The Hills of Wrath – France
Léo Boudet – Director
Christine Vernay – One of the world’s most renowned female winemakers
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Barolo Boys. The Story of a Revolution – Italy
Paolo Casalis – Director
Winemaker – Marco Carinci; Tamar Chichiboshvili – Sommelier, Anfora Somelie
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Wine And War – United Kingdom
Mark Ryan – Director
Michael Karam – Wine researcher, writer
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The Wine Alchemist – Spain
David Moncasi Argilés – Director, Journalist
Raúl Pérez – Winemaker (one of the world’s most famous and innovative winemakers, often called the Picasso of wine)
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That’s Wine! – Cyprus, Georgia
Andrey Gorovoy – Director
Lado Uzunashvili – Winemaker
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A Vineyard Cinderella – Greece
Vassilis Loules – Director
Evangelos (Vangelis) Gerovassiliou – Winemaker
“The Role of Wine in World Cinema”
FILM &
WINE
Sur Lucero — Speaker and Master Sommelier
Sur Lucero is a Master Sommelier and one of the most inspiring figures in the American wine world.
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This special masterclass offers a chance to explore unique wine and food pairings, revealing flavor combinations that come to life only through thoughtful matches.
Five distinct wines will be presented, each accompanied by a carefully selected bite to highlight its character and nuance.
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The tasting will feature exceptional wines from both Georgia and California, celebrating the magic that happens when flavors meet in perfect harmony.
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Before the masterclass, the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Best Chef in the World” will be screened. This film tells the story of French Laundry, a restaurant often described as the best in the world.
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Sur Lucero worked at this very restaurant for many years, rising from a junior sommelier to a Master Sommelier. Sur himself will introduce the film — and the story is deeply personal to him.
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The Secret of Flavors and the Magic of Wine
Masterclass / Tasting / Film Screening
Film Lab — American Film Showcase
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As part of WINECAST, the U.S. Department of State’s American Film Showcase program will host a special film lab. Five film teams — each made up of a director, cinematographer, and sound designer — will be selected through a preliminary competition to develop short films on the theme of wine, working closely with an invited mentor.
Tutors:
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Rachel Gandin Mark — AFS Director and Head of International Programs at the University of Southern California (USC)
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Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi — Academy Award-winning director
Alongside the lab, both tutors will lead an open panel discussion on the topic “Bringing Branded Content into Auteur Filmmaking” — a chance to explore how stories can blend creative vision with new opportunities for collaboration.
“Making the World Taste Better”
Masterclass / Lecture
Speaker — Gogi Gvakharia
Speaker — Konstantin Baum, Master of Wine
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Konstantin Baum is one of Germany’s youngest-ever Masters of Wine and an award-winning wine educator known for his lively approach to sharing wine knowledge worldwide.
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His mission is simple: to make the world taste better by connecting people with exceptional wines, new regions, and the stories behind every bottle.
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“The Role of Wine in World Cinema”
Masterclass / Lecture
Speaker — Gogi Gvakharia
The Hills of Wrath – France
Léo Boudet – Director
Christine Vernay – One of the world’s most renowned female winemakers
​
Barolo Boys. The Story of a Revolution – Italy
Paolo Casalis – Director
Winemaker – Marco Carinci; Tamar Chichiboshvili – Sommelier, Anfora Somelie
​
Wine And War – United Kingdom
Mark Ryan – Director
Michael Karam – Wine researcher, writer
​
The Wine Alchemist – Spain
David Moncasi Argilés – Director, Journalist
Raúl Pérez – Winemaker (one of the world’s most famous and innovative winemakers, often called the Picasso of wine)
​
That’s Wine! – Cyprus, Georgia
Andrey Gorovoy – Director
Lado Uzunashvili – Winemaker
​
A Vineyard Cinderella – Greece
Vassilis Loules – Director
Evangelos (Vangelis) Gerovassiliou – Winemaker