We’re a proud sponsor of the Flatiron Food Film Festival, and are excited for this year’s festivities!
September 2017 marks the fifth anniversary of the Flatirons Food Film Festival, a festival that has been wowing foodies, film lovers, and the intersection of both, since 2012. To celebrate, Festival Director Julia Joun has planned the biggest Festival yet, September 27-October 1, with nine film programs, an entire short documentary series focused on Colorado, and guest speaker Chef Jeremiah Tower, an hugely influential and controversial figure in American gastronomy. Other speakers include filmmaker Beth Federici, director of JAMES BEARD: AMERICA’S FIRST FOODIE; journalist Corie Brown; chef Frank Bonanno of Bonanno Concepts; Dr. Allen Lim of Skratch Labs; and Jorge de la Torre of Johnson and Wales University.
For this milestone year, the Flatirons Food Film Festival will also present several documentaries about culinary trailblazers, including iconic cookbook author, television celebrity, and teacher James Beard; celebrated writer, farmer, activist, and rural prophet Wendell Berry; and Chef Jeremiah Tower, one of the first celebrity chefs, who began his career at Chez Panisse, went on to open the iconic San Francisco restaurant, Stars, and then disappeared from the culinary scene at the height of his success, only to re-emerge decades later at New York City’s famed Tavern on the Green.
The Festival will also treat its audience to a series of some of the most beloved and pleasurable classic food films in the cannon of food films: RATATOUILLE, BIG NIGHT, and EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN.
Last year, the James Beard Award-winning online documentary series The Perennial Plate filmed the SUMMER IN COLORADO short film series, which the Colorado Tourism Office sponsored. The series surveyed the bountiful culinary culture throughout the Centennial State, working from a mandate to document unique stories about food sustainability, culture, history and creativity. The Festival will spotlight Colorado culinary stories by presenting the series in its entirety with one to two films screening before most of the feature-length films.
Most films and events will take place in downtown Boulder, allowing festival participants to walk from films to downtown Boulder hotspots and festival events. The majority of film screenings will be located at the Canyon Theater of the Boulder Public Library, Main Branch. The festival will also screen its opening night film at the Rayback Collective and end at the International Film Series at Muenzinger Auditorium on the CU Boulder campus.
Festival Schedule
The Festival will include the following films (additional events and speakers will be announced later):
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 6:30pm, Rayback Collective (2775 Valmont Road, Boulder)
JAMES BEARD: AMERICA’S FIRST FOODIE: a documentary about James Beard and how he transformed America’s food culture.
The event starts at 6:30pm with hors d’oeuvres made from James Beard recipes, and the film shows at 7:30pm. Director and co-producer Beth Federici will speak.
Thursday, Sept. 28, 7:30pm, Canyon Theater, Boulder Public Library (1001 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder)
LOOK AND SEE: A PORTRAIT OF WENDELL BERRY: a cinematic portrait of the changing landscapes and shifting values of rural America in the era of industrial agriculture, as seen through the mind’s eye of renowned writer, farmer, and activist, Wendell Berry. Produced by Robert Redford, Terrence Malick, and Nick Offerman.
Friday, Sept. 29, 7:30pm, Canyon Theater, Boulder Public Library
A JOURNEY THROUGH THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF FERMENTATION: a short film series that follows fermented food icon Sandor Katz and Mara King, co-founder and COO of Ozuke, as they learn about fermented food traditions in Southwestern China. Mara King will speak and conduct a demo and tasting during an intermission.
10pm to midnight, License No. 1 in the Boulderado Hotel (2115 13th St, Boulder): Post-film discussion and socializing.
Saturday, Sept. 30, Canyon Theater, Boulder Public Library (unless otherwise noted)
9-10am, Boulder Farmers Market, Children’s Farmers Market Walk and Cooking Demo: In conjunction with the Boulder County Farmers Market and Seeds Library Cafe, this brief class involves a farmers market walk to learn about ingredients, cooking demo, and tasting. Chef Matt Collier of Seeds Library Cafe will lead the class.
10:30am-12:45pm, RATATOUILLE: an animated comedy about a rat that wants to be a chef, and allies himself with a kitchen worker at a famous Parisian restaurant. Part of the 5th anniversary classic food film series. Preceded by a children’s farmers market ingredient walk and cooking demo at the Boulder Farmers Market by chef Matt Collier of Seeds Library Cafe. Jorge de la Torre, Dean of Culinary Education at Johnson and Wales University, will introduce the film.
1-3:30pm, WHAT’S FOR DINNER, MOM?: a drama that depicts a Japanese mother and the Taiwanese food that she made to express her love for her friends and daughters.
4-6:15pm, SOUR GRAPES: a documentary about a young conman who swindled millions of dollars from high society wine connoisseurs by passing off cheap wine as rare and expensive wines at wine auctions. Film participant Corie Brown, co-founder of Zester Media, a cooperative business representing food and drink writers, will introduce the film and participate in a Q&A session after the film.
6:15-7:15pm, Sparkling wine reception for Chef Jeremiah Tower: Available for ticket holders of SOUR GRAPES and JEREMIAH TOWER: THE LAST MAGNIFICENT.
7:15-9:45pm, JEREMIAH TOWER: THE LAST MAGNIFICENT: a documentary about chef Jeremiah Tower, who was one of the formative influences on American cuisine, including putting Chez Panisse on the culinary map, and running Stars restaurant in San Francisco for years. Featuring interviews with Anthony Bourdain, Mario Batali, Ruth Reichl, Martha Stewart and many other culinary world luminaries. Chef Jeremiah Tower will introduce the film, be interviewed by food journalist Amanda Faison, and participate in a Q&A.
10pm to midnight, License No. 1 in the Boulderado Hotel: After party with Chef Jeremiah Tower.
Sunday, Oct. 1, Muenzinger Auditorium with the International Film Series, CU-Boulder campus (unless otherwise noted)
11:30am-1pm, Via Perla (901 Pearl St, Boulder): Big Night by Day: Via Perla Luncheon: A luncheon that includes the timpano dish, which is the pièce de resistance of the feast that is featured in BIG NIGHT. Legendary Boulder chef Antonio Laudisio will speak.
1:30-3:35pm, BIG NIGHT: a drama with Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub as two Italian brothers who own a failing restaurant and attempt to save it during one big night. Part of our 5th anniversary classic food film series.
4-6:30pm, EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN: A Taiwanese dramedy about a master chef who lives with his three unmarried adult daughters in a house in Taipei. One of director Ang Lee’s first films. Part of our 5th anniversary classic food film series. Dr. Allen Lim of Skratch Labs will introduce the film.