DEVOUR! DIGEST - OCTOBER 2019

Events worth devouring

October 19 – A Taste of Devour! in Windsor
Sample some of the delicacies Windsor has to offer while enjoying a selection of short films from this year’s program.

October 22-24 – Scotiabank Big Picture Program
Educators – help your students get informed AND entertained at one of these $5 screenings.

October 22 – Devour! Kentville: Sip & Savour
Celebrate all that Kentville has to offer with delectable bites and a stroll around the iconic Cornwallis Inn.

October 23 – Devour! Opening Gala Reception presented by Taste of Nova Scotia
Experience the coming together of 12 of Nova Scotia’s finest chefs as they create a sensory exploration celebrating local cuisine.        

October 25 – Celebrity Chef Dinner based on the Spotlight Gala Food Fighter
Devour a five-course dinner prepared by celebrity chefs Rocco Agostino, Bob Blumer, Lora Kirk, Dario Tomaselli and Terry Vassallo. 

October 25 – Cooking Master Classes for Youth
With the guidance of instructors and students from prestigious culinary schools across Canada, learn tricks and tips in this hands-on workshop.

October 26 – The Mayors' Bike Ride for Devour!
Take a relaxing bike ride with the mayors of Wolfville, Kentville, and Kings County through Wolfville, Kentville, Camp Aldershot, Starr’s Point Loop and back.

October 27 – The Great Devour! Chicken Dinner
Enjoy a roast-chicken dinner prepared by celebrity chefs from coast to coast in support of regional food banks as we thank community volunteers.

Photographed: Still from 2018 Nourish Food & Film Challenge winner "School Food" by Kieran O'Neil.

Nourish Food & Film Challenge

Calling all budding filmmakers! Nourish Nova Scotia, Devour! The Food Film Fest and CBC have partnered up once again for the Nourish Food and Film Challenge!

School-aged children and youth of all ages are invited to make a short film about food. This year's theme is “Celebrating Culture through Food.”   

The winner will receive a $500 prize to support a healthy eating program in their school or community from Nourish Nova Scotia and a $500 camera package from CBC!

The deadline to enter is October 14 - we can’t wait to see what you create!
 

Devour! VIP perspectives (part 2)

The Devour! VIP Package is an all-inclusive, front-of-the-line pass to everything our festival has to offer. We recently chatted with two VIPs, Jeff and Lori-Ann about their experiences with Devour! – here’s part 2 of their interview:

How did you first hear about Devour! The Food Film Fest?
We took a wine and culinary tour with chef Michael Howell in Puglia, Italy where we talked about his involvement with Devour! When we came back, we bought tickets to the Spotlight Gala film and dinner at the Wolfville Farmers Market. From that night, we were hooked. We started following Michael and Lia wherever we could.

Why is celebrating food and film important to you?
We have always loved good food, and have grown to love good wine, film and cinema. Over the last few years, we have really embraced the local slow food movement, and knowing where our food comes from is important to us. Supporting local farmers and businesses while experiencing a world-class event so close to home at Devour! is something we feel privileged to be a small part of.

What other Devour! events have you attended?
We have attended Devour! the Vines at Grand Pre Winery for the past three years. It is always a great evening, with chefs Jason Lynch and Michael Howell preparing a five-course meal paired with wine and short films.

This year we also attended Devour! at the Algonquin Resort St. Andrews by the Sea. The history and luxury of the Algonquin is a very fitting place for Devour! We met so many wonderful food-loving people just like us.

A highlight chef for us was Melissa Kelly of Primo Restaurant in Rockland, Maine. Everything she prepared that weekend was fabulous – we can’t wait to see what she has in-store for Devour! 2019.

Note: VIP passes for this year are sold out – don’t miss your chance next year!

Devour! alum spotlight - JR Reid

Filmmaker, Devour! alum and our good friend JR Reid will be returning to this year’s festival for his fifth year in a row. He first connected with Devour! early in his freelance and directing career in 2015 when he submitted his short Make Love: McCamus Maple Syrup.

“My first experience with Devour! was incredible,” says JR. “What hit me the most was the people and the atmosphere – whether it be a filmmaker, chef or community member – it’s like a meeting of the minds to celebrate film and food.”

Eager to return the next year – JR, who had a connection to the food scene from years working in restaurants, was inspired to continue making films about food. “I’ve made a film about sourdough bread because I wanted to learn about the process, a film about a dinner series touring the Prairies – and this year my film Make Love: Horton Ridge about an Annapolis Valley malt house will be in the festival.”

Reflecting on why he keeps coming back, he says “It’s like going back to see old friends. Some highlights include taking in all the screenings, the local winery and distillery tours, and the experiential workshops like the From the Wild Filmmaking Intensive with Kevin Kossowan,” says JR.

With over 100 events to choose from, this 6-day festival has something for everyone. “For a small town, they’re really big in what they offer – from films, incredible food, day trips, and interacting with chefs, filmmakers and regulars – it’s so accessible and everything is right there in the Valley,” says JR.

While many events and experiences keep him coming back, JR says the dinners (such as Friday’s Celebrity Chef Dinner based on the Spotlight Gala Food Fighter) are the most memorable. “The best part for me is the big family-style community dinners – they’re some of the best meals I’ve ever had.”

As for JR’s filmmaking career, his latest project about food waste was inspired by his ongoing involvement with Devour! “I wanted to shift into creating an educational film that makes an impact,” says JR.

And he surely has made an impact within the Devour! community. “The community is super welcoming and generous – like a little family network. It’s a pretty special place.”

Social contests and Devour! app

If you're not already following us on our social channels (which are linked at the bottom of this email) you'll want to be! Over the next few weeks, we'll be posting social media giveaways to films from our 2019 program.

We'll also be launching this year's Devour! app soon, which lets you conveniently check out festival events and guests, plan out your week, share events with friends and buy tickets.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.