For the first time, EIFF
has introduced a strand bridging the gap between food and film. The CineCuisine strand
aims to celebrate gastronomic excellence while also looking at the history,
provenance and traditions of the food industry.
Running from Friday 21st to Monday 24th June, the strand comprises three documentary films; a panel discussion and tasting session plus a free lecture.
Your starter course at 6.30pm on Friday 21st June is Food for Thought, a panel discussion featuring local food experts and policymakers at the Odeon bar.
Chaired by Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food, Scotland Food & Drink, the panellists will discuss the traditions, trends and future of Scottish food and drink. The event includes a tasting session of locally sourced Scottish produce prepared by Edinburgh School of Food & Wine.
Over the following days, there are multiple showings of the following documentary films:
The Amber Light
The well known spirits writer Dave Broom (main pic) takes a road trip through the lesser-known parts of Scottish whisky culture. Exploring whisky's links to music, literature and history, he speaks to all those involved in the whisky industry from farmers and distillers through to writers and musicians.
Virgin & Extra: The Land of the Olive Oil
Olive oil is an essential in any Spanish larder.
Almost half the olive oil produced in Spain comes from Jaén and this documentary explores the history and heritage of the precious oil. The film shines a light on the complexity of the product: the diversity of its flavours; its many different hues and characters, and its varied use in cooking.
Chef’s Diaries: Scotland
The Roca team sample the best that Scotland has to offer.
Opened in 1986 by Spain's Roca brothers, El Celler de Can Roca has held three Michelin stars since 2009 and was named the best restaurant in the world in 2013 and 2015. In this film, Head chef Joan, sommelier Josep and pastry chef Jordi travel to Scotland, traversing the country and exploring its local produce and culinary traditions, seeking inspiration to develop their own menus. What they discover is a country and cuisine so rich and diverse that they cannot understand its modesty. This is a fascinating celebration of Scotland’s unsung culinary virtues, seen through the eyes of some of the best chefs in the world.
The strand comes to an end at 8.30 on Monday 24th June with Food And Drink On Film. Dr Pasquale Iannone from the University of Edinburgh will chew over some of the best examples of culinary cinema, taking in films and cuisines from across the globe.
Whether it’s an imprisoned gang boss meticulously taking a razor to a clove of garlic or families huddled together slurping down bowls of steaming noodles, cinema continues to be the most adept of all the arts at evoking the sights, sounds, smells and textures of food and drink.
And if any of this make you feel a little peckish then all of 5pm's Edinburgh restaurants can be browsed and booked online.