Food on Film

Santa Barbara Film Festival Presents ‘Screen Cuisine’

Sunday will see the U.S. premiere of <i>Peru Sabe</i>, starring Ferran Adria and Gaston Acurio
Sunday will see the U.S. premiere of Peru Sabe, starring Ferran Adria and Gaston Acurio Photo: Peru Sabe

The Santa Barbara Film Festival kicks off its 28th year this Thursday, stretching for eleven days in the adorable, adobe-roofed retreat. The event, a little like the town itself, has grown from a small gathering of artistic weirdos to a major Hollywood star spot, complete with 190 screenings and events and appearances from actors like Daniel Day Lewis, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, and Leonardo DiCaprio. So don’t be surprised when Daniel Plainview sidles over and drinks your horchata at Super Rica. Fittingly, the Festival is throwing its arms around everyone’s expanded interest in the culinary world this year, with an included sidebar of food-focused documentaries called “Screen Cuisine.” What’s showing?

This component of the Festival explores chef-culture, wine obsession, and sustainability in cooking and food production, with six related documentaries.

Included will be the U.S. premiere of Peru Sabe, a look into the origins and future of Peruvian cuisine, starring Ferran Adria and Gaston Acurio, and Spinning Plates, the Thomas Keller and Grant Achatz-starring mismatched buddy-cop movie film about restaurants operating at their acme.

Check out the full list and breakdowns of the six films below. Tickets are available online.

Screen Cuisine

A Year in Burgundy, USA - World Premiere
Sat, Jan 26, 1:00 PM
Directed by David Kennard
Cast: Martine Saunier
This documentary follows half a dozen winemakers in the Burgundy region of France for one full year, where the beautiful and traditional processes are revealed.

Family Meals, Croatia - US Premiere
Mon, Jan 28, 4:00 PM
Directed by Dana Budisavljevic
Through the ritual of family meals, the film talks about the importance of feeling accepted by the ones we love.

More Than Honey, Switzerland/Germany/Austria
Sat, Jan 26, 8:00 AM
Directed by Markus Imhoof
Cast: Fred Jaggi, John Miller, Liane Singer
An in-depth look at honeybee colonies in California, Switzerland, China and Australia.

Peru Sabe: Cuisine as an Agent of Social Change, Peru - US Premiere
Sun, Jan 27, 7:00 PM
Directed by Jesus M. Santos
Featuring: Gaston Acurio, Ferran Adria
Ferran Adria, one of the world’s most prestigious chefs, and Gaston Acurio, Latin America’s most influential chef, explore the roots of Peruvian cuisine and its potential to change lives.

Somm, USA
Sat, Jan 26, 4:20 PM
Directed by Jason Wise
Cast: Bo Barrett, Shayn Bjornholm
Four sommeliers attempt to pass the prestigious Master Sommelier exam , a test with one of the lowest pass rates in the world.

Spinning Plates, USA
Sun, Jan 27, 1:40 PM
Directed by Joseph Levy
Cast: Grant Achatz, Thomas Keller
This documentary follows three extraordinary restaurants and the incredible people who make them what they are.

Santa Barbara Film Festival Presents ‘Screen Cuisine’