GREAT CHICKEN WING HUNT, a documentary comedy about Buffalo wings and the band of misfits who set out to find the perfect one, will make it’s Buffalo debut during this year’s National Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival.
“We’re honored to bring our film to the birthplace of the hot wing,” Director Matt Reynolds said. “We can’t wait to see the reaction of what will surely be the most wing-knowledgeable audience we’ve ever had.”
WING HUNT premiered in March at Atlanta Film Fest, where critic Dean Treadway called it “One of the bonafide best films of 2013” and director T.C. Johnstone dubbed it “The Big Lebowksi of documentaries.” It comes to Buffalo for a week of sneak-peak screenings at Market Arcade cinema, a short walk or metro ride from Coca-Cola Field, ahead of its national release next winter.
“It’s a hilarious film, but also heartfelt,” said festival head Drew Cerza. “We’re very happy it could play here during the festival. It gives festival-goers another event they can enjoy this weekend.”
WING HUNT follows Reynolds, a native of central New York, as he leaves behind a job as a foreign correspondent to return home and lead The Great Chicken Wing Hunt, 16 days of non-stop eating and judging at the best wing joints in the United States. Along the way, he and his crew explore the history of hot wings – including an interview with last living witness to their invention, in 1964.
WARNING: AWESOME SAUCE NEWS AND MOVIE SPOILERS
Reynolds will be at the festival during the weekend and holding Q&As after screenings on Saturday and Sunday (showtime details below). Also at the festival will be the holder of the title of ‘World’s Best Wing Chef’, as bestowed by the hunters in the film.
Look for a Abigail’s restaurant booth and chef Marshall Grady.
“We normally keep who won a secret for those who haven’t seen the film,” Reynolds said. “But this could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for people at the festival. Who know if he’ll be back next year? You must try his sauce.”
In the film, Reynolds and crew try over 200 types of wings from 50 bars and restaurants before coming across Grady in a small town in central New York.
“The circumstances of how we met were pretty unlikely,” Reynolds said. “As is often the case with documentaries, we could not have scripted it any better.”
The film’s cast of colorful judges also includes aggressively mellow Hawaiian chef Ric Kealoha, competitive eater Ben “Mighty Thor” Beavers and a befuddled Slovak film crew trying to make sense of the popularity of wings. Appearances by Buffalonians include Cerza, food critic Janice Okun, and owners and employees of Anchor Bar, Gabriel’s Gate and La Nova Pizzeria.
Where: Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main Street
When: 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30 daily, Friday, Aug 30 through Thursday, September 5;
additional showtimes 1:30 and 3:30 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday; director Q&A following Saturday 7:30 and Sunday 1:30 screenings.
More info at: http://chickenwinghunt.com/ Facebook: /TheGreatChickenWingHunt, Twitter: @winghunt