Oscilloscope Laboratories announced this past weekend it has acquired worldwide rights for Miami International Film Festival's (MIFF) kickoff to its 2014 Lee Brian Schrager's Culinary Cinema presented by Plymouth Gin program: Soul of a Banquet, the twentieth film directed by acclaimed Hong Kong-born American filmmaker Wayne Wang.
The eclectic 5-year-old US distributor, which has previously distributed past MIFF hits If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front (MIFF 2011), Wuthering Heights (MIFF 2012) and Reality (MIFF 2013), plans to release the culinary documentary later this year, after its MIFF debut on February 23rd at Miami Beach SoundScape's soaring, 7,000-square-foot projection wall. The MIFF debut is in partnership with Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival (FNSBWFF).
Soul of a Banquet tells the incredible story of chef Cecilia Chiang, known for introducing America to authentic Chinese food with the opening of her internationally renowned restaurant, The Mandarin, in 1961. Both Wang and Chiang will be present at the MIFF/FNSBWFF screening, as well as food-world notables Ruth Reichl and Michael Murphy.
"We're absolutely thrilled to be able to bring Wayne's deeply touching and wonderfully delicious portrait to audiences," Oscilloscope's co-presidents Dan Berger and David Laub told Variety's Dave McNary. "It's a late Christmas gift to O-Scope - and what better way for two Jewish boys to celebrate Christmas than with Chinese food?"
Miami International Film Festival's 31st edition will begin 12 days early this year with an incredible cocktail & culinary reception at South Beach's newest boutique hotel, Metropolitian by COMO, with celebrated filmmaker Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club, Slamdance, Smoke, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, Chan is Missing) in person!
Paired with a screening of Wang's newest film, Soul of a Banquet, at Miami Beach SoundScape's soaring, 7,000-square-foot projection wall, this is an exquisite chance to meet the legendary filmmaker, who has won prizes at Berlin, Rotterdam and San Sebastian Film Festivals, and from Academies such as the German Film Awards, and critics groups like Los Angeles Film Critics Circle.
For a MIFF Insider price of $155, meet Wayne Wang, get reserved seating at the screening and be able to rub shoulders with Wang and other celebrity faces from the film while you enjoy the culinary creations at the spectacular new South Beach outlet of the COMO Hotels & Resorts group, who have created handcrafted hotels and luxury travel experiences in London, Bangkok, Turks & Caicos, Maldives, Bhutan and Bali. Soul of a Banquet tells the incredible story of chef Cecilia Chiang, known for introducing America to authentic Chinese food with the opening of her internationally renowned restaurant, The Mandarin, in 1961. Both Wang and Chiang will be present, as well as food-world notables Ruth Reichl and Michael Murphy. Co-presented with our friends at Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2014 Film screening: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. New World Symphony, 500 17th Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139
VIP Reception: 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Metropolitan by COMO, 2445 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139