Slow Food Springfield Film Festival January 28, 2017

Film Festival Scheduled for January 28

A film festival for everyone interested in learning about people, places and history behind their food is planned for Saturday, January 28, 2017 in Foundation Hall at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site (Level 2) in Springfield from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Slow Food Springfield, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Old State Capitol Foundation and Spence Farm Foundation are partnering to present the 9th Annual Slow Food Springfield Film Festival. “These films tell the stories behind our food and can increase awareness and interest in our food system," says Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, Slow Food Springfield board member and chair for the festival.

This year’s festival will feature the documentary film, Sustainable that is a vital investigation of the economic and environmental instability of America’s food system, from the agricultural issues we face — soil loss, water depletion, climate change, pesticide use — to the community of leaders who are determined to fix it. Sustainable is a film about the land, the people who work it and what must be done to sustain it for future generations. The narrative of the film focuses on Marty Travis, a seventh-generation farmer in central Illinois who watched his land and community fall victim to the pressures of big agribusiness. Determined to create a proud legacy for his son, Marty transforms his profitless wasteland and pioneers the sustainable food movement in Chicago.

The screening will start at 7:00 p.m. and will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers Matt Wechsler and Annie Speicher, Marty Travis and Will Travis of Spence Farm and Erin Meyer, Executive Director, Spence Farm Foundation.

The festival will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the screening of the Top 10 Finalist Shorts from the 2016 Real Food Media Contest. The Contest is the first-ever national competition to celebrate short films on sustainable food and farming. In three years, they received over 440 submissions from around the world, from documentary to advocacy, spoken word to animated. The top ten list includes the following films: Home Flavored, Beyond the Seal, Naturali Tea, Saving Sap, The Kelly Street Garden, Farmed with Love, Everybody Eats, Mindful Vineyards, A Sustainable Catch, and McEwen & Sons True Grits.

“Starting at 6:00 p.m., a light dinner, provided Denise Perry Chef/Owner, Copper Pot Cooking Studio and coffee, by Custom Cup Coffee, will be available for purchase” says Karen Hine, chapter leader for Slow Food Springfield.

Admission is $7.00 per person ($5.00 for Slow Food Springfield members). Students with a student ID are free.

The Old State Capitol State Historic Site may be accessed from the parking garage below the Old State Capitol. Entrance to the garage is on 6th Street (heading north). Parking is $1.50/hour. The garage will be open until 9:00pm. The garage can also be accessed from the Adams Street Plaza through the small brick building with the green metal roof. Using the elevator or stairs, go down one level (UL Parking).

More information is available at www.slowfoodspringfield.org or contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, 217-341-0398, mailto:Deborah@new.leaf.consulting.com