This is not a marathon for runners. And it’s not couch-bound binge-watching “for a whole day” either. It’s a marathon for those who crave inspiration, and maybe even a discreet tear or two (polite, never melodramatic). The INC_ONTRI mini-docs by Cook_inc., made with Lazy Farm, are short (about 12 minutes per episode), but they don’t fly by. They’re real encounters: no inflated stories, just people, choices, trajectories rather than finishing lines. They tell the stories of people who are truly changing things, one tiny step at a time.
Let’s set a bit of context. The first season of INC_ONTRI was born from the desire to let a few stories step out of the pages of Cook_inc. and breathe on screen as well. Not to replicate them, but to complete them. Articles and documentaries aren’t two sides of the same coin, they’re two pieces of the same conversation. So yes, watch the video. And then, if you feel like it, read the story too. Or the other way around (remember the commutative property of addition? Exactly, go with that).
Each story is its own world, set in different places, shaped by different responsibilities, and, above all, driven by radical choices made in small towns that aren’t always the easiest or most convenient to reach. The food is there, of course, (there’s also wine, music, and time itself) mostly as a language, a tool, an excuse, and above all an accelerator of humanity.
There are four short videos, meant to be watched one at a time and/or all in a row. And here’s a spoiler: in early January the fifth – and final – episode will be released.
1. Agata in Wonderland
In a village of 24 inhabitants, how long does forever last? Like the famous tale of Alice and the White Rabbit, this is the story of a journey, a project, a dream. A mini-doc that introduces you to Agata Felluga, a chef with a passion for music, who searched for her own path between Rome, Paris and Strasbourg – only to find it again in the place of her childhood, in the heart of Maremma, Tuscany. Through encounters, anecdotes, slow cooking and vinyl records, you’ll discover her essence in the Land of Wonders.
2. Reis — Roots
In the shadow of Monviso, in a valley that has “Mala” only in its name, lives a curious character who whistles to goats and speaks Occitan. Someone who cultivates passion, cooks the mountains and dreams of revolution. His name is Juri Chiotti, and this is his story: a cook/shepherd/farmer proudly rooted in his land, with a powerful message: that food is politics, and that today food is the most important lever we have to change the world we live in. “Cooking and producing food every day for 8 billion people has an impact”.
3. Emidio Pepe, a family story
You frame the shot, load the roll and wait for the shutter. A simple gesture that, like wine, holds time within it. A family photograph that binds three generations and tells the story of 60 harvests – land, wine, journeys and much more. So strike a pose, smile and… click! Emidio Pepe, a family story: “a family much larger than just wine” – and yes, it’s a matriarchy.
4. Brite Spirit
When the spirit of the city meets that of the high mountains, a tender, enterprising and courageous love is sparked. A love story that binds tradition and respect for creation. From the white of fresh milk to the pure white of snow that clears the vision; up here the air feels sincere, where elegance is never frivolous and carries the true flavour of the mountains. These are the ingredients of an authentic Brite Spirit: the cross-disciplinary project by Ludovica Rubbini and Riccardo Gaspari in Cortina d’Ampezzo. It’s the story of SanBrite, El Brite de Larieto and Piccolo Brite.
