The Big Picture Program: With Grace (Screening & Cooking Class)

THE BIG PICTURE PROGRAM

Food. Film. Big Ideas. Hands-On Learning.

Take your students out of the classroom and into a powerful two-hour experience where film, food, and hands-on learning come together. For more than a decade, Devour! The Food Film Fest and Nourish Nova Scotia have introduced young people to some of the biggest issues shaping our food and our world, from farming and food waste to climate change, health, and sustainability. More than 5,000 Nova Scotia students have taken part in this unique program. This year’s Big Picture Program combines an inspiring international film, meaningful classroom connections, and a hands-on culinary experience—all for $5 per student.

WATCH: With Grace

Meet Grace, a spirited 13-year-old growing up on a family farm in Kenya. Through humour, honesty, and optimism, Grace shares a story of family, resilience, and hope while giving students a window into a life and food system very different from their own. The film opens the door to conversations about food and farming, family and community, global citizenship, resilience and empathy—and the universal experiences that connect young people across cultures.

Kenya/Norway | 2024 | 30 minutes
Directors: Dina Mwende & Julia Dahr

With subtitles
Recommended for Grades 3+

TALK: Explore the Big Ideas

Following the film, the team from Nourish Nova Scotia will lead students through an engaging age-appropriate discussion, encouraging them to make connections between Grace’s story and their own relationships with food, family, community, and the world around them.

COOK: Get Into the Kitchen

Then it’s aprons on. Chef Paul Thimot, Acadian chef, will lead students through a hands-on culinary workshop designed to build practical skills, kitchen confidence, and curiosity about where our food comes from. Students won’t just hear about food—they’ll make it, taste it, and learn together.

Recipe: Coming soon

A Field Trip with Something to Chew On 

In just two hours, students will experience film + facilitated discussion + hands-on cooking, connecting learning across food literacy, culture, geography, sustainability, health, and community. And at only $5 per student, The Big Picture Program is designed to make an unforgettable Devour! experience accessible to classrooms across Nova Scotia.

Book Your Class

Space is limited, and school groups are encouraged to reserve early.
Teachers, please email Cat Frawley at our Devour! Box Office at tickets@devourfest.com to book your class.
$5 per student — Film + Discussion + Culinary Workshop
Presented with the support of the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union and Nourish Nova Scotia

Paul Thimot

Boasting over 30 years of culinary and sommelier expertise, Chef Paul Thimot embarked on his gastronomic journey in Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, nurturing his early passion for food and wine. His path encompassed culinary studies, experiences in Halifax, training in France, and sommelier certification in Western Canada—culminating in a distinguished teaching career at the Nova Scotia Community College. Previously, Thimot excelled as a wine educator at Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna and as a sommelier at Banff Springs Hotel. On his summers off from academia, he operates a food truck, creating exquisite dishes for weddings and events at wineries and unique venues, and embodying his culinary ethos of crafting delightful everyday cuisine. @paulthimot