The first festival was this weekend at the Magnolia Film Festival in Starksville, MS. WOAO? kept the food conversation going as Saturday night’s feature film.

The second festival will take place in none other then the sunshine state itself at the Florida Film Festival in Maitland, Fl on April 10th. WOAO? was selected to kick off the Food Focused Film weekend! As always, if you’re in the area stop on by it should be a great time.

And while the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival has come and gone, we still have a lasting impression of the warmth and fun we had there, plus a fun interview to snack on! Check out the interview from See Jane Do with Shelley and WOAO?’s very own Marty Mesh! Hear what inspired Shelley to make WOAO?, Marty’s thoughts on the future of organic growing and their comments on natural vs organic: http://www.livestream.com/cognizantproductions/video?clipId=flv_0cb26468-a5f5-4ae4-8c64-e593ab9c9983

And speaking of some tasty multi-media press, tune in to Heritage Radio Network at 1 pm today to hear Shelley joining Hungry Filmmaker’s co-curator, Cathy Erway, on her show, Let’s Eat In. Ana Joanes, director of FRESH, will be there as well, so we’re excited to start talking about eating food, having babies, writing books, and making films as we gear up for the 2nd Installment of Hungry Filmmakers this Tuesday, February 23rd! If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, get one soon: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93405 And check out our listing in the NY Times Dining Calendar!

Plus, DVDs will be out to manufacture soon and WOAO? website is being updated, dandified & expanded as we speak! Check back soon for more features…

OH, and very important–the comment period has been extended to March 3rd regarding Genetically Engineered Crop contamination, so DON’T FORGET to tell USDA to keep GE Alfafa OUT of our food system! Here’s the True Food Network’s easy Action Page: http://ga3.org/campaign/alfalfaEIS?rk=V1WKc_9aH2M2E

Enjoy!

Shelley and the WOAO? team

I’m happy to say that the December evening of “Hungry Filmmakers” was a successful, sold out event! The audience previewed seven film excerpts; then, Anna Lappe facilitated a discussion with the filmmakers and two esteemed guests—WOAO?’s very own character/co-producer Marty Mesh & an advocate from World Hunger Year. Here’s an article by Columbia Journalism Student, Melissa Muller, recapping the whole event and highlighting a little of WOAO?’s backstory: http://greenstandardnyc.com/2009/12/20/documentary-filmmakers-are-hungry-for-change/

We do believe audiences are still hungry, though, because another Hungry Filmmakers event is already scheduled to take place February 23 featuring all new films! The official press release will come out soon, so keep your eyes pealed… And please spread the word that we’re calling for entries for future events: www.hungryfilmmakers.blogspot.com

In the meantime, though, for any of you Northern CA folks—we’ll be screening the film at the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival and the Sonoma Environmental Film Festival this month! Shelley will be attending the screenings and answering questions afterward, so check out the links for the details and please spread the word to your friends in the area!

And for those of you hungry for WOAO? content on the web, we are happy to announce that The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has selected a clip of our footage on its newly launched web site, “Organic. It’s Worth It.” This website is a place where consumers can gain knowledge on how the different aspects within organic production intertwine and the results they produce, so we’re thrilled they wanted our content to be a part of their educational efforts. Be sure to check out the website and our featured clip of Andy Grant: http://www.organicitsworthit.org/experts/grow/andy-grant#bio

As we reflect upon all our progress on the film over the past year, we would like to acknowledge the incredible and generous talent of one of our dear friends and member of our crew who passed away just after Thanksgiving in 2009. Lora Hays served as consulting editor on WOAO? and was Shelley’s mentor throughout the making of the film. We feel blessed that we shared part of Lora’s 99 years on this earth and grateful that she imparted some of her wisdom to help make WOAO? a very special film. Here’s a bit more about her life and work, if you’d like to read about a truly fantastic and inspiring woman: http://www.thevillager.com/villager_345/lorahaysspindel.html

All the best,
WOAO? team

We even drummed up enough buzz for a listing in Wednesday’s NY Times Food and Dining Calendar as a “celluloid buffet!” (It is purposefully obscure, since we’ll likely only have standing room… But it’s still pretty cool!) Check it out: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/dining/09fcal.html?_r=1

Good news for those of you who still want to come–send an email to foodkarma@gmail.com to be put on the waiting list for tickets. Our inimitable Jimmy Carbone will then send out a message to you on the day of the event to let you know what’s up : )

We’ll also have our own limited edition hand-screen printed WOAO? organic cotton T-shirts for sale at the event! They’ll make great holiday gifts! (I’ll let you know if we have any leftover for online sales…or send me an email if you want to reserve one to be mailed to your special someone!)

Thanks to Bena Burda and Doug Wilson at Maggie’s Functional Organics for donating the shirts! And much gratitude to our ever talented Georg Pederson for the design and screen printing skills! His DIY spirit always inspires me!!

Hope to see some of you next week or sometime soon! Give a holler if you have a conference, meeting or gathering coming up where you’d like to host a screening… we’re gearing up for all that now!

HUNGRY FILMMAKERS is an evening of excerpts from upcoming doc films that take on food and agricultural issues. Shelley is co-curating the event alongside food writer Cathy Erway. We’ve all asked the questions, so now it’s time to see some reactions to the growing discussion of the environment and food, farming and our eating choices. A panel discussion with the attending filmmakers will immediately follow the screenings. Anna Lappé, food activist and author, will keep the discussion rolling and get your questions answered as moderator.

Now, I did mention food? At 9 pm come on over to Jimmy’s No 43 for an after party filled with good people, good discussion and of course good eats. Sample some hors d’oeuvres from locally sustainable purveyors such as Blue Isle Oyster Company, Mama O’s Kimchee, 3-Corner Field Farm, Schoolhouse Kitchen and more. A bar and Restaurant, Jimmy’s No. 43 uses local farm-sourced ingredients from Slow Food NYC and believes in supporting local arts and sustainable food communities.

The films:
What’s “Organic” About Organic? – Shelley Rogers
Big River and Truck Farm – Curt Ellis & Ian Cheney
The Greenhorns – Severine von Tscarner Fleming
Grown in Detroit – Manfred & Mascha Poppenk
Faces from the New Farm – Liz Tylander, Kat Shiffler & Lara Sheets
Untitled Film on Climate Change & Food System – Sara Grady

December 15, 2009
Anthology Film Archives
32 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Screenings begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.
A panel discussion immediately follow the screenings.

After Party – 9:00 p.m.
Jimmy’s No 43
43 E. 7th Street.
Full dinner menu and craft beer menu will be available.

Advance tickets are now available for $10. Visit Brown Paper Tickets to purchase.

Hungry Filmmakers is a not-for-profit event hosted by Anthology Film Archives and Jimmy’s No. 43. Proceeds gathered will be donated to Just Food, a non profit organization.

Hope to see you there!
-Ursula & the WOAO? team