Festival explores immigrants’ role in food culture; filmmaker Trudie Styler in the mix
CBC Communications · Posted: Oct 11, 2024 1:02 PM ADT | Last Updated: October 11, 2024
The 14th annual Devour! The Food Film Fest brings world-class changemakers to explore immigrants’ role in food culture and our progress in ethical eating to Wolfville, N.S. form Oct. 21-27.
Legendary filmmaker and producer Trudie Styler will be at this year’s festival screening her film Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples.
The seven-day festival includes 61 events, 51 films, 26 screenings, an Ethical Eating Celebrity Chef Dinner based on Food, Inc. 2, a signature Chefs & Shorts Gala, three-panel discussions, 14 workshops and community events like the Chowder Smackdown, Le Tour de L’Acadie bike ride and a New Canadians Street Food Celebration.
CBC asked Michael Howell, Executive Director and Lia Rinaldo, Managing Director of Devour! The Food Film Fest to let us in what’s in store this year:
The theme of Devour! this year is Game Changers – Changemaking Visionaries – why did you choose this theme?
Lia: “This year, we wanted to spotlight globally-recognized game changers and local heroes who are solving the world’s biggest food challenges. After watching 300+ films from around the world, a secondary theme emerged, immigrants as the unsung heroes of our foodscape.”
“We wanted to dig deep and share the culinary stories, trials and triumphs of immigrant chefs and their impact. Making its Canadian debut, La Cocina, our Opening Gala film, is a pressure cooker drama starring Raúl Briones and Rooney Mara. It looks at immigrants chasing their dreams and the cultural divide in a busy NYC kitchen. The Hollywood Reporter describes it as “the Bear on cocaine with a Red Bull chaser,” it certainly sets a tone for this year’s festival.”
Devour! is the only festival where you can truly taste the screen. Each year, world-class chefs bring films to life through unforgettable culinary experiences.- Michael Howell, Executive Director
Michael: “Devour! is the only festival where you can truly taste the screen. Each year, world-class chefs bring films to life through unforgettable culinary experiences from the Gala dinners to culinary workshops. We are thrilled to have celebrity immigrant chefs Angel Ramirez Betancourt, one of the world’s top pastry chefs, Winnie Chen from the award-winning Fu’s Repair Shop in Edmonton, Italian-Toronto chef Dario Tomaselli, Nova Scotian chefs Timothy Charles, executive chef of Fogo Island Inn, and Seadon Shouse, executive chef at Halifax Hoboken at the W Hotel, NYC and Coast Kitchen in California. They will be joined by local rising stars chef Andreas Preuss, Oxalis, and French Chocolatier and chef Julien Rousseau of ROUSSEAU Chocolatier.”
It was exciting to hear that Trudie Styler is bringing her film to Devour! How did that come about?
Lia: “It was kismet! Both Michael and I fell in love with Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples. We chased it for months and had given up hope. Then one of our board members did an impassioned pitch at a renowned Tuscan villa and that, combined with the fact that Trudie and her husband Sting have a soft spot for Nova Scotia, meant she was keen to come to the festival. She will be joining us in person on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. at Denton Hall. We will screen the film, and there will be a live Q&A will follow moderated by CBC’s Ali Hassan. This event is generating a lot of buzz.”
Information Morning – NS8:38 14th Annual Devour! The Food Film FestWhat’s better than dinner and a movie? A festival that combines both! Devour directors Michael Howell and Lia Rinaldo talk about what you can see – and what you can taste – at this year’s food and film festival in Wolfville.
You have been working away on the new Devour! Studios in Wolfville and it appears to be almost ready. Is that a Game Changer for the festival?
Michael: “Construction is still very much in progress. The Studios project has been a true labour of love, we are four years in and, each season, we take the space as is and dress it for the festival. It’s amazing what a little bit of pipe, drape and up-lighting can do. In all seriousness, this current phase has been really productive, and people will notice many changes from a new bar to flooring to the fully finished kitchen. The main level of the building will be officially open for business for rentals and events following the festival on Nov. 1.”
Is there one film or music event that has that WOW factor or creating a buzz already, even before the festival opens?
Michael: “Our signature Chefs & Shorts Gala on Friday night is a Devour! favourite – five courses paired with wine masterfully crafted by Chefs Seadon Shouse, Dario Tomaselli, Winnie Chen, John Higgins, and Angel Ramirez Betancourt to reflect the five short films being shown during dinner.”
Lia: “Wolfville is the place to be on Saturday, Oct. 26. from Le Tour de L’Acadie bike ride to immigrant stories on film to global foods in the park behind Devour Studios, to Trudie Styler‘s film screening to the Lobster Fais do-do and Saturday night dance party at the Audi Halifax stage with the Mark Riley Band – we have something for everyone.”
What films are going to stick with audiences long after the festival is over? That one film people we think about for a long time.
Lia: “One of my favourite titles this year is a German film called One for the Road, tackling alcoholism with some incredible performances through the clubs of Berlin. We always show wine films–from romantic romps through the vineyards of France, to exposés on wine scandals, to murder by a wine bottle, to the history of Port or Champagne–you name it. So, I like one that takes a major issue, breaks it apart and makes the topic approachable and real.”
“Other noteworthy films are Toronto Chef Sash Simpson‘s journey from a street kid in India to a celebrated chef in Born Hungry to Frances Ward‘s journey of becoming a kelp farmer in the film Send Kelp! to director Anna Hu‘s short film Lunchbox which reflects on a Taiwanese American woman’s childhood lunches and her relationship with her immigrant mother. We also have a double feature about pizza, The Best Pizza is in LA and Pictou County Style Pizza. Frances Ward, Ann Hu, Brad Sayeau and Peter Ferriero will be at the screening of their films to answer any questions, and we will even have some kelp and pizza treats to enjoy.”
“We are also honoured to have an original player in the Slow Food Movement, Dieter Kosslick, German film critic and former director of the largest film festival in the world, The Berlinale and current artistic director of Green Visions Potsdam, Jacopo Chessa, Executive Director of the Veneto Film Commission, and Halifax filmmaker and writer Ron Foley Macdonald, will be attending this year’s festival as jury members.”
And what is the one stand-out event about this year’s festival?
Lia: “The Canadian Premiere of La Cocina, Trudie Styler’s film screening and our New Canadian Street Food Celebration are three things you won’t want to miss at this year’s Devour! We are excited to bring our immigration theme to life with our street food celebration. This event will take place at the Wolfville Waterfront at noon on Saturday. Eight talented female chefs from around the world will showcase their delicious creations, including savoury Guatemalan enchiladas, flavourful Filipino BBQ pork skewers, crispy vegetable pakora, and delightful vanilla choux desserts from Ukraine.”
“Admission is free, bites are $5 each, and there will be live music by Daniel James McFadyen and Linda McLean & The Awakening curated by The Deep Roots Music Cooperative.”
