Uncrushable

The directorial debut of celebrated chef Tyler Florence, Uncrushable captures the incredible resilience of numerous residents of Northern California’s wine country whose lives were upended by the devastating wildfires that tore through the region in October 2017.

Runtime: 70 mins
Released: 2018

Uncrushable Film Synopsis:
Late in the evening on Sunday, October 8th, 2017, a series of wildfires ignited Northern California’s beloved wine country. As hours quickly turned into days, the blazes swept through three counties with astonishing speed, turning long-standing restaurants into ash, blackening ready-to-pick wine grapes and rendering thousands homeless. All told, the fires became the deadliest and one of the most destructive in California’s history, as the state has continued to suffer its worst fire season yet.

« Uncrushable, » tells the story of the Northern California fires through the eyes of those most affected in the area. Victims who lost homes or businesses, first responders, chefs and winemakers share their harrowing accounts throughout the film, as a fallen community begins to rebuild through the amazing help of its neighbors, chefs and friends.

On November 21st, one long table was set on the Napa-Sonoma border, to bring together community members, first responders and victims for a harvest lunch and fundraiser.

Organized by Visit California, « Uncrushable » Director and Chef Tyler Florence, Producer Natalie Cain, Paula Le Duc Catering and Outstanding in the Field, The Grateful Table served over 500 people, with food and wine donated from local producers.

The fundraiser, which gave all proceeds to fire relief efforts, was filmed as part of « Uncrushable, » showing the incredible spirit of those who make up the region. From the tragic nature of the fire itself to the unbelievable recovery efforts – from « horror to hope » – « Uncrushable » paints a picture of an area that continues to reckon with an unforeseen disaster long after the news cycle has stopped, and the grace and strength with which its residents draw upon.

« Though most of us are more familiar with Florence’s upbeat persona on Food Network shows like “The Great Food Truck Race” and “How to Boil Water, the one-time “sexiest chef alive” was able to pull off a film with gravitas, courage and hope. » Biteclub Sonoma Mag

The Filmmaker: Chef Tyler Florence
Producers: Natalie Cain, Paula Le Duc

Watch the Trailer: