One of the best things about the programming for the annual Napa Valley Film Festival is the ‘Culinary Cinema’ category. This section of the Fest has food and wine related films, and it’s always the perfect match for a festival held in the heart of California’s wine country (November 13-17, 2019).
This year’s lineup sounds better than ever, with five distinct films screening in the category.
A Taste of Sky
A Taste of Sky follows two students from Gustu, the groundbreaking cooking school and fine-dining restaurant in Bolivia founded by NOMA’s Claus Meyer. As the film unfolds we uncover what has driven this European chef to come to Latin America, and begin to see the parallels that tie seemingly disparate backgrounds. A Taste of Sky is an exploration of family, mentorship, and legacy – all viewed through the powerful lens of food.
Film Details
Director
Michael Lei
Producer(s)
Andrew Renzi, Kevin Iwashina, Michael Lei, Abby Davis, Jess Kwan
Run Time
85 min
Key Cast
Claus Meyer, Kenzo Hirose, Maria Claudia Kantuta
Breaking Bread
In Breaking Bread, exotic cuisine and a side of politics are on the menu. Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel, the first Muslim Arab to win Israel’s MasterChef television competition, is on a quest to make social change through food. In an effort to effect change, she founded the A-sham Arabic Food Festival in Haifa, Israel, which pairs of Arab and Jewish chefs collaborate on local dishes.
Film Details
Director
Beth Elise Hawk
Producer
Beth Elise Hawk
Run Time
86 min
Funke
Evan Funke was one of the hottest young chefs in Los Angeles when he walked away from his critically-acclaimed and wildly popular restaurant, Bucato. Years later, Evan plans his comeback; eyeing one of the most competitive and expensive streets in America as a stage for the dying art of handmade pasta. He battles many obstacles on the road to opening a new restaurant that he hopes will repair the mistakes of his past and eventually become his legacy.
Film Details
Director(s)
Alexander Emanuele, Gab Taraboulsy
Producer(s)
Alexander Emanuele, Jay Holzer, Cecile Murias, Gab Taraboulsy
Run Time
90 min
Key Cast
Evan Funke, Janet Zuccarini, Nancy Silverton, Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo
Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy
Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy provides an intimate and candid glimpse into the curious world of Diana Kennedy. Diana is a 96-year-old British ex-pat who is widely regarded as the world’s academic expert on Mexican cuisine. Author of nine acclaimed cookbooks, she has spent nearly seventy years researching Mexico’s varied and complex culinary fare. Diana is a legendary force of nature in the culinary world, and definitely isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Film Details
Director
Elizabeth Carroll
Producer
Gina Abatemarco
Run Time
72 min
Key Cast
Diana Kennedy
Nose to Tail
Nose to Tail follows Daniel, a talented yet abrasive chef and restaurateur. Daniel’s upscale restaurant has run successfully for years, but financial difficulties have caused him to take desperate measures. Over the course of one fateful and increasingly frantic day, he faces an onslaught of private trials and professional tribulations in a desperate bid to beat the odds and save the business that he’s sacrificed virtually everything in his life to build.
Film Details
Director(s)
Jesse Zigelstein
Producer(s)
Douglas Nyback, Tony Wosk
Writer(s)
Jesse Zigelstein
Run Time
82 min
Key Cast
Aaron Abrams, Lara Jean Chorostecki, Salvatore Antonio, Ennis Esmer, Carolina Bartczak, Lauren Collins, Brandon McKnight, Genevieve Kang
To read more about these films and to watch trailers, visit the NVFF official site.
The Grape Geeks 