Sustainable Food and Agriculture Program to Host Food and Farm Film Festival

Media contact: Brent Wasser, Sustainable Food and Agriculture Program Manager; email: [email protected]

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., February 26, 2013—Williams College’s Sustainable Food & Agricultural Program and Images Cinema will present four features as a part of Fresh Fest, a food- and farm-themed film festival, on Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10, at Images Cinema. The first film, Growing Hope Against Hunger will be screened at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 9. The second movie, Edible City, will be presented at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 9. The third film, More Than Honey, will be featured at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 9. The final film, A Home Movie: Rhodes Family Documentary, will be shown at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 10. All events are free and open to the public. Each film will feature a local guest speaker.

Starring Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams-Paisely and characters from Sesame Street, Growing Hope Against Hunger speaks to both children and adults on the importance of community. In this special episode of Sesame Street, the show’s main puppet characters meet a new friend Lily, whose family has an ongoing struggle with hunger. They come to understand that their simple actions can make a world of difference. The documentary stories that follow present children’s perspectives on food insecurity and illuminate the impact hunger has on families. Ali Benjamin, who served as researcher, casting director, and story consultant for the documentary portion, will be the guest speaker.

Edible City documents a broad spectrum of activists, organizations, and inspired citizens who challenge the paradigm of the current food system. The movie digs deep into their unique perspectives and transformative work—from edible education to grassroots activism to building local economies—and shows how everyone can get involved in transforming the food system. Aleisha and Brian Gibbons of Berkshire Organics SEEDS will be the guest speakers. Wild Oats soup will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The third film, More Than Honey, deals with an unexplained global phenomenon: the death of millions of honeybee colonies. While a complete understanding of its causes are yet to be determined, it is clear that the problem is much larger than a few dead insects, and that there is more at stake than just a bit of honey. Searching for answers, the film features a wide array of people living with and relying on honeybees, including almond growers in California, pollen dealers in China, and a neuroscientist investigating bee brains in Berlin. More Than Honey offers fascinating insight into the beehive as well as our relationship with nature. Tony Pisano and Alethea Morrison of the Northern Berkshire Beekeepers Association will be the guest speakers. The movie is in German with subtitles in English.

A Home Movie, the final film for the festival, is a documentary by local filmmaker Bette Craig on Williamstown farm history, as told by the Rhodes family of South Williamstown. Craig and her husband, Charles Portz, have owned the Rhodes family farmhouse since 1979. Many of the Rhodes family still lives on part of what had been a 300-acre dairy farm. Craig interviewed many family members, including Lillian Rhodes, who married Robert Rhodes in 1921 and lived in the farmhouse until 1972. Robert’s parents bought the farm in 1875. The guest speaker will be filmmaker Better Craig. A reception featuring Cricket Creek artisanal cheese and bread by Philippe Besnard will follow.

This event is co-sponsored by the Williams College Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program, Storey Publishing, and the Center for Environmental Studies. Food donations are from Wild Oats Market, Northern Berkshire Beekeepers Association, Cricket Creek Farm, and Pain Philippe.

END

For building locations on the Williams campus, please consult the map outside the driveway entrance to the Security Office located in Hopkins Hall on Main Street (Rte. 2), next to the Thompson Memorial Chapel, or call the Office of Communications (413) 597-4277. The map can also be found on the web at www.williams.edu/map

To visit the college on the Internet: www.williams.edu Williams College can also be found on Facebook: www.facebook.com/williamscollege and Twitter: twitter.com/williamscollege

Published February 26, 2013