Manabí cheese documentary wins international Food Film Menu 2026 award

A short film documenting the traditions of 'queso chonero' from Manabí, Ecuador, has won the Public’s Favorite award at the Food Film Menu 2026 festival. The audiovisual project secured the distinction after receiving more than 9,000 international votes.

Organized by the International Gastronomy, Culture, Art and Tourism Institute (IGCAT), the film initially won in the Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship category before competing against 13 other international entries for the public choice award. The documentary highlights the ancestral knowledge, rural families, and artisanal processes involved in producing the cheese, which is considered part of Ecuador's Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The recognition coincides with Manabí’s designation as the World Gastronomy Region 2026. The project was promoted by the Prefecture of Manabí, led by Leonardo Orlando, with support from various public and private institutions.