Press

• Austin ChronicleJan 8, 2016

  A simmering, beautiful oddity...(cover story)

• Boston GlobeOct 10, 2014

  You’ll never look at mushrooms quite the same way...

• Elle Magazine (The Netherlands)Dec 23, 2013
• Devour! Food Film Fest (Canada)Nov 17, 2013

  NOW, FORAGER wins a Golden Tine Award for best feature drama

• Hollywood ReporterNov 15, 2013

  Devour Festival Pairs Mushroom Foraging Film With Nova Scotia Seafood Bounty

• De Telegraaf (The Netherlands)Oct 23, 2013

  4 stars...A beautiful relationship film made ​​with love in which food plays an important role.

• MovieScene (The Netherlands)Oct 23, 2013

  ...a delicious food and lyrical film, which is about the love for food and cooking, the appeal of (beautifully filmed) mushrooms, the Slow Food generation and a changing relationship...

• Cinemagazine (The Netherlands)Oct 13, 2013

  The two directors Jason Cortlund and Julia Halperin show what in most movies is omitted or shown in haste: the collection and preparation of fresh ingredients...this slowness is precisely the charm of the film.

• The Ordinary ReviewSep 13, 2013

  The movie is beautiful both visually and in its presentation of a different way of living...As one who shies away from movies about relationships, this one was a breath of wild fresh air. Innovative!

• Marie Claire (Belgium)Aug 5, 2013

  An original romance that stands out for its detached tone, bucolic atmosphere and its many culinary inspirations that make you want to fry mushrooms with your lover!

• De Morgen (Belgium)Aug 2, 2013

  ...a culinary love chronicle of understated power and an original perspective told with mild irony and poetic realism

• Mad (Belgium)Jul 31, 2013

  During LOVE & FUNGI, we think of INTO THE WILD's aspirations for freedom, but also of TREE OF LIFE's for the plans of wilderness, or of Woody Allen for his love of daily stories. Add in a minimalist style, two endearing actors, and you get the recipe for this little gem of American independent cinema.

• Le Vif (Belgium)Jul 31, 2013

  An elegant and patient chronicle of disenchantment and the difficulty to find a place, socially speaking, LOVE & FUNGI offers an original cinematic experience.

• Humo (Belgium)Jul 28, 2013

  ...it's just that quiet, observational style, the absence of confrontation and intense drama of LOVE & FUNGI that make it such a cool piece of cinema. The magnificent nature images show a soft sense of melancholy glow...

• Film Society at Lincoln CenterJun 21, 2013

  Eugene Hernandez references NOW, FORAGER in this piece about regional American films finding success through regional festivals.

• Early Bird Film SocietyMay 20, 2013

  ...there’s a quiet melancholy that runs deep in our protagonists’ love that makes us spur them on to solve their grievances. Whilst this is in part to the strong performances of our leads, it’s the script that truly makes the film stand out. Even characters that grace our screens for a few minutes are fully realised.

  ...Now, Forager is a bittersweet drama about the disintegration and rebuilding of a relationship that echoes the kind of films the studios should be making.

• ChronogramMay 1, 2013

  New Films About Food Make For Passionate Viewing by Peter Barrett

• Cornell Daily SunMar 29, 2013

  ...an extremely accurate depiction of the food world, both outdoors, where the foragers search for ingredients, and in the kitchen. The cinemagraphic treatment of food prep is both strikingly real and artistic.

• Local IQFeb 28, 2013

  Unique and watchable.

• PortalFilmowy (Poland)Jan 4, 2013

  Now, Forager ranks #6 on the best films of 2012.
  

  One of the most exciting American independent films for several years. A real tribute to nature..." (translation)
  

• Eugene HernandezDec 31, 2012

  NOW, FORAGER comes in at #19 on Eugene Hernandez's top 25 films of 2012.

• The OregonianDec 27, 2012

  ...an earnest, absorbing drama set at the intersection of countercultural idealism and gastronomical sophistication.

• Adobe AirstreamDec 21, 2012

  Best of Austin Film 2012 by Don Simpson.

• Edible AustinDec 15, 2012

  On the making of Now, Forager by writer/co-director Jason Cortlund.

