Announcing the Milwaukee Film Festival's 2019 Film Feast Lineup

From Oct. 17-31 one of the country’s biggest and (in our opinion, anyway) best film festivals will be returning to theaters located throughout the metro area. Milwaukee Magazine, along with BelAir Cantina, is sponsoring the festival’s Film Feast programming.  And we’re already drooling over the lineup and movie blurbs that Milwaukee Film has shared with us:

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Abe

USA | 2019 | Director: Fernando Grostein Andrade

Abe (Noah Schnapp) is a 12-year-old kid exploring a newfound love of cooking. But with one Jewish grandparent and two Palestianian grandparents, he’s been placed at the center of a conflict that’s centuries older than him. As his family pressures him to choose a side, he concocts a plan to use a fusion dinner to bring them together. This uplifting coming-of-age film explores global issues (and plenty of global food) through a tween’s eyes.

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A Cherry Tale (Kirsebæreventyret)

Denmark | 2019 | Director: Eva Mulvad

Trailer

Three wine aficionado entrepreneurs decide to develop a cherry wine in a southern Denmark castle in this fascinating documentary. Their wine finds success but they must also battle a shifting financial landscape as they struggle to turn their hobby into success. This film highlights the journey of starting a business and the joys of friendship, and is perfect viewing for any wine lover.

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Eat Up

USA | 2019 | Director: Fiona Turner

Trailer

Millions of American kids rely on free lunch programs, but the food is often unappetizing, mass produced, and unhealthy. This documentary chronicles 12 months inside Boston’s public schools, following attempts to forge a new model for providing healthy and delicious food in cafeterias. Eat Up is an inside look at bureaucreacy, corporate power, and food, and what can be done to bring change to school kids’ lunches across the nation.

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The Good, The Bad, The Hungry

USA | 2019 | Director: Nicole Lucas Haimes

What’s more American than eating a hot dog on July 4? How about eating 60 of them! At the much-anticipated annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, competitive eaters battle to see who can consume the most hot dogs. With a surprising amount of heart and humanity, this documentary captures the curiosity, excitement, and emotion of one of America’s most unconventional sports, and its driven and dedicated athletes.

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Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy

USA | 2019 | Director: Elizabeth Carroll

Trailer

Diana Kennedy is a 95-year-old British ex-pat who has spent the last several decades becoming an expert on Mexican cuisine and authoring multiple cookbooks documenting local cooking practices and recipes that have been passed down through generations. This inspiring film follows the feisty senior citizen as she lives her best life on her ranch, living off the land, utilizing renewable energy, and attempting to give back to the country that has become her home.

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Setting the Bar: A Craft Chocolate Origin Story

USA | 2018 | Director: Tim Shephard

Trailer

A group of craft chocolate makers are on the hunt for a rare type of cacao found in the Peruvian Amazon in this fascinating doc. Their trip takes them through the disappearing rainforest and into the lives of local farmers. A tale for both foodies and environmentalists, this film gives insights into sustainable farming practices, small communities creating exporting infrastructures, and what it takes to make craft chocolate.

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Discounted tickets are available through Sept. 30. Visit the Milwaukee Film website for more info on purchasing individual tickets or 6- or 10-pack bundles. And tide yourself over until the first night of the festival by re-reading our 2018 feature on the festival and its origins.