Filmmakers and organizers were more than thrilled with the resounding success of the festival, which was kicked-off by a sold out, 150-seat Barn Dinner on Thursday, November 10, 2011.  “We’re extremely pleased with the turn-out,” said Michael Howell, organizing director of the 2011 Slow Motion Food Film Festival and director of Slow Food Nova Scotia, the local affiliate of Slow Food International.

Film award winners in four categories were announced Sunday night at the Festival’s closing screening.  Award winners were: Dive by Jeremy Seifert of USA, for Short Documentary; Loss of Taste by Luca Nestola of Italy, for Short Drama; Cooking History by Peter Kerekes of Czech Republic for Feature Documentary; and, Perfect Sense by David Mackenzie of UK for Feature Drama.  Winners of the four categories were presented with a hand-crafted golden snail made by local artisan and owner of The Virgo Tiger, Marie Jardine of Canning Nova Scotia – the snail is the symbol of Slow Food International.

Eleven filmmakers and stars from around the world made the trip to Wolfville to view the screenings of their films.  They included filmmaker Rachel Bower of In the Same Boat, Katharina Steinhoffer, filmmaker of And this is My Garden, Felipe Togni, director of La Matula, Christine Anthony and Owen Masterson , filmmakers and producers of GROW!, Raul Alvarez, filmmaker of Land Awakening, Chuck Lapp, producer of Clearing the Waters, Anicet Desrosier, star of La Reine Malade, Luca Nestola, filmmaker of Loss of Taste, Simon Thibault and Chris De Wall, producer and star respectively of Getaway.

Also in attendance were a number of special guests, including Canadian film star Jason Priestley, who participated as a guest chef at the Barn Dinner and also presented an award during Sunday night’s ceremony; Ann McKenzie, of Film Nova Scotia; Bobby Gregoire, leader of Slow Food Montreal; Anita Stewart, Canadian food writer and creator of Food Day Canada; and Gretha Rose, executive producer and president of Cellar Door Productions.

“The enthusiasm from the public, our sponsors, volunteers, and the food film industry surpassed our expectations,” said Howell.  “We’re extremely grateful for everyone involved that helped to make the festival a success.”  Slow Food Nova Scotia looks forward to the next Slow Motion Food Film Festival in November  2013.

Slow Food is an international organization active in over 130 countries devoted to good, clean, fair food for all, the preservation of local food traditions and playing an increasing role in food security worldwide. The mission of the Festival is to educate and entertain us all as we learn more about the food and our world.

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Contact:

Robyn McIsaac

902-440-1551

Wendy Jones

902-478-1014

“If just one student starts thinking more or differently about their food than they did the day before, we will have accomplished our goal,” says Michael Howell, organizing director of the 2011 Slow Motion Food Film Festival and director of Slow Food Nova Scotia, the local affiliate of Slow Food International. “It’s all about thinking about your food, not just eating it.”

Nova Scotia doctors also know that being healthy starts long before a visit to their office. That’s why Doctors Nova Scotia invests in health promotion initiatives and events throughout the province.

“Doctors know that being physically active and eating the right foods can keep people healthy and prevent them from needing to access our health-care system,” says Dr. Jane Brooks, past-president of Doctors Nova Scotia and Middleton general practitioner. “We’re hoping through sponsoring events like this one we’ll be able to teach youth the skills they need to live healthy lives.”

Youth Day includes screening the documentary Lunch Line. This documentary takes a new look at the school lunch program in the United States by exploring its past, its current challenges, and its opportunities for the future. The National School Lunch Program feeds more than 31 million children every day. Lunch Line follows six kids from one of the toughest neighbourhoods in Chicago as they set out to fix school lunch and end up at the White House.

A panel discussion following the documentary will focus on school food in Canada and Nova Scotia and will feature panelists Michael Howell, nutritionist Michelle Murton, owner of Taproot Farm Patricia Bishop, educator Sandi Carmichael, nutritionist Ismay Bligh, and Dr. Jane Brooks.

The winner of the Slow Motion Food Film Festival Youth You Tube Contest will be announced and students will screen the film during the day. A youth corps of students from Citadel High and NEKEC will deliver a photo presentation in which they explored healthy food versus fast food through the summer and fall.

“Slow Food International is devoted to improving the food for youth globally,” says Howell. “This initiative, supported so enthusiastically by Doctors Nova Scotia, is slow food ethos in action and we’re delighted with the important partnerships that make this great day come to life.”
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The one-day program is presented as part of the Slow Motion Food Film Fest and supported by Doctors Nova Scotia, Slow Food Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, and the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board and Viewfinders International Film Festival for Youth.

Doctors Nova Scotia is the professional association representing all doctors in the province. It is the oldest medical association in Canada. The association represents about 2,300 physicians serving patients across the province, and 700 medical students and residents.