• KSFR Santa Fe Radio CafeDec 5, 2012

  Host Mary-Charlotte interviews director Jason Cortlund.

• Trójka Polish Radio (Poland)Dec 5, 2012

  ...a humble, wonderful story.

• Synekdocha Nowysacz (Poland)Dec 1, 2012

  The entire film is filled with images of borderline sleep and waking, where the recognition of collecting mushrooms and preparing food show an authentic, true, and honest way of working, coupled with a passion for cooking. Truth is an illustrated history where quite mundane activities are elevated to works of art.

• Gazeta (Poland)Nov 30, 2012

  Four stars...it's not only about nature away from civilization, peace and life to the rhythm of "slow" - is a search for something that would serve the function of a private island treasure, the individual who can be more than one of many.

• FilmWeb (Poland)Nov 28, 2012

  …A subtle portrait of two characters on the cusp of life. …a story about dreams that divide, and proximity which is sometimes symbiotic harmony, sometimes the cynical parasitism of people terrified of life.

• Int'l Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg (Germany)Nov 18, 2012

  NOW, FORAGER wins Viewer's Choice Award & Cinema Owners' Recommendation at IFFMH.

• Lerner International EnterprisesNov 13, 2012

  A small, quiet, brilliant film—one of the year’s best...

• IFP Gotham AwardsOct 18, 2012

  NOW, FORAGER directors Jason Cortlund & Julia Halperin are nominated for a 2012 Gotham Award in the category of Breakthrough Director.

• Roger EbertOct 11, 2012

  ***½, Outstanding, Two Thumbs Up--The images of wild mushrooms by Cortlund himself and the shots of food prep by cinematographer Jonathan Nastasi, approach art. NOW, FORAGER is an uncompromising film about two people who don't deserve each other...

• Huffington PostOct 11, 2012

  NOW, FORAGER self-assembles something profound and elegant...

• Los Angeles TimesOct 11, 2012

  NOW, FORAGER has charm, intelligence and a cool passion for its principled characters — an appealing off-menu slice for hungry indie admirers.

• NY1Oct 5, 2012

  Broadcast TV interview with NOW, FORAGER director Jason Cortlund about the film's theatrical release at IFC Center in Manhattan.

• CinespectOct 2, 2012

  This film knows food...Watching NOW, FORAGER made me happy, simple as that. It speaks my language. It made me want to take a walk in a quiet wood, cook a big pan of something delicious, and share it with someone I love.

• TrustMoviesOct 1, 2012

  The movie fascinates... ...its success is absolutely major.

• Columbia SpectatorSep 28, 2012
• FilmWax RadioSep 26, 2012

  Interview with directors Cortlund & Halperin.

• Village VoiceSep 5, 2012

  Likely the first narrative feature to spring from the slow-food movement, co-directors Jason Cortlund and Julia Halperin's likable, somberly offbeat ode to culinary self-reliance depicts a boho marriage disintegrating like sautéed garlic. ...the drama plays like SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE for foodies.

• Mike Birbiglia Sep 4, 2012

  NOW, FORAGER is a creative, experimental, and heartfelt film that I enjoyed every minute of. There's a texture to the film that is very personal and unique and I couldn't help but remarking when I left the theater, "No studio would EVER make this film, but they really ought to." It's really what independent filmmaking is all about--telling stories people aren't telling in ways that no one would pay for them to be told. In this case, over the course of an actual year to reflect the seasons--a character unto themselves--in their truest form.  Way to go, NOW, FORAGER. I'll be first in line for the next one.

  -Mike Birbiglia, Writer/Director of SLEEPWALK WITH ME

• IndieZone.TVAug 9, 2012

  Video interview with directors Cortlund & Halperin from New Directors/New Films.

• Chlotrudis Society for Independent FilmAug 5, 2012

  ...The most interesting aspect of NOW, FORAGER is how it presents food to the audience.  It instructs subtly.  The Echeverrias are at the bottom of the foodie hierarchy and it is unlikely either will ever come close to celebrity.  They clearly treasure food of all kinds and love preparing it.  That passion is something to admire.

