First Annual Chicago Food Film Festival: "Taste what you see on the screen"
Pairing food with films about food seems like a genius idea, and luckily someone’s thought of it. The Food Film Festival began four years ago in New York, but September 24th-25th, it makes its way to Chicago for a weekend filled with movies and of course exquisite gourmet offerings.
Documentarian George Motz founded the festival soon after filming Hamburger America where he scouted out the best burgers across the nation. The first annual Chicago Food Film Festival kicks off September 24th at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s loft space named MCA Warehouse, and over the course of the weekend, people will be introduced to some of the best shorts, full-lengths, documentaries and cuisine.
The first night of the fest, Edible Adventure #002 – Savory and Sweet, will supply food centered around the films screened that night. Cheese curds, corn dogs, oysters and exotic sodas will be some of the foods complimenting the films like Obsessives: Soda Pop, which won the Audience Choice Award at the NYC food film fest earlier this summer.
The following night, deemed The Chicago Burger ‘N Beer Experience will be curated by local DMK Burger Bar chef Michael Kornick and will serve burgers and beers to support Anat Baran’s full-length film Beer Wars. Acting as a sensory experience, it’s kind of like watching a program about food, then desiring said food, then actually getting to eat the food immediately.
In NYC, the fest hosts a competition and gives out awards to the best films at a ceremony, but this year’s Chicago fest will be exhibition only. For the second annual fest, it will accept submissions from filmmakers and include a full competition.
Posted by Garin Pirnia
