Local businesses see influx of customers during True/False Film Fest

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Local businesses tended to the final wave of customers as the True/False Film Festival 2025 comes to a close Sunday.

According to previous reporting, 10,000 to 15,000 people were expected to visit Columbia for T/F. The Columbia Convention and Visitor's Bureau also considers the festival a big boost to business over the weekend.

"I hope businesses feel positively about it," Communications Director Emily Edwards said. "We had a lot of people in town this weekend, it was really nice to see the downtown teeming with people."

Local business 'Aardvarx' also said that the festival brings business.

"It's been like pretty decently steadily busy all four days," Aardvarx sales associate Benjamin Lambert said. "Overall, I'd say just economically speaking of especially it's... I'd say, a net positive for downtown businesses."

While overall ticket numbers haven't been calculated yet, Edwards said that most screenings were packed and that there weren't any major issues.

According to the Columbia Police Department dispatch log the most serious calls that came in over the during the span of the festival were disturbances.

"The fest has been really amazing, it's been an incredible weekend," Edwards said. "The feedback we hear the most is that this is such a special fest for filmmakers and for artists and musicians. And the number one thing they say to us all the time is that the hospitality here especially around town, everyone's so welcoming."