Devour! The Food Film Fest (formerly the Slow Motion Food Film Fest) is a Canadian film festival dedicated to films about food and wine culture. The five-day festival takes place annually in late fall in the Wolfville, Kings County, Nova Scotia. The seventh edition is scheduled for October 25-29, 2017
History
The festival was founded in 2009 by Slow Food Nova Scotia. The first festival took place at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville, screening 11 retrospective films with tickets sales of approximately 1,000. In 2011, 30 new films from around the world were screened, with ticket sales of about 2,000. Film director Robert Kenner (Food, Inc.) and Hollywood director-writer-actor Jason Priestley both participated in various capacities and now serve as Honorary Advisory Board Members. In early 2017, Canadian food writer Lucy Waverman and television food celebrity Bob Blumer also joined the Advisory Board.
In 2013, the event was re-branded to Devour! The Food Film Fest. 4,000 attendees took in 70 new food films from around the world, an opening night reception and gala film with special guests, a food truck rally, experiential wine and cheese tours, three five-course meals based on the films, a cocktail pop-up party, a cinematic dine-around brunch at the Wolfville Farmers Market, an awards showcase with a 15-part dessert constructed by culinary students and eight industry workshops.
In 2014, attendance increased to 6,120. The program involved of about thirty Chefs, many visiting filmmakers and industry guests, 14 workshops, 13 tasting tours, more than a dozen dinners, parties & events and over 50 new food and wine films from around the world. A number of local Acadian dishes were included. The event was opened by Anthony Bourdain, curating his favourite food film. Festival organizers were later presented with the Gary MacDonald Culinary Ambassador of the Year Award at the Taste of Nova Scotia Awards ceremony. Taking home the prestigious honour of the Gary MacDonald Culinary Ambassador of the Year Award, and were included on the Chronicle Herald's 2014 Arts & Life Honour Roll.
The fifth edition of Devour! The Food Film Fest took place in November, 2015. It was opened by actor Bill Pullman. The sixth edition of Devour took place November 2-6, 2016. It was opened by Chef Dominique Crenn and featured a theme celebrating the Power of Women in Gastronomy