Wolfville, N.S. (November 6, 2016) – Filmmakers from India, Australia, France, USA and the UK were the winners of five coveted Golden Tine Awards as the sixth edition of Devour! The Food Film Fest came to a close today in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The Chop, Strudel Sisters, Sunday Lunch (Le repas dominical), The Trap, and Sour Grapes were selected from over 85 contenders from around the globe – each featured throughout the five-day festival. Festival directors, Michael Howell and Lia Rinaldo, along with an esteemed group of industry representatives announced winners this afternoon at the Golden Tine Awards Brunch held at Wolfville Farmers’ Market.
“This year we presented our largest film program to date, both in quality and quantity,” says Howell, executive director of Devour! “We are thrilled to present each of our winners with this year’s Golden Tine Awards. Each of them should be very proud of their achievements.”
Lewis Rose received the Golden Tine Award in the Best Short Drama category for his short film, The Chop, which explores the story of a Jewish butcher who leaves his father’s kosher shop to work for the halal competition; Best Short Documentary went to Peter Hegedus and Jaina Kalifa’s Strudel Sisters which outlines the lives of two sisters who bake some of the most heart-warming strudels available; Best Animation went to Céline Devaux’s Sunday Lunch (Le repas dominical), a short film about how a young gay man and his dysfunctional family functions during dinner; The Trap, directed by Jayaraj Rajasekharan Nair, won Best Feature Drama for the story of Kuttappayi and his grandfather raising flocks of ducks in southern India’s vast flooded fields; and Jerry Rothwell and Reuben Atlas’ Sour Grapes won Best Feature Documentary for the compelling story of the charismatic Rudy Kurniawan and his ability to make all the right moves in the world of wine. Honourable mentions include John Fortson’s Rated (Best Short Drama), Sol Friedman’s Bacon and God’s Wrath (Best Short Documentary), Robin Noorda and Bethany de Forest’s Red-end and the Factory Plant (Best Animation), Jérôme Le Maire’s First Growth (Best Feature Drama) and Benthe Forrer’s The Chocolate Case (Best Feature Documentary).
The Honourable Scott Brison joined the celebration by presenting one of the festivals most highly-anticipated awards, Best Feature Drama.
“Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners at today’s awards ceremony,” says the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants, who presented an award at the brunch. “When visitors come from near and far to take in Devour!, they’re treated to the very best in film and food from local and international talent. They’re also treated to all our region has to offer — its restaurants, shops and accommodations, generating significant benefits for the area.”
As previously announced, the Government of Canada is providing a $40,000 contribution to Devour! through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)’s Business Development Program, to help promote and develop the area’s offerings.
Other presenters included actor and Devour! Advisory Board members Jason Priestley and Bob Blumer, Devour! board chair Roma Dingwell and the esteemed panel of Devour! jurors lead by Craig Weintraub (Long Beach International Film Festival), who made the decisions as to which film would take home the Golden Tine Award in each category. Arlene Stein (executive director, Terroir Symposium) and Steve Chagollan (editor-in-chief, DGA Quarterly) were also jury members on the panel.
“This year’s Devour! has films on the environment, community, conservation, sustainability, farming, fishing, culinary appreciation and more – stories that not only entertain, but are extremely important to be seen, says Weintraub. “Other festivals may have a few films of this nature, but Devour! dedicates its entire slate because it’s obvious it’s what audiences want to see. The seats are full and the Q&A’s are interactive and thought provoking. It’s not only entertaining and educational, but also a special treat.”
For the second year in a row, the announcement of the Nourish Nova Scotia Youth Food & Film Challenge winner. Earlier this year, Devour! and Nourish Nova Scotia teamed up to invite children and youth of all ages to make a short film about food literacy. Presented by L’Acadie Vineyards’ Bruce Ewert and Pauline Scott, Jasmine Metzler and Taylor MacDonald took home the $500.00 prize for their film, The Food Waste Tax Credit. This will be used to support a healthy eating initiative in their school/community.
Attendees of the Golden Tine Awards Brunch experienced a delectable finish to the 2016 festival that included mouth-watering dishes from George Brown College and Nova Scotia Community College culinary students and faculty, along with beautiful wines from L’Acadie Vineyards and brunch cocktails prepared by Devour! mixologist Matt Jones.
“I don’t know of another festival where you can see a film, meet the filmmakers, then attend a five course gastronomic journey, inspired by the film and prepared by prestigious chefs from around the world,” Weintraub continues. “The town of Wolfville is the perfect size to host this large festival, but small enough to create a sense of community with filmmakers, chefs, foodies and film goers. Devour! is a special place that I’m honored to be a part of.”
Stay tuned for details on the seventh edition of Devour The Food Film Fest at devourfest.com.
ABOUT DEVOUR! THE FOOD FILM FEST
Devour! The Food Film Fest is an international festival celebrating cinema, food and wine culture. The five-day festival takes place in the culinary epicentre of Nova Scotia – the town of Wolfville, Kings County. The festival is an experiential celebration of food on film, the culture of food and the dramatic impact it has on our day-to-day lives. Devour! is supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Slow Food Nova Scotia, Margaret & David Fountain and the province of Nova Scotia.
ABOUT THE LOCATION
Only one hour from Halifax, the Town of Wolfville and Kings County provide the perfect setting for Devour! amid the beauty of the Annapolis Valley and the mighty Bay of Fundy. The heartland of Nova Scotia’s burgeoning wine industry and the centre of culinary and agricultural innovation, Wolfville is also home to Acadia University, one of Canada’s most renowned academic institutions, and a partner of Devour! The Food Film Fest.
-30-
Media Contacts:
Kate Elliot, Marketing & Communications, Devour! The Food Film Fest
kate@devourfest.com
(902) 440-7844
Alex Smith, Director of Communications and Outreach, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
alex.smith@canada.ca
(902) 426-9417 / (902) 830-3839
