About Devour!
Devour! The Food Film Fest is the largest food film festival in the world. The annual week-long festival is a transformative food and film experience combining cinematic excellence with 100+ events, celebrated filmmakers, and high-profile chefs from around the globe. The festival welcomes 15,000 food and film lovers. It has become a destination for celebrities and notable chefs including Anthony Bourdain, Phil Rosenthal, Jacques Pépin, Gabrielle Kreuther, Dominique Crenn, Chuck Hughes, Sam Cass, Michael Städtlander, Normand Laprise, Michael Smith, Gordon Pinsent, Jason Priestley, Lidia Bastianich, and Bill Pullman. Each year, top chefs from across Canada and around the world collaborate on special dinners inspired by films.
Devour! The Food Film Fest is back for its 15th anniversary, and this year, we’re bringing Montréal’s world-famous culinary scene to Wolfville! From October 20-26, 2025, prepare for a week-long celebration of food, film, and flavour featuring Michelin-starred chefs, award-winning filmmakers, and exciting new talent. In addition to our galas, culinary workshops and films, we have added three new events and will showcase Montreal musicians throughout this year’s Festival.
The festival's finely curated program highlights current food trends and issues, farming, sustainability, and the impact of current food systems on our lives.
Devour! challenges people to think differently and create a deeper connection to food. The festival’s finely curated program highlights current food trends and issues, farming, sustainability, and the impact of current food systems on our lives. Festival-goers delve deep into the world of food through original one-of-a-kind experiences. These include 50+ films at our host cinema The Al Whittle Theatre, the Chefs and Shorts Gala, Celebrity Chef Dinners, as well as culinary workshops, farm and foraging tours, Bourbon Brunches, the Chowder Smackdown, Le Tour de l’Acadie bike ride, the Great Devour! Chicken Community Supper in support of regional food banks, an outdoor market and street food rally, and so much more.
Devour! The Food Film Fest is managed by festival organizers Michael Howell and Lia Rinaldo. Devour! is overseen by an executive board and advisory council of key film, business, and culinary partners. Public sector partners—such as Telefilm Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism & Heritage—have joined the festival’s founding partner, Slow Food Nova Scotia, in support of the event. Over the past five years, the number of festival partners has tripled, including CBC as the official media partner.
Devour! takes place in Wolfville, in Nova Scotia’s Kings County, one hour from Halifax. Known as the agricultural heartland of the province, the area is home to a thriving wine industry and a warm, hospitable community with a longstanding farm-to-table ethos and home to the Grand Pré National Historic Site and the Landscape of Grand Pré UNESCO World Heritage Site. A rich cultural landscape infuses the region and its people with respect for the surrounding riches. No place could be more fitting to explore our relationship with food.
Devour! has grown steadily since its inception. Box office numbers continue to climb on a yearly basis (from 1,000 attendees in 2009 to 14,463 in 2019). Devour! has also garnered worldwide media attention with articles in The Hollywood Reporter, enRoute Magazine, Screen International, USA Today, Saveur Magazine, The Daily Meal, and Reader’s Digest. Devour! has been recognized as a national culinary, hospitality, and tourism trailblazer and named a Canadian Treasure by the Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (CHCA) at George Brown College. Previous awards include the prestigious Gary MacDonald Culinary Ambassador of the Year Award at the Taste of Nova Scotia Prestige Awards.
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Michael Howell, Executive Director
Michael Howell is the Founder and Executive Director of Devour! The Food Film Fest in Nova Scotia, Canada. For almost 30 years Michael has been a leading chef across Canada, The United States and The Bahamas. Michael hosts food and wine inspired travel to Italy through Tempestuous Culinary and is currently the consulting Executive Chef at The Green Turtle Club and Marina in Abaco, Bahamas. From 2003-2013, Michael owned and operated Tempest, an award-winning restaurant in Wolfville, NS. Michael has twice cooked at New York’s prestigious James Beard House as featured chef. His cookbook, Atlantic Seafood, was runner up at the 2010 Taste Canada awards and was recently re-released in 2021 with an updated second edition.
