Slow Food on Film Winners
Come to Pittsburgh July 14, 15.

Opening night reception features city’s best artisan food.

Fans of Tampopo and Babette’s Feast will be served a buffet of international food films this weekend. Slow Food Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Filmmakers will present award-winning short films from all over the world, at 8 p.m. July 14 and 15 at the Filmmakers’ theater at 477 Melwood Avenue.

Now in its 10th year, “Slow Food on Film” is an annual competitive film-video festival, Cinema Corto, based in Bra, Italy. Hundreds of short narrative and documentary films are submitted each year that promote the cultural elements of food. Slow Food Pittsburgh, the local chapter of slow Food USA/International has joined Pittsburgh Filmmakers to present a selection of those films, all winners of the competition.

The 2006 Slow Food on Film USA tour comes from Washington D.C. and will travel to Chattanooga, State College, Pa., Philadelphia, Cleveland, Santa Fe, Chicago, Iowa City, Napa, Vancouver, San Francisco and more.

They vary in approach from scriptless reverie (Serbia) to polished animation (United States) and are paced in mood from reflective and instructive (Japan, France) to action and romance (Germany) to goofy but true encounters involving world figures and cream pies (France).

Admission to the film presentation only is $6. Pay at door for films.

Friday evening opening reception plus film is $25. Reserve your place for the 6:30 pm reception by telephone (412-343-7354) or email: vredpath@aol.com . Pay at door.

The opening party will introduce filmgoers to Pittsburgh’s best Italian artisan foods, the artists who make them and food writers who write about them. Appropriate wines will be served. Parma Sausage, Pennsylvania Macaroni, Il Piccolo Forno and La Prima Coffee Roastery will supply cheese, salume, savory tortas, desserts and coffee.

Slow Food intends to increase awareness of eco-gastronomy and the culture of food through these short fiction and documentary films that showcase innovative approaches to these topics.

Slow Food on Film Pittsburgh is produced by Pittsburgh Filmmakers in cooperation with Slow Food Pittsburgh. www.slowfoodpgh.com Slow Food’s mission globally is to work for a better local food supply, to preserve heritage foodways and to restore the ceremony of the table. www.slowfoodusa.org

For more information contact Virginia Phillips, 412 343-7354 or e-mail vredpath@aol.com

PLAYLIST
There will be a ten minute intermission

Das Mass Der Dinge, The Measure of Things. (36 minutes)

(By Sven Bohse Germany, 2005

Don, a young sous-chef, is addicted to his job. His holy grail is to perfect his specialty “La Zoupa,” the mere taste of which can move people to tears. When a restaurant-critic appears, the young chef is given the chance of a lifetime. A big problem arises because he has already promised to cook a meal for his girlfriend that night. A turbolent, boisterous film about art, love and the best soup in the world.

The True Cost of Food. (15 minutes)

By Tate Hausman USA, 2004

In this animated cartoon, a family finds itself on a supermarket check-out line where they pay the “true” cost of food, including damage to the environment caused by agribusiness.

Mi Smo Ono. We Are What We Lost. (5 1/2 minutes)

By Srdjan Mitrovi Serbia, 2005

See how Serbian food tradition unites families. In this film, you feel as if you are visiting a neighborly grandmother as she prepares a special meal. There is a surprise ending.

Ohayo. Good Morning. (30 minutes)

By Shinya Okada Japan, 2005

A young, married couple has a friendly but distant and reserved relationship. They must deal with a mysterious force that has choosen their home. How they handle this challenge will not only surprise them, but also alter change their lives forever.

Dona Ana. La signora An. Mrs Ana. (2 minutes)

By Marlon Vasquez Colombia, 2004

This brief, animated film is the story of a homeless woman who likes to eat strawberries.

L’age de raison. The Age of Reason.

By Myriam Aziza. France, 2004

Deborah was born and raised in France in strict observance of the Jewish faith and its traditions. At the age of 7 years old, she begins to think deeply about this, and her head fills with many questions. She does her best to get answers from her brother, her parents and her Jewish friends, but they only confuse her further. The last solution left is to put these dogmatic regulations to the test. Only then will she feel as though she has conquered freedom. This film won a GOLDEN SNAIL in 2006, the film festival’s equivalent of an Oscar.

Tårtkungen. King of Pies. (5 minutes)

By Katarina Hellberg Sweden, 2005

Meet the man who has made a performing art out of delivering cream pies in the most inventive ways. Watch Bill Gates get one.