Sonoran Desert Scenery (photo by Ditte Lokon)

Slow Food Tucson will be presenting its Third Annual Food and Film Festival from January 10th through the 13th in 2008. Classic food films, meals at premiere restaurants, guest speakers, entertainers, and international new food film screenings will be featured.

Classic Films

This year’s program includes three classic food films:

• “Like Water for Chocolate” (Mexican)—the magical realism saga of Tita, a young girl who is only able to express her passions through her food which has the power to make people experience what she feels.
• “Fried Green Tomatoes” (American)—the touching story of a woman in a troubled marriage who finds a new life cooking at the Whistle Stop Café.
• “The Wedding Banquet” (Chinese)—the hilarious tale of a gay man in America who tries to placate his parents back in Taiwan by telling them he is marrying. His plan backfires when his parents arrive in New York to plan his elaborate wedding banquet.

Culinary Events

The culinary events include an opening reception at the JW Marriott Country Club at Starr Pass; a Mexican mole meal at Miguel’s Restaurant where ethnobotanist Gary Nabhan will conduct a tequila tasting; a barbecue at The Last Territory Restaurant at the Hilton El Conquistador Hotel; Asian brunch at Vila Thai Restaurant; and a concluding gala organic dinner at the Ventana Room at Loew’s Ventana Canyon Resort.

A Re-Creation of Babette's Feast at Acacia Restaurant in 2007 (photo courtesy of Slow Food Tucson)

Keynote Speaker & New Film Screenings

On Saturday, January 12th, keynote speaker Dr. Maribel Alvarez, Research Social Scientist at the Southwest Center, University of Arizona, will speak on “Food as Intangible Heritage” on the West Campus of Pima Community College. Both on Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon, there will be screenings of new international food films, selected from over 50 submissions, including documentaries, animation, features and shorts. The audience will vote on the award for the “Best of the Best.”

Benefiting a Terrific Cause

Slow Food Tucson promotes eating local and seasonal foods from growers who practice sustainable agriculture, honoring culinary heritage and educating the public. As a non-profit, Slow Food Tucson donates proceeds from the Festival to local, worthy non-profit organizations that demonstrate Slow Food principles. The Tucson convivium is part of Slow Food USA, and affiliated with Slow Food International, headquartered in Italy with 80,000 members located in 50 countries worldwide.

Tickets & Info

The best price on the Festival is the full pass for $250 ($200 for Slow Food members) if purchased before December 31.

For order forms and additional information go to the Festival's official web site: Slow Food Tucson