Deeply committed to Slow Food (he is the former Co-Chair of Slow Food Canada) and global food literacy, Michael was named a winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2011 for his contributions to improving the food system for all. He was the Nova Scotia Local Food Hero in 2010 and named Taste of Nova Scotia’s Culinary Ambassador (along with business partner Lia Rinaldo) in 2015. Devour! was awarded the 2017 Canadian Treasures award for Innovation in Hospitality by The George Brown Centre for Culinary Arts and in 2018 was awarded the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia Culinary Ambassador Award. A graduate of Dalhousie University (BA 1983), Michael also served on the Board of Taste of Nova Scotia and is the former president of the Restaurant Association of NS.
Lia Rinaldo, Managing Director
Lia Rinaldo brings over 30 years of experience in the film industry, coupled with a strong passion for food culture, to her role as Managing Director at Devour!. Her journey began as a teenager at Wormwood’s Dog & Monkey Cinema, where she cultivated her love for storytelling through film. She further honed her skills as an event manager and curatorial programmer at the Atlantic Film Festival, creating memorable experiences for audiences over two decades.
Lia's dedication to culture and culinary arts has earned her numerous accolades, including the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia Crystal Tourism Award of Excellence Ambassador Award, the Taste of Nova Scotia Gary MacDonald Culinary Ambassador Award, the Canadian Treasures Award for Innovation in Hospitality from The George Brown Centre for Culinary Arts, the Progress Women of Excellence Award in Arts & Culture, and the Chronicle Herald Arts & Life Honour Roll. In addition, as a freelance food & travel writer, she has contributed to publications such as Eat North, Curated Magazine, Occasions Magazine, and North American Traveller; she also serves as a critic and judge for top global restaurant rankings.
Devour! Board of Directors
Blair Cook, CPA, MBA, Chair
Blair is a seven-time CFO, a director, and an educator at Executive Finance Partners—a professional development and executive coaching firm for financial professionals and executives. He also serves as a corporate director and audit committee chair of publicly listed companies: Terravest Industries and Clarke Inc. He is also the Chairman of Devour! The Food Film Fest and serves on various committees of CPA Nova Scotia. Blair is the author of The Illiterate Executive: An Executive’s Handbook for Mastering Financial Acumen.
Glenn Munro, Vice Chair
Nan MacDonald, Secretary
Jeanne Saulnier, CPA, MBA, Treasurer
Jeanne Saulnier, CPA, MBA, is a seasoned financial executive and passionate community advocate. With leadership experience across public and private sectors—including education, healthcare, and food production—she brings strategic insight and operational excellence to the board. Jeanne is deeply committed to initiatives that strengthen community ties, and she believes food and film are powerful tools for connection. Her collaborative spirit, love for dogs, and dedication to service make her a valued voice in shaping meaningful, inclusive experiences.
Tyler Cameron
Born and raised in Pictou County, Tyler Cameron is a Director at Iris Communications and Public Relations in Halifax. With over 15 years of experience in federal, provincial, and municipal politics, he has participated in more than 30 political campaigns and worked on Parliament Hill for the Minister of Defence, as well as in both the Senate and House of Commons. From 2018 to 2023, Tyler served as Executive Assistant and Tour Lead for Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston. An active volunteer, he has held positions on the Board of Devour!, chaired media for the 2023 Canada Winter Games, and served as Past Chair of the New Glasgow Festival of the Tartans. He studied political science at St. F.X. University and enjoys returning to Pictou County, dining out, and playing the bagpipes in his free time.
Diana Dibblee
Diana Dibblee is a registered dietitian and educator deeply passionate about women’s health and community well-being. With a strong background in community-based nutrition, Diana has served on various boards and actively supports organizations addressing food insecurity. She has contributed to initiatives promoting healthy school environments; including breakfast programs, school gardens & the Kid’s Run Club (BlueNose Marathon). A global traveler and avid adventurer, Diana enjoys hiking, swimming and running. Her extensive education and experiences reflect a lifelong commitment to empowering others—through nutrition and lifestyle. An avid foodie, she is an advocate for healthier, more equitable & local food systems.
