For Film's Sake - The Goddesses of Food
In the male dominated food universe discover the women changing the game on all levels. Presenting the best female chefs, including multi Michelin star chefs Dominique Crenn and Barbara Lync, and introducing rising new stars and those making incredible food in all corners of the world. A global journey exploring the female strength in gastronomy.
Interview with Writer/Director Vérane Frédiani
Watch The Goddesses of Food on Prime Video, Vudu, iTunes, Goople Play and Kino Now
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I've always been a feminist and this is my first attempt to make things change for women.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Well, if you are in the audience and you are a human being then a woman gave birth to you and you eat everyday. So you should watch this film because it is important to listen to what women have to say about food, gastronomy as a whole and its power within today's society. For once you will discover and hear professional female cooks and their views. If you are a girl or a woman, watching these female role models should also give you strength to make your professional dreams come true. I sure hope these women can be inspiring role models for boys and men as well.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I am a woman, I am a working woman and I am a woman who loves eating.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script and the film evolved all the time with my meeting and interviewing all these incredible women. That's the beautiful aspect of making a documentary. You don't know your story until you shoot it.
As this film was my first time as a director and also because most of the time I was working on my own ( shooting, editing...), I began to feel very close to these female chefs and women working in gastronomy. The film was a personal challenge and their careers are often personal challenges as well. These women inspired me a lot and gave me the strength to believe in what I was doing.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I received massive positive feedback from women all over the world and across all professional fields. As women, we need more role models and these female chefs are powerful inspiring human ones.
Male chefs and men in general have had a more difficult time recognizing the importance of such a film. Famous French chefs sent their female assistants to the screenings. And a lot of chefs and culinary school male teachers who watched it in France kept saying that these careers in professional kitchen are a lot tougher for women. I understood that saying to a French man that a woman can do his job means that his job is not difficult. AND his pride is linked to the fact that his job is tough...I worked hard to make them understand that women can handle tough jobs as well, especially when food is concerned!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I feel relieved that women like the film and think it helpful for their personal lives. I am astonished by the solidarity among women that surrounds the film. A lot of women organize screenings of the film within their companies, their clubs... The dynamic surprises me and makes me realize we are in the middle of a great female revolution. I'm really happy to be part of it.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I want my film to be useful. I hope schools will show the film to children of all ages so that these professional women working in gastronomy can bring hope, motivation and inspiration to girls and boys whatever they want to do with their lives. Boys need female professional role models as well.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Local distributors and journalists of course.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want women and girls of all ages and origins to think that everything is possible!
But they need to help each other. More solidarity among women, please!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Ask men in the audience which professional female cooks they know, admire and inspire them and why.
Ask women the same question.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
With a journalist friend Estérelle Payany, I just listed all the female chefs working in France (more than 500). The list was published on the website of TELERAMA in France a few days ago and now I'm developing an app with the names and locations of all women working in gastronomy in France. I'm convinced that in order to build a balanced, equal society we need to tackle the gender issue in food first (in the restaurant world AND at home!). In that regard, chefs Kamilla Seidler and Alice Waters inspire me a lot.
Interview: April 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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A LA RECHERCHE DES FEMMES CHEFS / THE GODDESSES OF FOOD
Length: 90 minutes
Director: Vérane Frédiani
Producer: Franck Ribière
Writer: Vérane Frédiani
About the writer, director and producer:
Vérane Frédiani : Vérane Frédiani was born in France and lives in London. She started her career as a journalist, then produced and distributed films. She co-wrote and edited the food documentary " Steak (R)evolution". "The Goddesses of food" is her directorial debut.
Franck Ribière is a acclaimed French producer who directed the food documentary "Steak (R)evolution" and lately, directed the thriller "The Most assassinated woman" to be released on Netflix.
Key cast: Anne Sophie Pic, Dominique Crenn, Adeline Grattard, Paz Levinson, Alice Waters, Amanda Cohen, Jacotte Brazier...
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Australian distributor
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemmesChefs
Twitter: @GoddessesofFood
Instagram: thegoddessesoffood
Funders: La Ferme Productions and Francologie Ltd
Made in association with:
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Festivals abroad.