December | Festive Treats

This holiday season we’re bringing in Canadian coziness and comfort by showcasing projects that feature culinary delights. The collection will focus on how food serves as a means of connection, cultural identity, and communal gathering.

Abuela

Director: Rebeca Ortiz

Eight-year-old Kathy and her grandmother are left to spend the day together; however, they do not speak the same language. After overcoming some miscommunication, the grandmother and Kathy are able to bond while making empanadas.

Cheese: A Love Story

Director: Ian MacDonald

Afrim Pristine is Canada’s leading cheese expert, owner of the Cheese Boutique in Toronto and has over 25 years of cheese experience. His passion and commitment to learning more about this magical food stems from his father and family business of 50 years. In this six-part series, Cheese: A Love Story, Afrim embarks on a journey to meet up with the farmers, cheesemakers, shop owners, affineurs and chefs in Switzerland, France, Greece, Toronto, Quebec and British Columbia.

Doubles With Slight Pepper

Director: Ian Harnarine

The film tells the story of Dhani who struggles to support himself and his mother by selling doubles (Trinidad’s quintessential street food) in rural Trinidad. When his estranged father returns from Canada unexpectedly, Dhani must decide if he will help save his father’s life despite their strained relationship.

Feast

Director: Ashley Hirt

Feast is a 13-part series deeply rooted in Indigenous cuisine and culture. Each delicious episode follows professional chef, Tiffany Deer, as she explores rustic and simple creations of modern and traditional Indigenous cuisine.

First We Eat

Director: Suzanne Crocker

Putting food sovereignty to the test in the far North of Canada – filmmaker Suzanne Crocker, living just 300 km from the Arctic Circle, removes absolutely all grocery store food from her house. For one year, she feeds her family of five, only food that can be hunted, fished, gathered, grown or raised around Dawson City, Yukon on the traditional territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in.

*Also available on Prime Video

*Also available on Apple TV

*Also available on Paramount +

An Ice Wine Christmas

Director: Jill Carter

Camila, a wine sommelier, goes home to take part in her town’s annual Ice Wine Christmas Festival. However, she discovers changes are coming as her former mentor plans to retire.

Patty Vs. Patty

Director: Chris Strikes

The story of Toronto’s bizarre 1985 “patty wars,” when Jamaican-Canadian bakers went head-to-head with the federal government over the name of their beloved beef patty.

Perfect Restaurant

Director:  Aiken Chau

Perfect Restaurant 善美餐廳 is a short film that follows the journey of a family trying to get through their dinner at a well-loved restaurant in the suburbs as a fly begins to wreak havoc on their meal.

Pierogi Pinch

Director:  Kiarra Albina

As a young woman finds herself lost in daydreams while clumsily performing the tradition of making pierogies, she invokes the presence of her grandmother, who guides her through the messy ritual. The film is a fusion of hand-drawn animation, folk art and stereoscopic drawings made in space, by Calgary illustrator and filmmaker, Kiarra Albina.

A Sweet & Sour Christmas

Director: Aram Siu Wai Collier

A Sweet & Sour Christmas is the story behind a family-run Chinese restaurant spreading their deep-fried holiday cheer and also taking a bit of time during the seasonal rush for their own holiday celebration.

*Also available on Prime Video & Google Play