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COLUMBIA, MO. -- Update: March 3rd at 3:48 p.m.:

A Mid-Missouri celebration of documentary movies that has drawn national acclaim returned to Columbia Thursday.

Thousands of people are buying tickets for the 4-day True/False Film Festival.

The 8th annual festival features writers, directors and producers discussing their movies with the audience after each screening.

More than 25,000 tickets were sold at last year's festival.

Hundreds of volunteers help movie goers purchase tickets and find the location of their screening.

Festival participant Brittany Shumate said, “I think it’s going to be really fun.  I haven’t been before, so I’m really excited.  I live downtown.  It’s been pretty neat seeing everything being put together.  I’m pretty pumped.”

Festival participant Chris Winburn said, “I’m open to anything.  This is my first year doing movies, so I’m ready to experience this for the first time.”

The True/False Film Festival attracts movies from around the world.

The screenings take place in theaters, rock clubs, church halls and college classrooms throughout Columbia between now and Sunday.

Original Story:

Hitting theaters in Columbia Thursday, the True/False Film Festival.

The celebration of documentary movies that has drawn national acclaim returns to Columbia today with the four-day event.

The eighth annual festival features writers, directors and producers discussing their movies with the audience after each screening.

More than 25,000 tickets were sold at last year's festival, with hundreds of locals turning out to volunteer their help and services.

The festival draws submissions from around the world and takes place in theaters, rock clubs, church halls and college classrooms throughout the city.

The idea got started in 2003, the year of the documentary. The first year of the festival was a huge success, with a sold-out crowd of more than 1,200 people joining to see Kevin McDonald's "Touching the Void".

Throughout the years the festival has grown, morphed, and gotten national attention. Though throughout the changes the festival has not lost its mid-Missouri roots and desire to help the people and businesses in Columbia.

For the schedule of this year's screenings, click here.

Are there any of the documentaries at this year's festival that you are excited to see? Leave a comment or share a past experience at True/False to let everyone know what it's like.