Food Through the Lens of Imagery: Insights for Engaged Audiences and Opportunities for Filmmakers

22 Apr 2025

Diverse food cultures, traditions, and knowledge have shaped the cultural, architectural, and landscape heritage of regions worldwide over centuries, creating a remarkable tapestry of unique culinary practices that deserve to be preserved and shared. Beyond celebrating the beauty and richness of gastronomic heritage, food narratives can also reveal its “dark side,” highlighting the significant challenges, problems, and solutions that contemporary society faces.

The language of images is undoubtedly one of the most immediate and effective means of conveying to the public the immense wealth of content, themes, stories, and issues that fall under this topic.

If you are a cinephile or simply interested in the dynamics of food systems, it may be beneficial to explore some of the best films and documentaries released in recent months, ensuring you stay informed on the subject.

Unveiling the Contradictions of the Food System

Eating Our Way to Extinction is a documentary that takes audiences on a cinematic journey across the globe—from the depths of the Amazon rainforest to the Taiwanese mountains, the Mongolian desert, the US Dust Bowl, the Norwegian fjords, and the Scottish coastlines. Through powerful testimonials, it tells the story of our planet and the indigenous people most affected by environmental changes, featuring globally renowned figures and leading scientists. The film delivers a straightforward yet impactful message by uncovering harsh truths and addressing one of the most pressing issues of our generation: ecological collapse.

The unprecedented environmental crisis we face today can be traced back to a system built on specific choices and responsibilities. Food for Profit is a revealing investigation that exposes the connections between the meat industry, lobbying, and political power. It denounces how Europe is diverting hundreds of billions of taxpayer euros to intensive farms that mistreat animals, pollute the environment, and pose potential risks for future pandemics. Directors Giulia Innocenzi and Pablo D’Ambrosi guide us on an enlightening yet shocking journey across Europe, confronting farmers, corporations, and politicians.

Celebrating Culinary Culture and Diversity

On a more uplifting note for food enthusiasts, Omnivore is a new series by celebrity chef René Redzepi that explores the ingredients that have shaped human nutrition throughout history. This educational journey spans time and cultures, led by the co-owner of the three-Michelin star restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, known for reinventing and refining a new Nordic cuisine characterized by inventiveness and clean flavors.

Similarly, the acclaimed series Chef’s Table returns with a new season titled Chef’s Table: Legends, featuring four of the most significant chefs in history: Jamie Oliver, the charismatic British chef and one of the BBC’s most successful presenters; José Andrés, the Spanish chef whose humanitarian efforts led to the creation of the NGO World Central Kitchen, which provides food globally after natural disasters; Alice Waters, a trailblazer in the Slow Food movement and one of the first women in haute cuisine; and Thomas Keller, who has crafted an American interpretation of French cuisine at his restaurant The French Laundry, recognized as one of the best in the world.

Enhancing Health Through Food Choices

Amidst gastronomic delights and social critique, it is crucial to remember that our eating habits significantly influence our health and longevity. Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Nutrition delves into the role of the gut microbiome and the complexities of the digestive system, emphasizing its vital importance for overall health and well-being. Author Giulia Enders explains that the gut microbiota constitutes an ecosystem containing genes at least a hundred times that of the human genome. Any imbalance can lead to gastrointestinal issues and conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, arteriosclerosis, and various cardiovascular, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. Enders’ book, Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ, has sold over one million copies worldwide.

The docuseries You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, based on a Stanford study, investigates the effects of vegan versus omnivore diets on identical twins. One twin from each pair followed a vegan diet, while the other adhered to an omnivore diet. The study revealed that the vegan group experienced greater reductions in LDL cholesterol, insulin levels, and body weight compared to their omnivore counterparts.

Slow Food is calling for the EU to adopt an Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods, to cut agriculture's emissions and promote healthier diets.

Taking a Stand Behind the Camera

If you aspire to go beyond being a mere spectator and wish to showcase your own perspective on film, consider this opportunity: each year, an international jury from the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) selects up to 14 outstanding films from global submissions. The Food Film Menu Open Call is specifically looking for short films. The winning films are published annually on IGCAT’s website and social media channels, as well as those of partner media. They are also featured in film festivals worldwide.

Slow Food is a partner in this initiative for the Feeding the Planet category, which aims to spark discussions about food origins and the challenges of ensuring healthy food for all. Topics such as biodiversity conservation, local food sourcing, sustainable agriculture, the importance of pollinators, food waste, and other critical issues related to global food security are encouraged.

Deadline for submissions: June 27, 2025

For more information, visit: IGCAT Food Film Menu

Paola Nano