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Food, Film & the Future: Storytelling Through Sustainability
March, 28 2026 | 1:00 PM | Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
Open to all passholders. Individual tickets are available for non-passholders.
When food meets film, powerful conversations begin. Inspired by Fork in the Road, this lively panel explores how storytelling can reshape the way we grow, cook, and consume. Moderated by Ethan Alter of Gold Derby, the discussion features restaurateur and Chopped judge Marc Murphy, Native Conservancy founder and James Beard Impact Award honoree Dune Lankard, and the directors of Fork in the Road, award-winning producer Vivian Sorenson (Chopped, Queer Eye), and filmmaker Jonathan Nastasi—bringing perspectives from cuisine, sustainability, and media to a dynamic conversation at the intersection of culture, cuisine, and climate.
Ethan Alter is an award-winning writer, reporter, and editor who has been writing about entertainment for over two decades at a variety of print and digital publications. He's currently the Deputy Editor and New York Bureau Chief at Gold Derby, and his past work can be found at such outlets as Yahoo, Adweek, Indiewire, The Daily Beast, Film Journal International, and The Hollywood Reporter. In 2023, Ethan was named Online Journalist of the Year by the Los Angeles Press Club's National A&E Journalism Awards. His book, Film Firsts: The 25 Movies that Created Contemporary Cinema, was published in 2014 by Praeger.
Vivian Sorenson is an award-winning Executive Producer, Showrunner, and Director, celebrated for creating acclaimed television across multiple platforms. As Co-Executive Producer and Showrunner of Food Network’s iconic, award-winning series Chopped and Chopped Junior from their inception, she further Executive Produced Guy’s Chance of a Lifetime (Food Network) and La Pitchoune: Cooking in France (Magnolia/HBO Max). Vivian’s diverse credits include Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (Bravo), What Not to Wear (TLC), Wife Swap (ABC), and Savoring Harlem (Food Network), a documentary exploring Harlem’s rich food history featuring Marcus Samuelsson. Beyond television, Vivian directed the feature film Serpentine Pink (2025) and crafted the award-winning immersive dining experience Teatime in Wonderland at Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops, inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Her work reflects a passion for storytelling that blends culture, food, and community.
Jonathan Nastasi is a director and cinematographer known for his naturalistic and intimate visual style. His work spans documentaries, commercials, and narrative films. In 2012, he photographed Now, Forager, which premiered at New Directors/New Films, and was Director of Photography for the 2017 SXSW competition film Barracuda. His documentary credits include The Preppy Murder (SundanceTV/AMC), Surviving Jeffrey Epstein (Lifetime), UFOs: Investigating the Unknown (National Geographic), They Called Him Mostly Harmless (Max), and Nature of the Crime (HBO Documentary Films). He has contributed to original programming for Netflix, Hulu, Discovery, Food Network, and PBS. Jonathan is based in New York City.
Chef Marc Murphy is a Food Network personality and acclaimed New York City restaurateur known for hosting exclusive private dining experiences and pop-up dinners at his Manhattan event space, as well as a longtime judge on Chopped and frequent guest on The Drew Barrymore Show and other Food Network programs. Beyond the kitchen, he is a dedicated industry leader and philanthropist who previously served as head of the Manhattan chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association and actively supports organizations such as City Harvest, No Kid Hungry, Made by Dyslexia, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Culinary Partnership, and World Central Kitchen.
Dune Lankard is the President and Founder of Native Conservancy and a recipient of the 2025 James Beard Impact Award, honoring leaders advancing a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable food system. An Eyak Athabaskan leader, fisherman, and internationally recognized environmental activist, his work bridges Indigenous sovereignty, wild salmon conservation, and regenerative ocean farming. He has also been named one of Time magazine’s “Top 50 Heroes for the Planet” for his enduring commitment to environmental justice and community resilience.
Location
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
551 Broadway
Established in 1998, the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) is a membership-supported 501(c) 3, non-profit organization that provides seasonal exhibitions of contemporary and modern art and educational and public programming for children, youth, and adults. The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art’s mission: Building Community Around Art.