Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival 2015 Announces Third Mouthwatering Year of Culinary Cinema

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Thursday, January 29, 2015

A Feast For The Eyes!

Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival 2015 Announces Third Mouthwatering Year of Culinary Cinema

Playful Pairing of Foodie Films With Fantastic Local Restaurants Sponsored by Frederick Wildman & Sons

Culinary Cinema Tickets Available To General Public Friday, February 13th

MIAMI, FL – Miami Dade College proudly announces a special film programming series of the 2015 Miami International Film Festival, the Lee Brian Schrager‟s Culinary Cinema. Now in its third year, Culinary Cinema aims to provide patrons with a delightful combination of foodie films and local restaurants, creatively paired by Lee Brian Schrager, the founder of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and co-creator of the series. Sponsored by wine importer Frederick Wildman & Sons, tickets for these five incredibly delicious events go on sale to the general public Friday, February 13th. Frederick Wildman & Sons will be serving carefully paired libations from its Marchesi di Barolo, La Scolca, Pascal Jolivet and El Esteco portfolios for each of the film and restaurant pairings.

María Muñoz-Blanco, Miami Dade College’s MDCulture Executive Director states, “Great film, the delicious cuisine of some of South Florida‟s finest restaurants, and the intriguing choices of a renowned wine importer – Culinary Cinema is really the ultimate date night for film lovers who also love food. We are grateful to Frederick Wildman & Sons and our restaurant partners for making this special series possible.”

The Culinary Cinema category schedule is comprised of five distinct film & restaurant pairings:

• SATURDAY, MARCH 7: City of Gold (USA) Paired With Lunch at Juvia Miami Beach, 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

Synopsis: City of Gold follows Pulitzer Prize winning food critic Jonathan Gold‟s free- ranging taste tour of Los Angeles, one of America‟s great food cities.

Fresh off its world premiere at Sundance, Festival 2004 alumna Laura Gabbert‟s City of Gold kicks off Culinary Cinema with a 3:30 p.m. screening at Regal Cinemas South Beach directly following lunch at Juvia Miami Beach beginning at 1:00 p.m. City of Gold is eligible for the $10,000 Knight Documentary Achievement Award, voted on by the audience. ($75 lunch, wine pairing, & movie ticket. $70 MFS Members).

 MONDAY, MARCH 9: Finding Gastón (Peru) Paired With Dinner At La Mar by Gastón Acurio at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, 500 Brickell Key Drive, Miami

Synopsis: Finding Gastón follows Peruvian chef / restaurateur Gastón Acurio‟s championing of his national cuisine to international success.

The film, directed by Patricia Perez, will screen at MDC’s Tower Theater at 6:50 p.m., directly followed by dinner at Gaston‟s own Miami restaurant, La Mar by Gastón Acurio at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Finding Gastón is eligible for the $10,000 Knight Documentary Achievement Award, voted on by the audience. ($75 dinner, wine pairing, & movie ticket. $70 MFS Members).

• TUESDAY, MARCH 10: East Side Sushi (USA) Paired With SUSHISAMBA Coral Gables, 180 Aragon Avenue Coral GablesSynopsis: East Side Sushi follows Juana, a struggling, working class, single mother who secretly teaches herself the art of sushi making, against all odds, determined to fulfill her dream despite her Latina roots and gender.

  The film, directed by Anthony Lucero, will screen at Coral Gables Art Cinema at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner at SUSHISAMBA. ($65 dinner, wine pairing, & movie ticket. $60 MFS Members).

• WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11: Natural Resistance (Italy / France) Paired With Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, 1014 Lincoln Road, Miami BeachSynopsis: Four artisanal winemakers in Tuscany strive to produce their wines in the most traditional way possible, resisting both government and market pressure to take shortcuts. The film is like a love letter to Italy.

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The film, directed by Jonathan Nossiter, will screen at Regal Cinemas South Beach at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana on Lincoln Road. ($65 dinner, wine pairing, & movie ticket. $60 MFS Members).

THURSDAY, MARCH 12: Rewined (Italy) Paired With Macchialina Taverna Rustica, 820 Alton Road, Miami Beach

Synopsis: A thirst for the genius of Italian winemakers transforms a shy bank clerk into a powerful wine writer, lothario and … possibly murderer.

The film, directed by Ferdinando Vicentini Orniani, will screen at Regal Cinemas South Beach at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner at Macchialina Taverna Rustica on Alton Road. ($65 dinner, wine pairing, & movie ticket. $60 MFS Members).

“We are excited to sponsor the 2015 Culinary Cinema program with such film talent as well as some of the most gifted chefs in the culinary industry,” said Odila Galer-Noel, PR director for Frederick Wildman and Sons. “The Culinary Cinema program during the Festival is yet another way Lee Schrager aligns talent with talent.”

Adds Lee Brian Schrager, “Many thanks to the Festival for continuing this great partnership. They know movies. I know food. But with Culinary Cinema, we‟ve created something more exciting – the surprising intersection of vision and taste.”

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 13th. For membership opportunities or more information about Miami International Film Festival, please visit www.miff2020.wpengine.com or call 305-237-FILM(3456). The Festival is the only major film festival event housed within a college or university.

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About Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival

Celebrating its 32nd annual edition March 6 – 15, 2015, Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival is considered the preeminent film festival for showcasing Ibero- American cinema in the U.S., and a major launch pad for all international and documentary cinema. The annual Festival, produced and presented by Miami Dade College, attracts more than 60,000 audience members and more than 400 filmmakers, producers, talent and industry professionals. It is the only major festival housed within a college or university. In the last five years, the Festival has screened films from more than 60 countries, including 300 World, International, North American, U.S. and East Coast Premieres. Miami International Film Festival’s special focus on Ibero-American cinema has made the Festival a natural gateway for the discovery of new talent from this diverse territory. The Festival also offers unparalleled educational opportunities to film students and the community at large. Major sponsors of the 2015 Festival include Knight Foundation, Lexus and Miami-Dade County. For more information, visit www.miff2020.wpengine.com or call 305-237-FILM(3456).

About MDCulture

www.mdculture.org.

About The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit KnightFoundation.org.

About Frederick Wildman and Sons

Importers of fine wines and spirits since 1934, Frederick Wildman„s familiar oval is found on every bottle sold and recognized around the world as a symbol of quality assurance.Frederick Wildman and Sons, ltd., portfolio of brands includes: ITALY: Abbona, Ca‟ Bianca, Ca‟ Donini, Castello Monaci, Cavicchioli, Cavicchioli 1928, Conti Formentini, Fattoria dei Barbi, Folonari, La Scolca, Lamberti, Le Chiuse, Le Ragose, Marchesi di Barolo, Melini, Nino Negri, Pellegrino, Tenuta Rapitala, Re Manfredi, Santi; FRANCE: Champagne Pol Roger, Chateau Fuisse/Vincent Selections, Chateau St. Sulpice, Armand Rousseau, Christian Moreau Pere et Fils, Domaine Faiveley, Jacques Prieur, Marc Roman, Olivier Leflaive, Hugel et Fils, Pascal Jolivet, Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hecht & Bannier, Stephane Aviron,; ARGENTINA: Astica, Luigi Bosca, Finca La Linda, Michel Torino, Bodega El Esteco, Cuma, ; SPAIN: El Coto de Rioja, Castro Martin, Maximo; GERMANY: Egon Muller/Chateau Bela; AUSTRIA: Grooner; NEW ZEALAND: Glazebrook; PORTUGAL: Churchill‟s and Churchill Estate; SPIRITS: Chartreuse, Edinburgh Gin, Pig‟s Nose, Sheep Dip, Vertical Vodka.