The Museum of Modern Art in New York is dedicating a film series to Dieter Kosslick to celebrate his 10th year as director of the Berlin Film Festival.
Entitled “Carte Blanche: Dieter Kosslick, the Culinary Cineaste,” the series will screen 11 films Aug. 22-30.
Director of the Berlin fest since 2001, Kosslick has long been engaged in issues related to food, pleasure and ecology, as well as their cultural significance and cinematic presentation.
Rajendra Roy, MoMA’s chief curator of film, invited Kosslick to select 11 food-related films from the museum’s collection.
Kosslick’s choices include Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott’s “Big Night,” Alexander Payne’s “Sideways,” David Gelb’s “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” Robert Kenner’s “Food, Inc.,” Sandra Nettelbeck’s “Mostly Martha,” Marcel Pagnol’s “Harvest,” Gabriel Axel’s “Babette’s Feast,” Brad Bird’s “Ratatouille,” Luis Bunuel’s “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie,” Michelangelo Frammartino’s “Le quattro volte” and D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus’ “Kings of Pastry.”
In thanking Roy for the honor, Kosslick said: “In 2007 we launched Culinary Cinema to call attention to the relationship between film, culture, cuisine and the environment. Food brings people together and connects them with their surroundings. A country’s cuisine is a yardstick of its culture.”
Roy added: “The ‘Carte Blanche’ series at MoMA provides an opportunity for individuals of singular importance in the film industry to create their own stories by curating great works of cinema from the museum’s collection.I’m thrilled that Dieter has chosen to share his passion for culture, cuisine and social responsibility through the selection of these films.”
Gabriel Kreuther, chef of the MoMA’s Modern restaurant, will conceive dishes inspired by the films.
