ASTORIA — The North Coast Food Web and the Columbian Theater are joining forces to host a Winter Food Film Festival on Second Saturday Art Walk nights from January through April. The festival brings some favorite food-themed films to the historic Columbian Theater’s big screen.

Part of NCFW’s It Takes a Kitchen campaign, the festival is helping raise funds to construct a community kitchen at the food web’s new building in Astoria. Once completed, the kitchen will host classes and workshops to teach cooking skills to people of all ages, with a special focus on using fresh, local foods.

Winter Food Film Festival events will begin as the Astoria art walk winds down. You’re invited to head over to the Voodoo Room and get warmed up with a special cocktail created by Voodoo bartender Josh Baer in honor of the film du jour. Film admission will be by donation; the show will start at 9:30 p.m. Movie-themed small bite appetizers catered by NCFW board member Merianne Myers and NCFW’s Accidental Catering team will be available for sale throughout the evening, as well as beer, wine and a variety of non-alcoholic drinks.

“This is a chance to eat good food, enjoy food-centric entertainment and help raise money so that everyone can know how to cook fresh, healthy food for themselves,” said Myers.

First up on Jan. 10 is the critically acclaimed “Dinner Rush” set in New York City and starring Danny Aiello with a strong ensemble cast. In a nutshell, the city’s hottest restaurant is about to have a killer night. The NCFW will also premier its new video celebrating local food, created by Astoria filmmaker Colin Smith and featuring music from Luke Ydstie and friends.

When the idea of a food-themed film festival came up, Myers turned to her longtime friends Jeanine Fairchild and Uriah Hursley, owners of the Columbian Theater, Columbian Cafe and Voodoo Room, to enlist their support. “We all agreed that it would be fun to watch delicious movies on a big screen. It’s a wonderful, cozy way to spend an evening with friends on a dark winter night. It’s a worthy cause. And there’s food!”

In addition to “Dinner Rush,” the film festival will feature “Chocolat” in February, “Tortilla Soup” in March and “Big Night” in April.

Can’t make the movie? Stop by North Coast Food Web’s open house at 577 18th St. in Astoria from 5 to 8 p.m. during the art walk. Volunteers will be dishing up tasty nibbles and warm, spiced cider. You can also find out more about the great things in store for the North Coast’s local food system in 2015 and about how you can get involved.

North Coast Food Web is a nonprofit working in the Lower Columbia Pacific region to build strong communities and a thriving economy through local food and agriculture.

For more information visit www.northcoastfoodweb.org, or call 503-468-0921.

Winter Food Film Festival

“Dinner Rush” – Jan. 10

“Chocolat” – Feb. 14

“Tortilla Soup” – March 14

“Big Night” – April 11

Columbian Theater

1102 Marine Drive, Astoria

www.northcoastfoodweb.org

503-468-0921

Shows start at 9:30 p.m.