FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2026
Tempest Theatre and Community Foundation Host Community Screening of Canadian Documentary on the Future of Farming
PENTICTON, BC — On Sunday, March 22, Tempest Theatre and the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen (CFSOS) will present a free community screening of The Hands That Feed Us, a feature-length Canadian documentary that asks a deceptively simple question: can the people who grow our food afford to keep doing it?
Filmmaker Devon Cooke spent eight months living and working on farms from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia, immersing himself in the daily realities of agricultural life. What he found was a way of life defined by deep commitment to the land – and an economic structure that makes that commitment increasingly difficult to sustain. Farmland prices across Canada have risen far beyond what farming itself can earn, and most of the farmers Cooke meets rely on off-farm work simply to stay on the land they love.
The film does not arrive with easy answers. Instead, it offers something rarer: an honest portrait of resilience, purpose, and the gap between what we say we value and what our economy actually rewards. It challenges audiences to reconsider what wealth means, and whether a food system built on the financial exhaustion of its producers can endure.
These questions carry particular weight in the Okanagan, where agriculture is both a working reality and a defining feature of regional identity. Rising land values, shifting land use, and the pressures facing small-scale producers are not abstract issues here. They shape the landscape, the economy, and the character of the communities that call this valley home.
“The challenges facing our local farmers are significant, and we need to confront them if we hope to build a more food-secure region for the long term,” says Kevin Ronaghan, Community Investments Manager with the CFSOS. “I’m excited to experience Devon’s journey through the film, and to participate in the conversation that follows.”
Cooke is currently touring the film across Canada, bringing it to rural and regional communities for screenings and conversations. The Penticton screening is part of that national tour. He will be present for a community conversation following the film.
The screening is presented in partnership between Tempest Theatre and the CFSOS, as part of the Foundation’s Films About Food series. Admission is free. Seating is limited and registration is required.
The Hands That Feed Us is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Bell Fund. It is distributed by Syndicado Films and is currently streaming on Super Channel.
Event Details
Name: The Hands That Feed Us — Film Screening and Community Conversation
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Doors: 1:30 PM
Showtime: 2:00 PM (followed by conversation with filmmaker Devon Cooke)
Venue: Tempest Theatre, 125 Eckhardt Ave E, Penticton
Tickets: Free admission. Registration required at either:
· https://www.cfso.net/event/films-about-food-the-hands-that-feed-us
· https://tempest.ca/the-hands-that-feed-us
About Tempest Theatre
Tempest Theatre & Film Society is an independent black-box theatre in Penticton, BC. Dedicated to bold and imaginative performance, Tempest creates original work, presents world-class artists, and builds meaningful connections between audiences and the arts. Tempest believes that shared artistic experience is a vital path to understanding, connection, and positive change.
About The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen
The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen is dedicated to building a healthy, caring, inclusive, and thriving South Okanagan Similkameen region. We facilitate partnerships, empower others, and inspire citizens to make our communities better.
