NOMINATED Best Documentary Short ACADEMY AWARDS

SPECIAL GUEST Co-Producer Nick August-Perna

This is an inspiring story about the launch of a world-class French restaurant with a staff of men and women just out of prison who have never cooked or served before. With only a few months before they open, the restaurant’s founder, also an ex-con, struggles to help fellow inmates create specialty dishes, learn French, and rebuild their own lives.

Westport native Nick August-Perna’s documentary films on race, farm workers and for-profit education have appeared on PBS’ Frontline. He co-directed the film, The Swell Season about the song-writing duo behind the Oscar winning song “Falling Slowly.”

What does it take to build a world-class French restaurant? What if the staff is almost entirely men and women just out of prison? What if most have never cooked or served before, and have barely two months to learn their trade? Knife Skills follows the hectic launch of Edwins restaurant in Cleveland.