• SlackerwoodJul 2, 2012

  'Now, Forager' Brings Food and Film to the Butterfly Bar

• Austin EcoNetworkJun 28, 2012

  “Now, Forager”: Food for Thought

• The IndependentJun 12, 2012

  Directors Jason Cortlund & Julia Halperin among The Independent's "10 to Watch" in 2012

• Austin American-StatesmanApr 30, 2012

  Now, Forager beautifully depicts the connection between nature and our plates...

• Turkish NYApr 17, 2012

  Interview with directors Jason Cortlund & Julia Halperin

• De Filmkrant (The Netherlands)Apr 4, 2012

  Interestingly enough Now, Forager doesn't advocate any simple reconciliation. ...Cortlund and Halperin try to stick to a certain local tradition of storytelling, a lyrical form of American filmmaking, that stays connected to its cultural habitat.

• Meniscus MagazineMar 31, 2012

  ...exhibits quiet strength with its visual beauty and subtle observation of both nature and people.

• Nona BrooklynMar 29, 2012

  Interview with writer/co-director Jason Cortlund

• Film Society of Lincoln CenterMar 29, 2012

  Summary and video from directors panel at New Directors/New Films.

• NY Daily NewsMar 25, 2012

  Elizabeth Weitzman's Top Ten - New Directors/New Films - Along with contemporary titles like the indie romance “Now, Forager,” you’ll find “Fear and Desire,” the first feature from a then-24-year-old Stanley Kubrick.

• Film Society of Lincoln CenterMar 23, 2012

  (INTERVIEW) Jason Cortlund Talks Saffron and Cinema: Part I

• Film ForwardMar 23, 2012

  ...one of the most pungent and unself-conscious films about downward mobility. ...New York moviegoers searching for a new and sincere voice should take note.

• Hudson Valley Film CommissionMar 21, 2012
• Huffington PostMar 21, 2012

  We've compiled a list of five films we cannot wait to see below...In this striking romance, two fungi foragers dream of traveling the land in search of exotic varieties, but the financial instability of the trade threatens to pull them apart.

• New Directors/New FilmsMar 19, 2012

  ...it’s one of these American independents that reminded me of decades past in its simplicity and quiet nature. It doesn’t aim to excite or shock, it really aims just to tell its story on its own terms. And it’s in a way a very peaceful story—I mean there’s conflicts in terms of the inner politics the lead character has, his relationship to commerce and making a living on his own terms, and just slow food in general. But for me it was incredibly refreshing and was just one of those films that could easily evaporate in the marketplace; it points to the importance of the festival circuit in general, and specifically to festivals like New Directors that embrace individual voices and talent versus the film’s potential in the marketplace. Although I do have to say there’s a huge group of people out there who are interested in culinary cinema in general, and political cinema in particular that plugs into kind of, real issues. It’s a kind of real take on this movement to retake or grab back our lives from these multinational corporations or the banking industry, or whatever the menace is out there, and bring it back, literally to the earth. And I’m very proud that film made it into the festival.

  -Rajendra Roy, Chief Curator of Film, MoMA

• TwitchMar 19, 2012

  Now finally a movie made for foodies! With beautifully shot fungi...a story of passion and growing up in the tough culinary world. ...Now, Forager is an off kilter, low key American indie that might easily pass under the radar and I am glad I got to see it in this year's ND/NF. It features many mouthwatering dishes too.

• Chris KnippMar 14, 2012

  ...an intelligent little American indie that's ironic and knowing and notable for the sharp specificity of its people, places, and specialties (casting and settings are tops, and so are details about food), shown off in a series of carefully located scenes.

• Hollywood ReporterMar 4, 2012

  A delicate affair of subtle and original flavors...

• New Directors/New FilmsFeb 23, 2012

  ...this film is a gift to those who take their slow-food politics seriously.

• Indiewire (Sydneys Buzz)Feb 21, 2012
• Screen InternationalFeb 9, 2012

• Variety Feb 6, 2012

  Refreshingly devoid of the romantic glow emanating from most foodie pics, "Forager" presents a mycological marriage in decline without going for the cliches.

