Colonial Williamsburg and the Williamsburg Farmers Market will explore the world of food in a film festival, starting Sept. 7.
The Fresh Film Festival will feature seven films, reflecting themes related to food, farmers markets, restaurants and the locavore movement. Merchants Square restaurants will participate by presenting “farm to table” specials on their menus.
The festival starts Sept. 7 at the Kimball Theatre with the premiere of a locally produced film about the Williamsburg Farmers Market, made by Inspirit Creative. On the same night, two hour-long documentaries will be shown.
The festival’s films are intended to reflect the Farmers Market’s mission to introduce consumers to the farmers who grow their food.
The film festival line-up includes:
Sept. 7
- “The Market: Building Community through Food”: A short film by Jay Kriss, to be repeated before each film.
- “Ingredients”: This 2009 film packages a variety of inspiring stories about people trying to change the way Americans eat. The film features small and organic farmers, local food movements and methods to promote a return to freshness and flavor. Movie begins at 7:30 p.m. (66 minutes, Optic Nerve Productions.)
- “The Greenhorns”: This 2009 movie explores the lives of America’s young farmers, with the filmmaker making a case for considering a career in agriculture. Movie begins at 9 p.m. (66 minutes, Optic Nerve Productions.)
Sept. 8
- “What’s On Your Plate?”: Two 11-year-old girls living in New York City set out to discover the origins of their food. The kid-friendly film was made in 2009 by Aubin Productions. Movie begins at 10:15 a.m. (76 minutes.)
- “To Market, To Market to Buy a Fat Pig”: PBS tours farmers markets all over the United States, including indoor, outdoor and year-round markets. Movie begins at noon. (56 minutes.)
- “Fresh”: This 2009 film offers fresh ways of looking at the way we eat, the way we grow our plants and raise our animals through interviews with farmers who have changed their methods. Movie begins at 1:30 p.m. (70 minutes.)
- “Dirt! The Movie”: International film explores humans’ relationship with dirt, and how we care (and don’t care) about the important resource. Movie begins at 3:30 p.m. (80 minutes.)
- “Food Fight”: A history of mass-produced food in the U.S. and the current counter-movement for more locally produced food, featuring interviews with restaurateurs Alice Waters and Wolfgang Puck, and author Michael Pollan. Movie begins at 5:30 p.m. (71 minutes.)
- “Ingredients” and “The Greenhorns” will repeat on Saturday night, in reverse order from Friday night’s showing.
Admission is free for the film festival, but tickets are required. Tickets can be obtained by calling 1-800-HISTORY or visiting any Colonial Williamsburg ticket office. Merchants Square businesses are offering specials during the film festival for moviegoers. Learn more about the festivalhere.
The film festival is part of the local Chamber and Tourism Alliance initiative, “Williamsburg’s Arts Month,” highlighting local art activities in September.
