Kick things off with a salty, tangy, bubbly bash celebrating the magic of fermentation and the joy of slurping oysters.

Get ready to slurp, sip, and celebrate at BRINE & DINE: Oysters, Films, and Ferments Party — the official kick-off to the festival! We’re serving up a lively mix of flavors, tunes, and films that put food in the spotlight. Dive into a briny oyster bar, bite into the one-night only 100-Mile Ferments Burger, and sample pickles and ferments from local foodmakers showcasing their products. Raise a glass of local brew, wine, or kombucha before settling in for a carefully curated selection of short films.

Thursday, November 6, 6:00pm-9:00pm, Spiritbar (Hume Hotel), Nelson, BC, MAP

WHAT’S ON THE MENU

Fresh oyster bar ($2.5-a-shuck) — featuring GwiGwi oysters from Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations
The 100-Mile Ferments Burger by THE HUME HOTEL kitchen (beef from TARZWELL FARMS or Sunflower Mushroom Patties from FEED YOUR SOUL FOODS) with ferments from COUNTER CULTURED & GEEWOWZA, buns from LA RUELLE & ALKEME FOODS
Local Greens from MEADOWBROOK FARM
Pickles & ferments samples with local producers including NORNS CREEK FARM
Local beer, wine & kombucha
Live music with Rich Rabnett
Short films on oyster farming, pickle production, wildcrafting, salmon fishing, and tomatoes.

GET YOUR TICKETS

THE FILMS

Found: The King of Matsutake Ridge

(2023, USA, 34min)

In the heart of New Jersey’s enchanting landscapes, Found: The King of Matsutake Ridge introduces audiences to the captivating culinary journey of Chef Phil Manganaro. In this visually stunning documentary, Chef Phil explores the art of foraging for wild food, uncovering the hidden treasures that nature provides. As he delicately balances the harmony between sustainability and gastronomy, the film paints a vivid portrait of a chef deeply connected to the land. Found invites viewers to savor the flavors of the wild and witness the magic of transforming nature’s bounty into exquisite dishes. A celebration of culinary artistry, Chef Phil’s philosophy of life and the beauty of New Jersey’s landscapes, this film is a testament to the profound connection between food, nature, and the passionate artist who brings them together. Manganara was nominated for a 2023 James Beard Award – Best Chef Mid-Atlantic. www.foundnj.com

Producer and Director: Anastasia Forde / Executive Producer: Steve Forde / Producers: Philip Manganaro and Isaac Forde

Das Pickle

(2024, USA, 20min)

A German immigrant pickle-making family and their pursuit of the American Dream is challenged by the ever changing world affected by climate change, gentrification, and COVID. The pursuit of happiness served sweet and sour.

Director: Eric Treml

The Grace

(2024, USA, 13min)

In the turbulent and mystical waters of Southeast Alaska, a first generation fisherman captains her fishing vessel alone offshore. Employing a hook-and-line approach to fishing, Kat Murphy is committed to a sustainable commercial fishery. Back on land in her small Washington port town, Kat struggles to make ends meet, and grapples with the challenges of maintaining a way of life deeply embedded in the natural world. This short documentary delves into themes of interconnectivity, resilience, and our profound dependence on nature.

Director: Natalie Berger & Moira Fett / Producer: Martha Gregory & Sean Weiner

Mainspring Harbor: the Oyster Farmers of Block Island Sound

(2024, USA, 8min)

A glimpse into the world of oyster farming as documentary filmmaker Jesse F. Pearlmutter captures the beauty of harvesting oysters at the Fishers Island Oyster Farm in the nutrient-rich waters of Block Island Sound, New York.

Producers: Jesse F. Pearlmutter and Anthony Aquino / Director: Jesse F. Peralmutter

Amoris Pomum

(2021, UK, 4min)

A mouth-watering ode to the exquisite beauty of tomatoes narrated by prolific Argentine actor Ricardo Darin.

Director: Felipe Sanguinettie

Director Statement: “The idea behind this film began when I was passing the winter months in Uruguay during the second lockdown. I was spending time with friends at their fantastic organic restaurant and farm, Cruz Del Sur in Jose Ignacio, which specialises in heritage tomatoes. Each variety of tomato burst with a different flavor and texture so exquisite that you couldn’t wait to try the next one. Having just made a film about diamonds for one of my clients, the idea of making a film about tomatoes being as precious as these beautiful pure stones unfolded. With the tomato season almost at its end we quickly wrote the story and put together a team. By chance, my long-term friend and Director of Photogrpahy Sebastian Cantillo was in town and we began filming our love affair with the tomato. The idea was to capture the beauty and realism of nature and its fruit, the relationship between man and Mother Nature, the last of the summer days, and, in the intensity of this short film, a part of our Uruguayan experience. Amoris Pomum is narrated by prolific Argentine actor Ricardo Darín using the words of a poem written by the 1971 Nobel Prize for literature winner, Pablo Neruda.

True Local

A selection of local food-maker profiles from Nelson’s Kootenay Co-op

(2022-2025, Canada)

Director: Jonathan Ramos / Executive Producer: Kootenay Co-op

THE MUSIC

A couple of decades ago, local musician Rich Rabnett was an important figure in Canadian music with recognition as a band leader, composer, performer and recording artist (West Coast Music Awards, Polaris Prize, Montreal Jazz Festival). Today, Rich is a lot like the best food we enjoy here in the Kootenays: he’s a 100-mile musician with a very low carbon footprint. Rich can be found performing at local venues and events including the Hume Hotel, the Royal, and Kaslo Jazz Festival. In 2025, Rich performs predominantly on guitar, or on turntables as vinyl DJ Rabs.