If you’re a film buff with a passion for food, this couldn’t be more perfect for you. And if not, well, everyone loves food.
Created by the people behind A Design Film Festival, FoodCine.ma is a film fest on contemporary food culture. From Apr 29 to May 14, you’ll get a taste of eight feature-length documentaries (prefaced by eight shorts), two exhibitions on food culture, two film-inspired menus, and a talk on the relationship between food, film and design. Sounds like a lot to take in? We break it down for you.
The films
Barista is a funny and fascinating look into the world of coffee competitions across the US, where thousands of baristas go up against each other to determine who can whip up the best brew. A must-see for all caffeine addicts.
In Search of Israeli Cuisine offers a glimpse into the melting pot of cultures that make up today’s Israel and its food scene, as told by professional chefs, home cooks, vintners and cheese-makers.
Miso Hungry, starring fast food-obsessed comedian Craig Anderson, follows him on a 12-week journey to Japan, where he attempts to change his diet to find out what makes the Japanese one of the healthiest in the world.
Tasteology makes its world premiere here, showcasing an unusual global culinary journey where some of the world’s most creative food and taste experts share insights into their approach to food.
Besides those four highlights, look out for Cooking Up a Tribute, where the three brothers behind El Celler De Can Roca, a three-Michelin star restaurant and The World’s Best Restaurant in 2013 and 2015, close shop for five weeks to tour the US and Latin America to reinterpret local cuisines. Deconstructing Dani Garcia focuses on the titular Spanish chef, who reinvents himself after the closure of his Michelin-starred restaurant.
In Seeds of Time, agriculture pioneer Cary Fowler takes it upon himself to protect the future of food by constructing the world’s first global seed vault in Norway. Finally, The Birth of Sake centers on a small group of artisans and their sake-making process at Yoshida Brewery, a 144-year-old family-owned institution in Japan.
You’re also in for a treat at House @ Dempsey and Common Man Coffee Roasters, where film-inspired menus will be specially crafted to pair with the off-site screenings. For a discussion on the connection between food, film and design, sit in on the talk by festival curator Felix Ng and Hong Kong filmmakers Tian Ji and Adrian Lo.
If exhibitions are more your thing, A Dozen Eggs by research studio Atelier HOKO analyses human behaviour around eggs, and Eating Together by writing studio In Plain Words delves into what facilitates the way we share food today.
Other stuff from the fest include merch in the form of posters, badges and totes, as well as food collabs by Creamier and Papa Palheta to provide desserts and beverages for purchase before each screening.
FoodCine.ma is at Objectifs from Apr 29-May 14. Tickets are $15 for regular screenings, $25 for the talk and $65 for off-site screenings.
Update: The festival has been extended to May 15, with additional screenings of Miso Hungry, The Birth of Sake and Barista. But tickets are selling fast, so get yours now.
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