Johanna Eliot
Johanna Eliot is the President of Ocean Entertainment and has been producing award-winning television series and documentaries in Nova Scotia since 1997. She has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Calgary and is the key strategist for Ocean. As Executive Producer, Johanna oversees all the hiring and budgets and personally guarantees the highest quality for all projects generated by Ocean. She is a member of the Canadian Media Producers Association, DOC, Screen Nova Scotia, EO (Entrepreneur Organization), and is a member of IWF (International Women’s Federation). She owns the Halifax restaurant, Eliot&Vine, and is a sommelier and a member of CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers).
Janelle Poole
Janelle Poole is the Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Emera Inc., where she oversees all corporate communications, including employee engagement, media relations, public disclosures, brand strategy, digital initiatives, and community investments. Joining Emera in January 2024, Janelle previously spent 22 years at Microsoft Corporation across the United States and Europe, holding various senior leadership positions. Most recently, she served as General Manager of Global Public Affairs, where she directed public-facing communications strategies that supported the company's ESG objectives, as well as its European and UN Affairs. Her expertise includes strategic communications for complex M&A activities, product launches, global initiatives, and crisis management. Janelle holds an honors degree in Journalism from the University of King’s College in Halifax and an Accredited Business Communications (ABC) designation from IABC.
Martha Reynolds
Martha Reynolds brings a strategic, customer-focused lens to Devour!, drawing on a career in marketing, strategy, and board governance. She has deep roots in Nova Scotia’s alcohol beverage industry, having led both the wine and cider associations and consulted across food, beverage, agriculture, and tourism sectors. A trained market researcher and former Nestlé marketing executive, Martha has also worked with dozens of local entrepreneurs to help them grow. Her volunteer leadership includes roles on multiple nonprofit and political boards. With a lifelong passion for food and film—and a family connection to the film industry—she’s proud to support Devour!’s mission.
Primrose Watson
Primrose Watson is a Barrister and Solicitor in Nova Scotia and founded Primrose Tax Law, a national firm providing corporate tax reorganisation and legal advice to Canadian business owners. She holds multiple degrees from Dalhousie University, and taught Taxation of Corporations law at Dalhousie’s Schulich School of Law. Originally from Sri Lanka and calling Nova Scotia her home for two decades, Primrose brings a rich cultural lens to both her work and her table—where flavours from East and West meet in joyful fusion. Her love for food and culture runs deep, rooted in the belief that shared meals build community and spark connection. When she’s not immersed in the world of Canadian tax law, Primrose is raising two active and curious children, whose energy and adaptability parallel the complexities of the ever-evolving Income Tax Act. As a member of Devour! board of directors, she brings her passion for locating tax credits, people, storytelling, and culinary exploration to the table—along with a strong appreciation for dessert and a well-timed cappuccino.
Sebastien Latulippe
Sebastien Latulippe is the co-owner of Engel & Völkers Nova Scotia, which he proudly leads with his wife, Donna Harding. Since opening their first shop in Halifax in 2018, they’ve expanded to seven locations across Nova Scotia. A former Canadian Navy Submarine Combat Officer with 21 years of service, Sebastien brings discipline, strategy, and integrity to real estate. He mentors advisors, champions client-first service, and leads with purpose. A father, coach, black belt, and endurance athlete, Sebastien lives by the mantra “dream big,” shaping both the company culture and his approach to life.
Tony Hall
Tony Hall is a dynamic resident of Wolfville, having lived there for three years after an adventurous 35-year global journey. He earned his BSc in Agriculture from NSAC in Truro and an MSc in Marine Biology from MUN, specializing in the Bay of Fundy's underwater world. A serial entrepreneur, Tony founded a successful international underwater technology and inspection company, operating across five continents for over 30 years. Since selling his company in 2019, he has channeled his passion into co-founding Valley Fresh Growers Market, an innovative agricultural tech start-up designed to enhance small farm incomes and address food security in the region.