What started as one screen at a restaurant during its slow period has expanded to become Devour! The Food Film Fest, the world’s largest film fest dedicated to culinary creations. During October 25-29, 2017, Wolfville, Nova Scotia (an hour from Halifax) will be transformed into Hollywood Delicious as chefs, culinary educational institutions, restaurants, and food lovers descend on the city for 72 films and 99 events.

Last year’s Devour attracted 10,500 visitors. This year could be even bigger as Scottish chefs Mark Greenaway (created the world’s best cookbook at the 2017 Gourmand Cookbook Awards) and Peter McKenna (owner of Glasgow’s famed The Gannet). Having dined at Greenaway’s restaurant (link to dinner post), one can only hope he’ll serve his peanut butter cheesecake in Canada.

The Films

Gordon Pinsent, the 2017 guest curator, selected the opening film for the festival ... with his background as an actor, screenwriter, director, and playwright, Gordon knows a thing or two about the movie business. The Devour programming team, watched over 200 titles before whittling down the selection to 72 films made up of 24% Canadian content. 

Selecting The Hundred-Foot Journey by Lasse Hallström as the opening screening ($25), the film was nominated for a Golden Globe and follows a family as they immigrate to France and open a restaurant across from a notable Michelin starred establishment.

This year’s festival will also include the world premiere of David Eng’s Grand Cru ($15) and the Canadian premiere of Peter Stein’s Jacques Pépin - The Art of Craft ($15). At the Art of Craft, Jacques Pépin himself will be at the festival.

There’s documentaries, dramas, comedies, and of course plenty of food porn.

The Food

It’d be such a tease to screen hours of film about food and not let festival goers eat anything. Hence, Devour also has an array of events including celebrity chef dinners, tasting tours, parties, and other dinners.

What interests me the most are the three dinners where the menu is inspired by the festival films:

And Other Things Delicious

While you’re in Wolfville, expand your film and culinary knowledge by attending one of 23 workshops.

If you’re interested in the film aspect there’s an all-day filmmaking workshop ($75) with Kevin Kossowan and Jeff Senger where students will join them in Nova Scotia hunting, foraging, fishing, and of course, filming. Famed Instagrammer Dennis the Prescott will also be on hand teaching a food photography workshop ($30).

This will also be the opportunity to learn from Mark Greenaway, Michael Smith, and Emma Cardarelli ($30 per workshop).

Mixologists Jeff Van Horne and Matt Jones will be running the Five O'Clock Somewhere: Cocktails Workshop ($30). Having tried their dangerously delicious Valley Cobbler made with Sipsmith London dry gin and a refreshing sage cordial, you’ll be learning inventive recipes and not the run-of-the-mill Cosmo.

Ticket Information

Tickets for the films, food events, and workshops are now available on devourfest.com. If you’re really gung ho to immerse yourself at the festival there’s also an all-access pass ($999) where you’ll receive priority entry to the opening gala evening and all films, workshops, tasting tours, celebrity chef dinners, parties and special events!

Worried about where to stay in Wolfville? You can always find accommodations in Halifax and take their round-trip shuttle ($20).

Check out the film reel for the event, based on the snippets from last year's festival, you're in for five days of wildly delicious fun.