Ficmec Festival Blends Cinema and Sustainable Gastronomy in Garachico

The 28th Canary Islands International Environmental Film Festival (Ficmec) is going beyond the screen this year by turning food into a way to explore history and sustainability. Organizers have introduced "Film Brunches," a series of events designed to spark direct conversations between viewers and the social issues highlighted in the festival’s films.

The centerpiece of this initiative is the Spanish premiere of Aisha’s Story. Directed by Elizabeth Vibert and Chen Wang, the documentary follows Aisha Azzam’s efforts to preserve Palestinian identity within a refugee settlement in Jordan, centered around the operation of a traditional mill. This theme of cultural preservation serves as the inspiration for a special culinary experience created by the Tenerife restaurant El Rebojo.

Titled "Bread, oil, and territory: cuisines that are shared," the menu curated by restaurant manager Fran Mejías celebrates the island’s agricultural roots. By using local ingredients—such as gofio from El Amparo, honey from Santiago del Teide, goat yogurt, and produce from Teno and Masca—Mejías aims to highlight how these foods have historically sustained Canarian families. For him, the collaboration shows how cooking acts as a form of cultural resistance and a way to bring communities together.

The event will take place in Garachico, combining the film screening with a tasting menu. Tickets are available for 10 euros starting this Wednesday via the festival’s website. Through this initiative, Ficmec continues its mission to connect cinema with the defense of local agriculture, emphasizing the role of sustainable food systems in building a better future.