The production, which won the Silver Biznaga for best feature film in the official Cinema Cocina section, was shown at El Yelmo cinemas in Jaén. This cinematic work is equally a human portrait, a declaration of intent, and a collective tribute to a province that, for too long, was underestimated in the gastronomic field.
Directed by Jorge Fernández Mayoral and produced by La Caña Sisters in collaboration with Visual Comunicación, the documentary focuses on the five Jaén chefs whose restaurants currently hold a Michelin star. Through their direct testimonies, the film explores their life and professional journeys, their origins, sacrifices, and the impact of international recognition on their lives and on the culinary image of the entire province.
“"The documentary shows a gastronomic revolution that did not emerge from nothing, but is preceded by a broad and solid culinary trajectory in the province, by generations of cooks who worked in the shadows so that today their successors shine brightly in the showcases of world haute cuisine."
The documentary's title, Decían que aquí no había ná (They said there was nothing here), originates from a phrase a local chef wore on a T-shirt when collecting his Michelin star in 2024. This expression, which condensed decades of disdain, became a symbol of vindication and pride for the province.
The work transcends purely gastronomic themes with the participation of figures from other cultural fields. The texts accompanying the images were written by the novelist Antonio Muñoz Molina, and the contemporary dance company Marcat Dance, represented by its artistic director, also contributes to the project, enriching the audiovisual proposal.
The production also has the institutional support of the Jaén Provincial Council and the Jaén City Council, highlighting the commitment of these institutions to a project that functions as a quality cinematic work, a tool for tourism and gastronomic promotion, and a cultural vindication of a province that, finally, is being heard.
