San Diego Film Festival, not just Italian films - an Italian perspective

On May 21 the San Diego Italian Film Festival creates a magical evening at the elegant Birch North Park Theatre, hosting chef and filmmaker Jessica Theroux sharing her documentary and stories from her cook-book “Cooking with Italian Grandmothers” (nonne), followed by the 2009 Terra Madre film Rupi del vino by Ermanno Olmi, master Italian film director. Tickets can be purchased online at www.sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com or at the door (cash or check only at the door).

Jessica, a visual artist and trained chef, set off on her own voyage of discovery in Italy to learn about how history and stories arrived at the table through the love Italian grandmothers had for their families, their land and their traditions. As Jessica says, “The women profiled in my book are keepers of Italy’s rich culinary traditions. In their hands, food became a gentle language that communicated love, place, work, generosity and identity. Cooking With Italian Grandmothers is a testament to them and the culinary traditions they maintain.” Jessica will be available at the theatre to sign her books for sale there by Warwick’s.

Continuing with the Italian food tradition, which is the foun dation of Slow Food in Italy, the SDIFF will show Ermanno Olmi’s glorious celebration of viniculture in Valtellina, a mountainous region requiring the care and traditions of ancient terracing, helping the land which in turn enriches its caretakers with amazing wines. Olmi calls this work heroic, and his visual poetry sings to us an epic song of local food culture in this region.

The weekend will begin at the Museum of Photographic Arts with the SDIFF presentation of several documentaries on Italian food production, including a short film selection from a work in progress by Jessica Theroux on her Italian Grandmother documentary series. This begins at 7 pm and donations are welcome.

OTHER EVENTS, MAY 19, MAY 20, MAY 22:
Other Italian food and street events will be produced by the SDIFF Community Partners, Slow Food Urban San Diego, and the Sicilian Festival.

On Friday, May 20, SDIFF Community Partner Slow Food Urban San Diego is hosting a special Italian Porchetta dinner created by several local chefs and a guest master chef from Abruzzo, Italy, at the Lodge at Torrey Pines, beginning at 6:30. For ticket availability and other information about Slow Food Urban San Diego look at www.slowfoodurbansandiego.org

Then on Sunday, May 22, SDIFF Community Partner The Sicilian Festival holds its big annual party in the streets of Little Italy, with music, food, parades and blocks of booths. Festival sponsor Bella Sera Wines proudly presents Emmy award winning chef Giada De Laurentiis in a special appearance for the Sicilian Festival. The festival begins at 10 a.m. and goes to 6 p.m. Entry is free. To get more details, check the website www.sicilianfestival. org
For more information contact: Victor Laruccia, 619 459 1638, jamvic@cox.net

The SDIFF is a 501(c)3 non- profit whose mission is to make San Diego a high spot for Italian culture. For more information and to stay current, please check the SDIFF website frequently: www.sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com