With The True/False Film Festival a little more than a week away, a new opportunity arises for high school students.

The Thank Goodness It’s True/False program debuts this year, as a free program designed to give students an opportunity to discover the festival.

“I have seen some of the most surprising, inspiring, and beautiful things happen at the fest when a student is introduced to a film that takes them to a new part of the world, a musician that makes their heart break, or an artist who shows us what it means to dedicate one’s life to your dreams. T.G.I.T/F is an attempt to bring all of these things together and give students a ‘delicious buffet’ of all that True/False has to offer,” Polina Malikin, the Education Director at True/False said. “So, students who are already interested in film, art, music, culture, ideas, community, social justice, and international issues should definitely come. But so should students who don’t know what they’re interested in, or like video games, or just want to get out of the house and come downtown. Students who like ice cream and movies and friends and beautiful things should come.”

T.G.I.T/F will be Friday of the festival, Feb. 28, a day in which CPS is not in session.

“When we found out that the Friday of the fest was a Teacher Work Day at CPS and that Columbia’s public school HS students would have the day off, we decided that we needed to create something special for our local youth,” Malikin said. “We wanted to create a day of fun that would convince even the most skeptical, shy, and unsure students that True/False was something that was for them, and something worth trying out. So, we put together all our resources and crafted a day that has free music, art, and a film as well as free ice cream and snacks and free bus rides.”

Students can participate in the program free of charge and with the option of free bus transportation to and from their home. To take advantage of the free transportation students must sign up by Feb. 25 and submit a permission slip to Christina Thalhuber in the RBHS Main Office.

Students will have a day packed with activities including a screening of the film, Particle Fever followed by a question and answers session with the director and star, live music, free refreshments, art, music and film workshops and being part of the March March, a downtown parade on Ninth Street.

“Everyone is welcome to join the parade and be part of the fun,” Malikin said. “We are encouraging students to make costumes and dress up and join the parade because it is really thrilling to take over the downtown and be part of a raucous street party… and most of us feel more brave and rowdy when we’re in costume.”

By Graham Ratterman

Are you planning on going to the True/False Film Festival?