27/02/2024- The Cinema Cocina gastronomic documentary section of the 27th Malaga Film Festival this year brings together a total of 17 national and international productions about the universe of gastronomy which, this year, focuses especially on gastronomic heritage and the world of wine. The section, developed in collaboration with Lumen Proyectos Gastronomicos and sponsored by Cervezas Victoria, will feature round tables, tastings for attendees and the traditional Gala at the Gran Hotel Miramar.
 
Today the Cervezas Victoria factory hosted the presentation of the gastronomic section of the event, with the presence of the director of the Malaga Festival, Juan Antonio Vigar; the provincial coordinator of AGAPA (Agency for Agricultural and Fisheries Management of Andalusia), of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Government of Andalusia, María del Carmen Muñoz Melero; the director of Communication and External Relations of Cervezas Victoria, Genoveva Ferragut, and the director of Lumen Proyectos Gastronomicos, Álvaro Muñoz.
 
The ‘Teatro Echegaray’ opens its doors once again to screen ten feature films and seven short films, from the 1st to the 8th of March. In this seventh edition, Cinema Cocina delves into memory and gastronomic heritage, the importance of local products, the value of wine territories and the connection with other cultures. The participating documentaries also focus on the chefs as figures and the influence of family legacy, which will star in some of the shorts and features that premiere in the gastronomic series and which will be accompanied by tastings related to the projects.
 
This year, in the VII Cinema Cocina Documentary Contest, whose aim is to highlight the value of gastronomic-themed audiovisuals that are produced nowadays, 16 documentaries will participate in the competition and are eligible to be recognised with the Biznaga de Plata awards for the best feature film 'Cervezas Victoria', rewarded with 5,000 euros; Silver Biznaga for the best short film 'Gusto del Sur', rewarded with 2,000 euros; Biznaga de Plata audience award for the best feature film ‘Consejo
Regulador de las Denominaciones de Origen Málaga’ and Biznaga de Plata audience award for the best short film.
 
The Cinema Cocina jury is made up of the General Director of the Food Industry in the Ministry of Agriculture, José Miguel Herrero; the one in charge of Sabor a Málaga, Leonor García-Agua; the president of the ‘Real Academia de Gastronomía’, Luis Suárez de Lezo, and the chef Sacha Hormaechea.  
 
All screenings will take place at the ‘Teatro Echegaray’, starting from 4:00 p.m., except for Saturday, 2nd March. Later on, the round table will take place with the main characters and directors of the audiovisual works, as well as the tastings.
 
Gala Dinner and awarding of Biznagas at the Gran Hotel Miramar
 
The traditional Gala Dinner at the Gran Hotel Miramar will take place on Thursday, 7th March at 8:00 p.m., and will bring together authorities, institutional and business representatives, as well as figures from cinema and culture. The preparation of the gala menu will be done by prestigious chefs such as Juan Carlos García (Vandelvira restaurant), Álvaro Arbeloa (Ta-Kumi), David Yárnoz (Molino de Urdániz), Lucía Freitas (A Tafona) and Diego Nicas (Príncipe de Asturias). Likewise, dinner will be paired with PDO Málaga wines, Sierras de Málaga and Pasas de Málaga.
 
Following this, the Cinema Cocina’s Biznagas de Plata award ceremony will take place within the official section of the Malaga Festival.
 
Program
 
The cycle will start on Friday, 1st of March , with the screening of the short film Oro rojo, directed by Milton Ferreria, which tells the story of Darío Bravo, the captain of a boat, and his children, who navigate the cold waters of the Beagle Channel in search of the prized Fuegian king crab, an exquisite gastronomic delicacy. Next, the feature film The Michoacan File will be screened, a documentary directed by Bernardo Arsuaga about Mexican cuisine and its current impact on the world.
 
The next day will start at 3:30 p.m. and will be led by Pau Sintes, the best Young European Chef 2022, who returns to his native Menorca in the documentary Sa cuina des records, directed by the young director and producer Álex Arroyo. After, Gusto y memoria tentempié will be screened, by the tandem formed by Jacobo Gavira and Luis Mengs, who will guide us on a psychological journey through flavours. Finally, independent filmmaker Alexandros Merkouris will put the cherry on top with La comida perfecta. Los secretos de la dieta mediterránea, in which leading scientists and inspiring chefs reveal their secrets.
 
On Sunday 3rd, of March, the ‘Teatro Echegaray’ will open its doors to screen El misterio de la barra, a short film in which Santiago Madueño delves into the world of cocktails. From the best cocktails we will move on to a fascinating journey, led by sommelier Mariana Torta, with Into the wine, a tour of different European cities, directed by the two-time winner of the Biznaga de Plata, Alfred Oliveri.
 
The fourth day will kick off with Equibocados, a documentary produced by Le Cordon Bleu, which reflects on the learning processes and results, and the short film El bizcocho de Alfonso XIII, by Jordi Busquets, about the Micheto pastry shop that has made the same sweet treat since the beginning of the 20th century. The day will conclude with Basajaun 2, el regreso al terruño, the second part of a wine documentary directed by Salvador Arellano and Miguel García Iraburu.
 
On Tuesday, El caracol y su entorno will hit the big screen, a short film about “a neighbourhood life, chats and 'half-wines'” that describes the city of Córdoba through the eyes of Marta Murillo. This will be followed by the featured film Villa Málaga. El templo del vino, an alliance between Spain and Switzerland based on a historical tasting.
 
The halfway point of the seventh edition of Cinema Cocina will fall on Wednesday the 6th of March, with the short film Amas da terra (Amas de la Terra), based on the social and cultural project of the renowned chef Lucía Freitas, along with the screening of Binu. Història de dues estrelles (Binu. Historia de dos estrellas), by Guillem Cabra and Mar Clapés, in tribute to the restaurant El Racó d'en Binu
 
Under the direction of Charly Birdman, in Big Red, chef Ángel León becomes a tuna and will immerse himself in an adventure that is just as fascinating as it is tasty to discover all the secrets of bluefin tuna and its connection with Japan, screened on the 7th of March. Afterwards, the feature film Buddha jumps over the Wall (Buda salta el muro) will be screened about the chef David Yárnoz and the replica of his restaurant in Taiwan.
 
Not part of the contest but as a closing to this edition, Tasting victory, the life and wines of the world's favorite sommelier (El sabor del éxito, vida y vinos del sumiller favorito del mundo) will be screened about the story of Gerard Basset, a world renowned sommelier, told through the eyes of his closest relatives.
 
Tickets for the 27th Malaga Film Festival can be purchased now at the box office and online through the Festival website  (https://festivaldemalaga.com/) and at www.unientradas.es