Yance Ford's Vision at the True/False Film Festival

The 23rd annual True/False Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri, is currently underway, featuring Oscar nominee Yance Ford as the Visiting Artistic Director. This marks Ford's return to programming after his previous role at PBS's POV series. Ford expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating, “I was excited by the prospect of jumping back into programming, which is something it turns out that I love to do still.”

Deadline Hollywood

Under Ford's direction, the festival is showcasing an impressive array of world premieres, including ten feature films and eleven short films. Ford emphasized the importance of new material, noting that audiences are eager to see first-time filmmakers and those returning after a long hiatus. Among the notable premieres is *The Great Experiment*, directed by Stephen Maing and Eric Daniel Metzgar, which Ford describes as a crucial reflection on America during a tumultuous period, particularly highlighting footage from the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

Deadline Hollywood

Another standout is *Phenomena*, directed by Australian filmmaker Josef Gatti, which Ford describes as a film that allows viewers to "visualize sound." He noted its unique sensory experience, stating, “It’s the kind of film that you feel in that great kind of vibrational, like really deep bass way.” Ford also praised *TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing*, directed by Monica Henriquez and Louis Massiah, as an important work that merges underappreciated voices in filmmaking and literature.

Deadline Hollywood

In addition to his festival role, Ford has been vocal about the current political landscape, particularly regarding trans rights. He criticized recent legislation in Kansas that invalidates gender markers on identification documents for individuals who have transitioned. Ford likened these laws to historical injustices, stating, “It has so much in common with the Fugitive Slave Act,” emphasizing the dangers posed to transgender individuals in contemporary society.

Deadline Hollywood

Ford commended the Ragtag Film Society's appointment of Farihah Zaman as the festival's new artistic director, calling it “an outstanding choice.” He also expressed his ongoing commitment to addressing social issues through his work, highlighting the connections between historical and current events in his film *Power*, which critiques systemic policing in the U.S.

Deadline Hollywood

• “I was excited by the prospect of jumping back into programming, which is something it turns out that I love to do still,” — Yance Ford, Visiting Artistic Director

Deadline Hollywood

• “I have really looked at The Great Experiment as like, ‘Oh, that’s how we got here.’ And we need that help, we need that hindsight,” — Yance Ford

Deadline Hollywood

• “It has so much in common with the Fugitive Slave Act, because at the base of these trans bounty hunter laws is the assertion that you and your body are out of place. You’re out of time, you’re out of place, you need to be removed because you are a danger. It’s amazing how you pull this thread and it just keeps going.” — Yance Ford

Deadline Hollywood

Yance Ford's leadership at the True/False Film Festival not only highlights innovative filmmaking but also serves as a platform for critical discussions surrounding social justice and representation. As the festival progresses, Ford's insights and selections are shaping a narrative that intertwines art with pressing contemporary issues.

Deadline Hollywood