Vero Beach was bursting with activity last weekend at the inaugural Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival. They came for the wine, they came for the films, they came to interact with the independent filmmakers and vintners – but, most importantly, they came. And in impressive numbers.
There was something for everyone at the fun-filled four-day event which took place at various venues throughout the weekend. There were a few glitches to be ironed out before the next one, but the chief complaint was that there were not enough hours in the day to take it all in.
Festivities officially kicked off Thursday with an intimate Filmmaker and Winemaker Party at Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown to welcome participants who had flown in from all over the United States, Canada, Europe and South America.
Manolo Cruz, the Colombian director and star of the emotionally intense film “Between Sea and Land,” winner of a Sundance Film Festival 2016 Award, was enjoying the intimacy of the festival. His film has been shown at 18 film festivals since January and he’s headed to another 12 in Europe and South America. Speaking with assistance from his friend and interpreter, Elizabeth Rouse, Cruz said, “The people give real love. When the festival is big it moves very fast and the people don’t speak with other people. But when it’s small like this it’s beautiful.”
“This is more monumental than what I had in mind; it gives me goose bumps,” said Jerusha Stewart, the event’s enthusiastic founder. “The energy in this room has been electric. Ticket sales are going so fast we can hardly keep up. All of a sudden the tipping point has happened. Several directors have said they have never been to a film festival like this in terms of joy and pure fun. They can’t wait to meet the audience. That’s what’s been great.”
Considerable credit should be afforded to the teams who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to pull it all together, including Susan Horn, Marie Healy, Gail Shepherd, Katie Gastley, Lane Solomon, Joann Polletta, Sammie Penney, Heather Mitts, WBWFF board members and numerous other event volunteers.
“I’m very glad for Vero to be able to have something like this,” said Honorary Festival Chair George Taber, author of “Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the 1976 Paris Tasting the Revolutionized Wine.”
“If it works well and we can build on this and get our little niche, it’s going to be great for the community.”
“This is a magnificent event for our area,” said Art Ciasca, CEO of Suncoast Mental Health Center, the event’s beneficiary. “Just the awareness that Suncoast Mental Health Center is realizing because of this is great, because we know that untreated mental health issues can ruin or end lives. The theme – A Life Worth Living – has two parts to it. The first is about how beautiful it is to live here in Vero Beach. The second gets the message out to get help if you need it. There’s no shame in it and they’ll have a better life.”
An elegant Vino Veritas Vintner Dinner at Costa d’Este for 95 guests Thursday featured chefs Armando Galeas, Costa d’Este; Scott Varricchio, Citrus Grillhouse; Stephane Becht, Bistro Fourchette; and Josie Smith Malave, a Bravo TV “Top Chef” contestant, combining efforts and pairing their four-course epicurean feast with wines from Vela Wines and 4 Winds Winery.
Screenings of the various independent films also began that evening at the Raw Space at Edgewood gallery.
Things kicked into high gear with all-day movie screenings Friday and Saturday at the Heritage Center, Vero Beach Museum of Art, Riverside Theatre and Raw Space. Upwards of 300 people attended Friday evening’s Cinema Uncorked Opening Night Party at Riverside Theatre, where Gloria Estefan received the Life Worth Living Legend Award, accepted on her behalf by Chad Olson, Costa d’Este general manager.
The award “recognizes those who lead a life worth living, applying the passion in their life to inform, entertain, and uplift, inspiring us all to see what’s right with the world,” and Stewart said she was selected because of her “inclusive creative vision, humanitarian spirit and for being a leading philanthropic visionary in Vero Beach.” Estefan was at the 2016 Tony Awards representing “On Your Feet,” the musical based on their lives, but said through Olson, “I am very happy to be honored at this very first annual event and I hope that the Vero Beach Film and Wine Festival continues to flourish and bring enjoyment to this wonderful community that I also call home.”
Taber introduced Saturday’s Commemorative Wine Tasting and Screening honoring the 40th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris that put California wines on the map when they bested centuries-old French wines in a blind taste test. Taber, who later authored a book about the experience, was the only journalist at the event. The movie shown, “Bottleshock,” was loosely based on the 1976 tasting.
Saturday evening featured the Costa d’Cinema Grand Tasting with Master Sommelier Brahm Callahan, followed by a Bordeaux & Brews Open-air Cinema and Live Music Party at Orchid Island Brewery. And festivities drew to a close Sunday with a Bubbly Brunch at Osceola Bistro and the rousing Fete Finale Wrap Up Party at Blue Star with a concert by The Ladies of Soul.
