Cayman Islands Film Festival showcases “American Masters’ Chefs Flight” at its celebration of Film, Food and Fashion

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – CayFilm 2017 – The Cayman Islands International Film Festival launches its celebration of Film, Food and Fashion on June 30th. During the four-day celebration, the festival will feature three films from the American Masters’ Chefs Flight documentary series. “James Beard: America’s First Foodie”; “Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft”; and “American Masters: Alice Waters and Her Delicious Revolution” will show on July 3rd at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.

A Question and Answer session with Peabody and three-time James Beard Award-winning Producer and Director, Peter Stein, will follow the showing of Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft on July 3rd.

“I am extremely excited that Peter Stein has agreed to join us at this year’s festival,” said Festival Director Tony Mark. “Peter is a very accomplished documentary producer who has produced numerous projects. He is very generous with his time and is excited to share his knowledge and expertise with new talent and emerging producers.”

This year’s celebration of Film, Food and Fashion is an opportunity for CayFilm to showcase the island’s talent and emerging markets, and Tony says he is thrilled to be celebrating the Cayman Islands at their best and welcoming world-class and award winning producers of the culinary world to this year’s festival.

In addition to the American Master Series, celebrated chef, television host, and multi award winning Chef Eric Ripert – seafood master and co-owner of Le Bernardin in New York City and Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman will be headlining the festival.

“The Cayman Islands is a unique location for celebrating food; our residents and guests are very discerning in their tastes, and we think the Festival can offer them a very unique experience by celebrating the Cayman Islands as the Culinary Capital and Destination of the Caribbean and showcasing some of the best chefs in the world. We are very excited about this new addition to CayFilm, and we hope that it will attract a new audience.”

CayFilm 2017 takes place from June 30 to July 3, 2017 and welcomes an elite roster of film producers, directors, actors, experts and influencers each year. The exclusive, interactive weekend features demonstrations, panel discussions, special events, and unique networking opportunities — all in a beautiful, elegant and welcoming Caribbean environment. The annual gathering is set amidst the Cayman Islands’ magnificent Seven Mile Beach and is hosted in partnership with Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.

Both VIP and General Admission tickets are on sale now and special travel discounts are available through www.cayfilm.com

Filmmakers can learn more about the submission process by visiting www.cayfilm.com. Last year’s festival featured over 200 films from more than 50 countries, and organisers are expecting even more films this year.

American Masters – James Beard: America’s First Foodie
Experience a century of food through the life of one man, James Beard (1903-1985). Dubbed the “Dean of American Cookery” by The New York Times, Beard was a Portland, Ore., native who loved and celebrated the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. He spoke of the importance of localism and sustainability long before those terms had entered the vernacular. At a time of “all things French,” Beard appreciated what America had to bring to the table, and was the first chef to go on television to teach not only women, but men, how to cook. A cookbook author, journalist, television celebrity and teacher, Beard helped to pioneer and expand the food media industry into the billion-dollar business it is today. Written and Directed by Elizabeth Federici. Produced by Elizabeth Federici and Kathleen Squires. A production of Federici Films LLC and THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC’s American Masters for WNET.

American Masters – Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft
Discover the story of Chef Jacques Pépin (b. December 18, 1935), a young immigrant with movie-star looks, a charming Gallic accent, and a mastery of cooking and teaching so breathtaking he became an early food icon—joining James Beard and Julia Child among the handful of Americans who transformed the way the country views the food world. Not content cooking in French palaces, where he was the personal chef to three French presidents including Charles de Gaulle, Pépin’s American journey took him through the kitchens of Howard Johnson’s, bringing his commitment to great taste, craftsmanship and technique to American popular food. With his landmark cookbooks and television shows, he ushered in a new era in American food culture – a story that continues to unfold. Produced and directed by Peter L. Stein. Executive producer Michael Isip. Co-executive producer Susie Heller. Narrated by Stanley Tucci. A KQED production in association with THIRTEEN’s American Masters for WNET.

American Masters: Alice Waters and Her Delicious Revolution
Follow Alice Waters (b. April 28, 1944) through a year of seasonal shopping and cooking, and discover both the recipes and vision of an artist and an advocate. She and her now-famous restaurant Chez Panisse became a major force behind the way Americans eat and think about food, launching the explosion of local farmers’ markets and redesigned supermarket produce departments. Distressed by the food she saw in public schools, Waters started an organic garden with an integrated curriculum at the Martin Luther King Middle School near her house, an idea inspired by The Garden Project at the San Francisco county jail. The idea of an Edible Schoolyard has now spread across the U.S. – and inspired similar programs worldwide. She is an activist with a flawless palette who has taken her gift for food and turned it into consciousness about the environment and nutrition, and a device for social change. Originally broadcast March 2003. Directed by Doug Hamilton. A production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC’s American Masters for WNET.

About Peter L. Stein

Peter L. Stein (Producer/Director of Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft) is a Peabody Award-winning documentary maker based in San Francisco, who has produced nonfiction narratives for television, film, theater, museums and online.

During 11 years at PBS station KQED, he created a wide range of documentaries and series for national public television, including the six-hour series Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco, which garnered a Peabody Award (for “The Castro,” which Peter wrote, produced and directed) and several regional Emmy Awards for  “The Fillmore” (writer/producer) and “Chinatown” (executive producer). His many culinary productions, as producer and/or executive producer, have received three James Beard Awards, and include seven series of programs with Jacques Pépin, beginning with the landmark premiere seasons of Today’s Gourmet. He maintains an active career as a public speaker and film programmer, having served eight years as Executive Director of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival and since 2014 as Senior Programmer for Frameline, San Francisco’s renowned LGBTQ film festival. More at www.peterLstein.com.

About CayFilm Cayman International Film Festival
CayFilm Cayman International Film Festival is an annual multi-day spectacular event designed to create new interest and excitement about the Cayman Islands as a world-class filming destination. Included in the festival will be daily film screenings, question and answer sessions with filmmakers, panel discussions, workshops, exclusive premiere screenings, and two celebrity gala events. It is our vision to open up the Cayman Islands to the film industry around the world whilst opening up the world to Cayman’s young and aspiring filmmakers.

The Festival team are also working to develop the Cayman Media Academy (CMA) under the CayFilm umbrella to educate Cayman’s youth by offering classes and qualifications relating to different career fields within the industry. This will be run throughout the year with the eventual goal of having a full-time degree programme available at our own purpose built facility. Young children will have their own specially designed programmes to inspire and give confidence about their own unique abilities as filmmakers.