Wolfville, N.S. (February 9, 2016) – The duo behind the world’s largest food film festival is hitting the ground running with a busy year ahead. Officially kicking off a year of profile events, Michael Howell and Lia Rinaldo are taking their pop-up show on the road to Germany later this month to participate at the Berlin International Film Festival and host A Taste of Devour! in Berlin at the Embassy of Canada on February 16.
“Devour! continues to demonstrate the increasing importance of the culinary traveler in building and sustaining Nova Scotia tourism,” says Michael Howell, executive director of Devour! “This year we will be especially busy hosting pop-up events that will promote Wolfville as Canada’s Secret Foodie Destination and the culinary bounty of Kings County.”
Over the years, Howell and Rinaldo have worked hard to build a special relationship with the Berlin International Film Festival. Attending the last three editions of Berlinale, they have worked with Berlin’s Culinary Cinema program to become great sources of mutual culinary-based content. In 2014, Thomas Struck, director of Culinary Cinema, made the trip to Wolfville to attend and chairDevour!’s film jury.
“Chefs get inspired by films, filmmakers learn from the kitchen, a concept which has proven to provide exciting and delicious entertainment worldwide from Berlin, San Sebastian and now Wolfville,” said Struck at the time.
This relationship will continue later this month when the Devour! directors attend Berlinale. At the invitation of the Embassy of Canada, the two will host A Taste of Devour! in Berlin on February 16. Nova Scotia’s own Jason Lynch (Devour!culinary director and chef at Le Caveau in Grand Pre, NS) will join Berlin chefs (and Devour! alumni) Michael Hoffmann and Fabian Geppert to prepare and showcase Nova Scotia’s pristine seafood and award-winning Benjamin Bridge and Grand Pre wines. Reception guests will also enjoy a range of short films from the Devour! program.
Howell and Rinaldo have also been invited to participate in Meet the Festivals at Berlinale on February 15 and 16. On the hunt for new culinary films, chefs and industry guests, the duo will have the chance to meet with top documentary festival programmers, filmmakers and market representatives through one-on-one meetings to discuss individual projects. For more information visit the Berlinale website.
Coming off the success of their busiest year to date where Devour! produced over 20 pop-up events, organizers look forward to continuing to grow the Wolfville-based festival in 2016. Save the date for these upcoming opportunities to experience A Taste of Devour!:
- May 7-6, 2016 – Devour! Okanagan – Watermark Beach Resort, Osoyoos, B.C. (more info here).
- May 13-15, 2016 – Devour! Fox Harb’r – Fox Harb’r Golf Resort & Spa, Wallace, N.S.
- June 17, 2016 – Devour! The Sea – Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax, N.S.
Stay tuned for information on even more upcoming events as they are confirmed. Each event is in preparation for the sixth edition of Devour! The Food Film Fest, taking place November 2-6, 2016. For more information, 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.
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
