Yance Ford Appointed Temporary Artistic Director for True/False Documentary Festival (Exclusive)
Yance Ford, an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and the first openly transgender director to be nominated for an Academy Award, has been appointed as the visiting artistic director for the 2026 True/False Documentary Festival. This prestigious event, known for its enthusiastic, politically diverse audience and upbeat vibe, is one of the doc community's favourite events.
Ford's appointment was met with excitement by Robert Greene, a board member of the Ragtag Film Society, the nonprofit organization that operates True/False Film Festivals. Greene expressed that Ford's leadership will give True/False a unique energy, further solidifying its reputation as a preeminent festival for innovative and socially conscious documentary filmmaking.
Chloé Trayner, who served as the artistic director for the Ragtag Film Society for four years, has temporarily stepped down from her role. Trayner announced her departure on July 25. Yance Ford, with his bold vision centered around civic responsibility and appreciation for True/False's history, will take over as the interim artistic director.
Ford's focus and goals for the 2026 festival involve bringing powerful and visionary leadership to the festival's curation, emphasizing bold and impactful storytelling within the documentary film form. He aims to guide the festival’s international non-fiction selections to highlight vital narratives and diverse voices in documentary cinema.
The 2026 lineup for True/False will include over 30 new creative nonfiction films, curated by Ford and his team. The spirit of films that resist simplification will shape the programming for True/False 2026, continuing True/False's reputation as a festival that challenges audiences and reflects a broad spectrum of perspectives.
True/False, launched in 2004 by David Wilson and Paul Sturtz, is more of a showcase than a premiere festival. Notable directors who have screened their films at True/False include Kevin Macdonald, Liz Garbus, Roger Ross Williams, Brett Morgen, Lucy Walker, Raoul Peck, and Morgan Neville.
Ford's documentary "Strong Island," which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2018, will be among the films screened at the 2026 festival. His 2024 documentary "Power" debuted on Netflix.
True/False 2026 will take place from March 5-8 in downtown Columbia, Mo. Ford stated that he looks forward to leading the programming team to curate a lineup that feels driven by inquiry, honest, creatively purposeful, inquisitive, and formally alive.
[1] https://www.indiewire.com/2021/03/yance-ford-true-false-artistic-director-1234684896/ [2] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/yance-ford-to-lead-true-false-documentary-festival-1235059717/ [3] https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/yance-ford-to-lead-true-false-documentary-festival-in-2026 [4] https://www.pbs.org/pov/yance-ford-strong-island/ [5] https://www.indiewire.com/2024/03/yance-ford-power-netflix-documentary-1234899908/ [6] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/yance-ford-power-netflix-documentary-1235058757/
Entertainment enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the 2026 True/False Documentary Festival, which promises to showcase innovative and socially conscious movies-and-tv. Under the leadership of Yance Ford, known for his bold vision and emphasis on civic responsibility, the festival aims to challenge audiences with a broad spectrum of perspectives.
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