• Zone 5300 (Netherlands)Feb 6, 2012

  Now, Forager combines a light and potentially trendsetting food film with a charming road movie and especially a credible relationship movie... A pleasant surprise at IFFR 2012. (translation)

• derStandard.at (Austria)Feb 5, 2012
• A Cuarta Parede (Spain)Feb 4, 2012

  …a well-executed analogy between these small inhabitants of autumnal nature and life itself.  (translation)

• Screen InternationalFeb 2, 2012

  2012 Rotterdam slideshow

• Filmmagie (Belgium)Feb 1, 2012
• The Daily TigerJan 31, 2012

  Interview with directors Jason Cortlund & Julia Halperin

• The IFFR TigerJan 31, 2012

  A beautiful food film from Jason Cortlund  and Julia Halperin... Highly recommended, the film made it to the top 10 of the IFFR!

• stopklataka.pl (Poland)Jan 31, 2012
• indieWireJan 31, 2012

  Among American films world premiering in Rotterdam, buzz has been strong for both Julia Halperin and Jason Cortlund's narrative "Now, Forager: A Film About Love & Fungi," which premiered on Friday afternoon, and Matt McCormick's doc "The Great Northwest," which screened last night.

• Independent Cinema Office (UK)Jan 31, 2012

  ...Now Forager has much to admire, and will do well programmed in any season around cuisine, with particular resonance with the slow food movement, and beyond that is a smart American indie that could find fans who like their drama thoughtful.

• The Daily TigerJan 30, 2012

  Shroom With a View - An accidental case of poisoning and a torrential storm helped the fermentation of Now, Forager

• Screen International Jan 29, 2012

  ...nicely shot with the rural foraging scenes quite charming and the languid pace a welcome change from overly edited films. ...The film is refreshing in that it lacks the usual romantic-drama need for dramatic intensity, instead relying on subtle performances and uncluttered dialogue.

• Verkadefabriek (Netherlands)Jan 28, 2012
• The Daily TigerJan 27, 2012
• Nona BrooklynJan 25, 2012

  Now, for the first time that we’re aware of, foraging is the subject of a feature film – ‘Now, Forager.’

• International Film Festival RotterdamJan 19, 2012

  Now, Forager provides a counterbalance to the often romantic picture of cooking and eating in films with a culinary bent and meshes perfectly with today’s Slow-Food movement.

• Hollywood ReporterJan 16, 2012

  Mushroom Fanatics, Sugarcane Harvesters and School Pranksters in IFFR's Bright Future Sidebar

• San Francisco Film SocietyJan 15, 2012

  NOW, FORAGER writer/co-director Jason Cortlund earns honorable mention for 2012 Hearst Screenwriting Grant with next project, LUMBERJUNKIES

• indieWIREJan 13, 2012

  We felt that Now Forager, a beautifully photographed gentle tale of a Basque couple of foragers was perfect for Poland and deserved special attention... This is a food lovers’ film told from an unusual pov. We liked its unique aspect of food from roots to restaurant.

• Screen InternationalJan 13, 2012

  The projects include...US indie Now, Forager [pictured], a relationship between mushroom foragers

• Screen InternationalJan 6, 2012
• Austin ChronicleDec 30, 2011

  Good news about Jason Cortlund and Julia Halperin's feature film Now, Forager, about mushroom hunters in New York (and just about the swellest film title we've heard in a while): Following its AFS Narratives-in-Progress screening in September, the film was invited to screen at the Gotham in Progress film market in Wroclaw, Poland, where it was awarded a Special Jury Recognition and $20,000 in titles and credits services. The film is set to premiere at the Rotterdam film festival in the new year.

• Screen InternationalNov 20, 2011
• Gazeta (Poland)Nov 16, 2011
• Gazeta (Poland)Nov 16, 2011
• Stopklatka.pl (Poland)Nov 15, 2011
• The Dark Side of the ShroomNov 10, 2011

  Interview with writer/co-director Jason Cortlund

• MycoRantOct 25, 2011
• Mushroom PalaceOct 5, 2011

  Interview with writer/co-director Jason Cortlund

• indieWIRESep 29, 2011

  iW's Project of the Day: In 'Now, Forager' Couple Makes Money by Hunting Mushrooms for NYC Restos

• Village VoiceSep 26, 2011

  It's like Alice Waters meets Kelly Reichardt...