Wolfville, N.S. (October 18, 2016) – Offering a delicious spread of local films highlighting a wide array of creative talent from beginning to end, the sixth edition of Devour! The Food Film Fest is set to take Wolfville, Nova Scotia by storm from November 2-6, 2016.
“Every year it’s important for us to grow the local film component in our festival,” says Michael Howell, executive director of Devour! “We have such amazing creative content coming out of Canada, and in particular, in the Maritimes. This year is a direct reflection of this with over 30% of our largest film program to date made up of Canadian content.”
This year, 19% of the entire film program is made up of content submitted by Maritime-based filmmakers – the largest the festival has ever seen. Fifteen different titles from the four Atlantic provinces will be screened over the five-day festival including:
- Aube Giroux’s Leekchi and Lilac Coconut Cream Tarts (NS);
- Brad Sayeau and Chris Surette’s Made with Local (NS);
- Ben Proudfoot’s Why This Road: Dan Portelance (NS);
- Craig Jackson’s Seeding Fear (NB);
- John Hopkins’ Bluefin (PEI);
- Justin Simms’ Hand. Line. Cod. (NFLD);
- Leanne Melissa Bishop and Michael Mason’s Candice & Peter’s Smokin’ Hot Date (NS);
- Rose Schoonhoven’s Bees of the Valley (NS);
- Rosemary House’s A Word to the Wise, Cod-Pot Fishing Fogo, Lambs Abroad and The Seafood Shop (NFLD);
- and Kent Martin’s Wi’kupaltimk: Feast of Forgiveness (NS).
Returning to Devour! is the Scotiabank Big Picture Program school screenings. Sponsored by Scotiabank and Nourish Nova Scotia, three educational programs shed light on the world of food and the different roles it plays in different parts of the world on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Friday, Annapolis Valley-based Rose Schoonhoven – winner of last year’s Nourish Nova Scotia Food & Film Challenge – will make her official directorial debut at Devour! with her short Bees of the Valley. Other Canadian films on the menu include Ian Toews’ Bugs on the Menu, Kent Martin and Salina Kemp’s Wi’kupaltimk: Feast of Forgiveness and Craig Jackson’s Seeding Fear.
Also returning for the second year in a row is the Nourish Nova Scotia Food & Film Challenge (hyperlink: https://nourishns.ca/devour). Sponsored by Nourish Nova Scotia, the challenge invites youth of all ages to make a short film about food literacy – having the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to choose, grow, prepare and enjoy food to support one’s health, community and environment. The best will be screened at this year’s festival and a $500.00 prize will be awarded to the overall winner to support a healthy eating program or initiative in their school or community. The contest closes on October 21 when a jury will review all films. Finalists will be notified by October 28 in time for the screening at the festival’s opening gala evening on November 2.
“It’s inspiring for us to see the growth that continues creatively in our neck of the woods,” says Lia Rinaldo, managing director of Devour! “Take someone like Rose Schoonhoven. She completely embraced last year’s food and film challenge and took home a Golden Tine Award at our festival for her efforts. This year, we were delighted to receive her film submission in more of a professional capacity. We can’t wait to screen her film – it’s like we’ve all come full circle.”
Tickets to the sixth edition of Devour! The Food Film Fest are on sale now through the Devour! website and can also be purchased by phone through Ticketpro at 1-888-311-9090. Exclusive packages are also available! For more information about each mouth-watering event, visit 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. The sixth edition of Devour! The Food Film Fest is slated for November 2-6, 2016. Devour! is supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
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.
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Media Contact:
Robyn McIsaac
robyn@devourfest.com
(902) 440-1551
