Devour! The Food Film Fest and the Nourish Youth Food and Film Challenge
Explore food through the powerful mediums of film and storytelling – and submit your own short film for a chance to win!
In 2026, we proudly celebrate the 16th anniversary of Devour!—the world’s largest culinary film festival—taking place from October 19-25 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
For 16 years, Nourish Nova Scotia has proudly partnered with Devour! as the lead for youth programming, including two signature initiatives: the Big Picture Program and the Nourish Food and Film Challenge. Through these experiences, we create meaningful opportunities for youth to explore food through the powerful mediums of film and storytelling.
Nourish Youth Food and Film Challenge
The Nourish Youth Food and Film Challenge invites young filmmakers in Nova Scotia to creatively explore and share their unique stories about food. This year’s Devour! Food Film Fest theme is Devour the Sea. We encourage participants to create films that explore our beautiful Nova Scotia coast! This could include foods that come from bodies of water, foods grown in or around water that connect to family or cultural traditions, the environmental impact of eating from the ocean, the role of ocean-based foods in human health, or the experience of growing or catching your own food.
Whether it’s a short documentary film or something totally unique – if it’s about food on the coast, it belongs in the spotlight.
The winning filmmaker will receive a film package prize and have their work screened at the opening night of the Devour! The Food Film Fest in October 2026.
Challenge Details
Films must be:
- 1-3 minutes in length
- On theme: a film that explores ocean-related food connections in Nova Scotia.
- Made by children and youth aged 18 and under
- Filmed horizontally
View Film Challenge Resources below for inspiration and support!
Deadline for Entry Submissions: October 5th, 2026
Are you a teacher looking for fun and educational class activities related to food? This would be a great project for individual or group work, and creates a hands-on learning opportunity across grades and subjects. By participating, students can learn about filmmaking, technology & software, culture, community building, nutrition, health and more.
For more information on how to participate, contact Program Manager Emily Stevens at emily.stevens@nourishns.ca
The Big Picture Program
Devour! has presented The Big Picture Program for over a decade, held annually during Devour! The Food Film Fest each October.
This initiative invites youth from across Nova Scotia to participate in a specially curated film screening, followed by post-screening discussions and hands-on cooking classes.
The Big Picture Program is facilitated by teams from Devour! and Nourish Nova Scotia, alongside chefs and culinary students from the Nova Scotia Community College’s culinary program.
This program offers a valuable opportunity to engage students in experiential learning about food—promoting the importance of sourcing local ingredients to support the regional economy, and ultimately influencing how youth perceive food through the lens of storytelling and film.
Nourish Youth Food and Film Challenge
Submissions for the 2026 Food & Film Challenge will be opening in June – but it’s never too early to start planning!
If you’re a young person in Nova Scotia with a story to tell about food, consider making a short film on your own, or with a group of friends. And we’ve got resources to help get you started.
Are you a teacher looking for fun and educational class activities related to food? This would be a great project for individual or group work, and creates a hands-on learning opportunity across grades and subjects. By participating, students can learn about filmmaking, technology & software, culture, community building, nutrition, health and more.
For more information on how to participate, contact Program Manager Emily Stevens at emily.stevens@nourishns.ca
2025 Winner: Ember Gaetz
We also had 2 runners up! Cohen Vardy – Apples and Ever Hare Wright – Celebrating the Backyard Harvest.
Join our youth film workshops!
To support youth in creating and submitting a film for the The Youth Food & Film Challenge, we will be running two workshops with filmmakers in partnership with Wonder’neath Art Society and MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, for youth 18 and under
No camera? No problem! Use your phone, tablet, or our digital cameras during the workshop.
Get creative at our Wonder’neath workshop!
- Where: Wonder’neath Art Society, 2482 Maynard St, Halifax, B3K 3V4
- When: Thursday, September 11th, from 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Get creative at our MacPhee workshop!
- Where: MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, 50 Queen St, Dartmouth, B2Y 1G1
- When: Thursday, September 18th, from 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Film Challenge Resources
How to Make a Short Film
Use this resource to help plan, film, and edit your short film.
Past Winning Films
Check out previous winning films to get inspired such as last year’s winner The Karma Closet by Audrey Taylor.
Poster & Challenge Details
Download and share this poster (with challenge details) with youth or youth educators!