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Contact:
Wendy Jones
902 -478-1014

Artisanal Breads 

Jean Marc Riant – Boulangerie La Vendeene

Appetizer

Chefs Renee Lavallee and Dennis Johnston

Salad of apple & celery root with crispy house cured Guanciale and pan fried Boudin Noir

Soup

Chef Brad Bowden

Cedar Smoked Butternut Squash with tarragon Creme fraiche and a parsnip sphere

Main course 

Craig Flinn, Jason Lynch and Jesse Vergen

Braised and Glazed Atlantic Beef Shortrib,

Potato Risotto with Italian Parsley and Ran-Cher Acres Gouda and Autumn Vegetables

*Vegetarian option will be available

Dessert

Chefs Luis Clavel and Peter Dewar

Lavender Panna Cotta with White Chocolate Ribbon and Meringue Dust and Sous Vide Apples

Smoked Pineapple – graham – Dulce de Leche, plus a dehydration of chocolate with root beer and honey chocolate

The Slow Motion Food Film Festival opens Thursday, November 10, 2011 with the first event of a weekend-long slate of films and food activities.  The Barn Dinner is sponsored by Select Nova Scotia and takes place in the newly built Wolfville Farmer’s Market.  Film and food buffs  will delight at this gala dinner featuring chefs Craig Flinn (Chives), Dennis Johnston (FID Resto), Peter Dewar (NSCC), Jason Lynch (Le Caveau), Luis Clavel (Atlantica Hotel), Peter Jackson (Formerly of Jacks Grill, Edmonton), Renee Lavallee (The Feisty Chef),  Chris Velden (Flying Apron), Brad Bowden (Glen Arbour), and Jesse Vergen (The Saint John Alehouse).

Organizing director, Chef Michael Howell, is pleased to welcome actor Jason Priestley as one of the chefs of the Barn Dinner. “Jason is a big supporter of Slow Food Nova Scotia and we’re thrilled he can take the time from his busy production schedule to take part in this event.  He’ll also be with us for the Sunday evening awards ceremony, but we’re pretty sure he’s really looking forward to spending time with us Barn Dinner.  We’ve gathered a great group of chefs for an evening of collaborative and creative cooking and we’re anticipating a sell-out crowd in the wonderful setting of the Wolfville Farmer’s Market.”

Tickets are $59 for the four-course Slow Motion Food Film Festival Barn Dinner.  They are available at www.Ticketpro.ca or any Ticketpro location, including Box of Delights in Wolfville.   Visit www.slowmotionfilmfest.ca for information about the film screenings and other Festival events.

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 Contact:

Robyn McIsaac

902- 440-1551

robynmcisaac@eastlink.ca

Wendy Jones

902- 478-1014

wendy@davidjonesassociates.ca

Screenings include 15 shorts and 14 features from Canada and countries around the world including the Unites States, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Argentina, Italy, Slovakia, Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil,  and France.  Several filmmakers will also be on hand for the screening of their films.

“We are thrilled to bring this festival to Wolfville a second time,” says Festival organizer Michael Howell. “I am particularly excited about how this combination of films both entertains and raises awareness of some compelling global issues such as health, food security, and the importance of bees to the balance and continuation of ecosystems. There is definitely something for everyone – food, film and wine lovers alike.”

The line-up includes the Canadian premiere of Perfect Sense, starring Ewan McGregor. This film premiered at Sundance and continues to gain momentum through festival play around the world in Seattle, Edinburgh, Galway, Rio de Janeiro.  Perfect Sense won the Best New British Feature at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and was nominated for two prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards for Best Film and Best Director.

Other Festival highlights include:

• World premiere of Land Awakening by Mexican-Canadian filmmaker Raúl Álvarez.
• Canadian premiere of El Camino del Vino.
• A Matter of Taste, screened at SXSW and Tribeca Film Festivals, along with El Bulli: Cooking in Progress, which was screened at SXSW, provide the ultimate foodie films behind the scenes with some of the world’s most eccentric and famous chefs.
• Kings of Pastry & Cooking History- both screened at the Atlantic Film Festival and back in the region by popular demand.
• Documentaries covering a range of topics- from the collapse of bee colonies in The Ailing Queen, to dumpster-diving in the back alleys of LA supermarkets and sustaining a family and community- at-large in Dive!, to a group of teens who set out to fix their school’s lunch in one of the toughest neighbourhoods in Chicago and end up at the White House in Lunch Line, to  a butcher who has to make a tough decision on whether or not to slaughter his friend in Dorus the Pig Divine Pig.
• Slow Motion Barn Dinner on November 10, 2011 at the Wolfville Famers’ Market.
• Amazing Food Race at the Wolfville Famers’ Market on November 12, 2011.

• Youth Day on November 14, 2011 at Horton High School; winner of the Youth Film and Video Contest announced.

A full schedule and ticket purchase is available online at www.slowmotionfilmfest.ca or visit www.ticketpro.ca, or call 1-888-311-9090.

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Contact:

Robyn McIsaac

902-440-1551

robynmcisaac@eastlink.ca

Wendy Jones

902-478-1014

wendy@davidjonesassociates.ca