#FIRSTLOOK: 2022 DEVOUR! THE FOOD FILM FEST LINEUP

Devour! The Food Film Fest is back for another year of film and food fusion. The 12^th instalment, celebrating this year’s theme, The Future of Food, an introspective of new food choices that continues to emerge throughout the world.

The festival will span 53 events over 7 days running from October 24^th to 30^th, 2022.

“We are extremely excited about the programming at this year’s Devour!,” said Chef Michael Howell, Executive Director of Devour! “This year marks the return of fan favourites, from the elevated chef dinners to the large-scale and expanded outdoor events, while also looking at some of the less talked about challenges in the food industry.”

Devour! is thrilled to announce the headlining film, Sorry We’re Closed, directed by Pete Ferrerio. Chef Elizabeth Falkner sets out to check in with her renowned chef and restaurateur colleagues during the pandemic.

Chef Faulkner and director Pete Ferrerio will both participate in the Gala and post-screening interview hosted by festival favourite and award-winning Food Network celebrity, Bob Blumer.

Devour! 2022’s theme will serve up some of the hard-hitting facets of The Future of Food, such as plant-based cuisine, sustainable fishing and farming and more.

“We’re not shy about tackling some hard-hitting topics to raise awareness about important food issues,” said Lia Rinaldo, Managing Director of Devour! “This year’s program is a wonderful balance of films about the future of food to entertaining food focused films that Devour! attendees know and love.”

This year’s film highlights include:

• The Canadian premiere of Academy Award-winning Nova Scotia filmmaker Ben Proudfoot’s new short film, The Best Chef in the World.
• Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter – Before the Food Network and social media, Chef Charlie Trotter revolutionized global cuisine. He was a rockstar among the first generation of celebrity chefs, but his meteoric rise came at a price.
• Batata – Shot over an unparalleled decade, Lebanese-Syrian director Noura Kevorkian follows the plight of Maria and her community of Syrian migrant workers who, after toiling for decades in Lebanon’s fertile Bekaa Valley, find themselves unable to return to their hometown of Raqqa, Syria.
• The Art of Eating: The Canadian premiere of this film chronicles the remarkable life of MFK Fisher – a vibrant, sensual writer, and explores the impact of her ideas on food and its meaning in our lives.
• Down with the King – A famous rapper, disillusioned with the music industry and the pressures of being a celebrity, leaves the city and his career behind to find himself in a small-town farming community. 
• The Seeds of Vandana Shiva – How did the willful daughter of a Himalayan Forest conservator become Monsanto’s worst nightmare? The Seeds of Vandana Shiva tells the remarkable life story of Gandhian eco-activist Dr. Vandana Shiva, how she stood up to the corporate goliaths of industrial agriculture, rose to prominence in the seed saving and organic food movements, and is inspiring an international crusade for change.
• Cow – “This film is an endeavour to consider cows. To move us closer to them. To see both their beauty and the challenge of their lives. Not in a romantic way but in a real way. It is a film about one dairy cow’s reality and acknowledging her great service to us. When I look at Luma, our cow, I see the whole world in her.” – Andrea Arnold

Chefs and Shorts – This signature Devour event brings celebrity chefs together to create delicious five-course dinners inspired by five short films shown directly to diners at Devour Studios. The Devour! Chefs & Short Gala Dinner features Jason Lynch, Doug McNish, Lora Kirk, Lynn Crawford and Stephanie Ogilvie will create a menu inspired by films Arturo Enciso of Gusto Bread, Ceres Community Project, Meal on the Plate, BBQ at Josée and Serge’s, Wild Bumblebees.

The Closing night film is The Kitchen Brigade directed by Louis-Julien Petit. Cathy, a headstrong 40-year-old sous-chef is finally about to fulfill her lifelong dream by opening her own restaurant. But nothing goes as planned. Facing serious financial difficulties, she reluctantly accepts a job in the cafeteria of a shelter for young migrants, run by Lorenzo. While she is frustrated by her new position, Cathy’s skills and passion for cuisine start to change the kids’ lives. And they also have a lot to teach her.

Youth and student programming is also a staple at Devour! and this year is no different, with in-person and live-streamed school programming. This includes the Big Picture Program, impactful films curated specifically for youth, and the Nourish Nova Scotia & CBC Youth Food & Film Challenge where the winning film will be screened on opening night!

Festival favourite in-person celebrity chef dinners return this year with Spotlight Gala Film Love, Charlie inspiring Chefs like longtime fest friend Norman Van Aken, Jason Bangerter, Michel Nischan, Peter Dewar & Mary Sue Milliken.

The boozy Bourbon Lunch returns to Le Caveau with Norman Van Aken, Martin Ruiz Salvador and Jason Lynch.

All visiting chefs will host workshops covering everything from foraging to youth cooking masterclasses to vegan wines, donairs and alternative foods.

Food Highlights also include the Devour! Street Food Rally hosted by Canadian Culinary students and Chef Lauren Marshall of Halifax’s Real Fake Meats who will deliver $5 plant-based bites and on Saturday the Devour! Down Home Lobster Supper presented by Chef Peter Dewar and the NSCC culinary program.

Festival favourite Devour! Chowder Smackdownis alsoreturning this year, where award-winning chefs invite guests to sample a generous helping of each of their chowders to be crowned this year’s Chowder Champion!

The 12th edition of Devour! will also deliver several established community give-back events like The Mayors’ Bike Ride for Devour! and The Great Devour! Community Supper in support of regional food banks.

Devour! 2022 will welcome prominent chefs and guests to conducts popular workshops including: Bourbon and Bites, Foraging, Vegan Cookery with Chef Lauren Marshall and Cooking classes for Youth.

The full program and ticket information will be available online at www.devourfest.com on September 22, 2022. Our advice? Don’t wait!