's play. If I'm to believe the stories I've heard, it sounds like at least a few of our festival guests were nomadic come nightfall, finding a complimentary night's stay with various and assorted, um, goodwill ambassadors. (Maybe Columbia and T/F should follow New York's lead and put a little something extra in next year's filmmaker gift bag.) Perhaps what I have in mind is more of a (tasteful) T/F escort service? Whatever...there is plenty of time to figure it out. For now, it is enough to know the fine citizens of BoCoMo do their best to show our guests a good time. We want to be nothing if not hospitable.

Fortunately for those out-of-towners who have decided to make T/F an annual destination vacation, there's been a little sugar saved for them, too. Sounds like festival friends from Maine to California had the chance to catch up with old flames/flings.

On to other subjects...I've heard more than a handful of people say, after 4 years, relying on the same old Chi-town hipsters for the musical entertainment at the Opening Night party is played out. Fresh faces, different beats anyone? We were teased with a refreshing change of pace, but all too briefly.

That's it for now...I'm out of time.

T/F in the rearview

Wow.

Seriously, wow. Another fantastic weekend behind us. I'm not sure about everyone else, but I'm stuck in a state of dazed wonderment. What a weekend. That said, I'm a little nostalgic of fests past...Rise Up! besting No Quarter. Things in general feeling roomier, bigger - and I'm not entirely sure I'm a fan of the change. I'll do my best to embrace it as I know it's inevitable.

There are wrap-ups everywhere and I'll make sure to link to them. There's no way for any of us to do an adequate wrap-up because there are too many things to do, movies to see and places to be all at once. Try as we might, we still miss so much. Then we all gather at the parties and compare our days. The fantastic thing is that no matter the path taken, we all had stories to tell - each of us thinking that ours had been the best day. Right now, one of my favorite moments was definitely Sunday's panel which seemed to turn into a pissing contest between Jason Kohn and Brett Morgan - a battle of egos that spilled over throughout the festival be it on panels or in smoky hotel rooms.

As for what others saw, experienced and thought, check out what these folks had to say:
Riverfront Times: Columbia Stories
All These Wonderful Things: T/F 2007: The Year Punk Marched
Indiewire: Dispatch from Missouri
Documentary Insider: T/F 2007 - it goes by so quickly...
Docs that Inspire: T/F 2007 Festival in Review
Pete Bland's coverage: Inside the Slash (read the comments...some funny, hard feelings)
The Poverty Set: Vlog 1 and Vlog 2
The Missourian: Complete coverage
Vox: True/False blog
Flickr group: T/F in pictures

I'm still short on time for an adequate post, but this will have to do for now.

Stay tuned...

A hangover here, some travel there...a few things have kept me from posting. But there's definitely a wrap-up in the works.

T/F, without a doubt, was a huge success.

In the meantime, we'd love to hear how the fest went for you. Leave a comment or send an email. What was your favorite moment? Doc? Party? What did you think of the music? (Did you hate the Waterbabies, too?)

One down, two to go.

So...Opening Night seemed to go off without a hitch. "The March March" kicked things off in fine fashion - a roaming party down 9th Street leading folks toward the Missouri Theater where In the Shadow of the Moon played to a packed house.

Brett Morgan made it town last night in time for his screening of Nimrod Nation. He'll be accepting the True Vision Award today at the Blue Note. Go!!! You won't be disappointed.

The night was topped off by the No Quarter party at the old Illumia Space. The only vestige of dear ol' Paul Jackson were the doctored quarters being handed out at the door. The video installations and art were a far cry from watercolors and crumbling mosaics of old. The chill-out room turned into make-out central for guests and townies alike. And if my eyes didn't mistake me, one of our True Life friends got some old-fashioned midwestern hospitality outside amidst a surprising late night snow. What happened that I didn't see? Fill us in.

A few things elsewhere: Joel's report, Pete's take, other Trib coverage, the VOX guide.

I've got to run...the day is young and already I'm late for some films.

Before I forget...

Some things that everyone needs to know:

• Go see the True Vision Award Screening. Brett Morgan will be presented with the True Vision award at this year's film festival. Surprises in store, for certain.
  
• Secrets do make friends at T/F. That's why you should grab a ticket for Secret Screening Green while you still can.
• Same with the True Life Fund Screening. Another secret worth getting in on. And a good cause to boot.
  
• 'Q' it up. Seriously. Excuses are lame. It's not too cold. It's not too windy. Waiting in a line won't kill you. Those that make the effort win.
  
• No Quarter Party tonight. Passholders unite. Pay attention...tell us what you see.

Get Your Tickets

Walking down the streets, it's all people are talking about: tickets, tickets, tickets. Opening Night film, In The Shadow of the Moon: Sold Out. Closing Night film, American Shopper: Getting there.

Except not really. The people behind T/F are masters of positive spin. They've come up with the "Q" system, which means any unclaimed seats in a venue will be given up to anxious moviegoers who have lined up patiently in single file. From the T/F website:

1. The "Q" is your chance to get in at the door of a movie for which you were unable to request/purchase a ticket. Beginning 30 minutes prior to the start of a film, eager movie-goers can get a "Q" number. With your "Q" number in hand, you can wander about or grab a cup of coffee instead of being bound to a line. Then, 10 minutes prior to the start of the film, you can resume your place in the queue (get it?) and the House Manager will release available seats 5 minutes prior to the start of the film. If there are 15 seats left, 1 thru 15 in the "Q" will get in, etc. There is no passholder priority in the Q line. Volunteers, ticket buyers, passholders... all are equal in the eyes of the Q.

   For the record, there's never been a showing at the festival where nobody got in at the door. So, it's worth the effort if you really want to see a film. And rumor has it that the "Q" is a fun place to be — mingling with fellow festival goers

So far, no reports of divas, no dish to dish. Not to worry: tomorrow night, the parties begin. We're expecting lots of emails in our inbox Saturday morning.

Thunderboomers

Nothing like a good midwestern thunderstorm to welcome filmmakers and festival goers to BoCoMo. Looks like this weather will blow over and leave the weekend just crisp enough that people will welcome the comfort and warmth of a theater.

The excitement was starting to build around town on the eve of T/F 2007. Cherry Street Artisan plays host to the T/F Box Office again which opened for passholders last night. Wednesday night also found early arrival AJ Schnack in town showing Kurt Cobain About a Son to a crowd of students at MU last night. (You can hear him this morning on KBXR. ) A few films screen tonight with the festival kicking of in earnest tomorrow.

As for another take on what's in store, check out Eugene Hernandez's T/F preview.

So much to do, so little time. We REALLY want your dish...don't be shy. And we'll be discreet.

Time to go watch...