ABOUT THE FILM:America’s cheap food production comes at great costs: a steady loss of biodiversity and nutrition and impossible financial burdens for small growers and chefs. Production and distribution systems have long skewed toward agribusiness, while independent workers live dangerously close to the margins. During the Covid pandemic these inequities became even more pronounced and heartbreaking.

During the Covid lockdown, director Laura Gabbert (City of Gold, No Impact Man) investigated these challenges through veteran food writer Ruth Reichl, who talked with chefs, farmers, and ranchers via Zoom, exploring the challenges they face in both the fields and the kitchens. Reichl also shares her own history with food and collective idealism in conversation with restaurateur Alice Waters, who pioneered direct farm payments and the farm-to-table model. Food and Country gives voice to many passionate change makers whose tenacity and innovations in farming and cooking may hold the keys to restoring our broken food system and ensuring our future well-being. —Kate Sanford

ABOUT  THE FILMMAKER: Documentary director Laura Gabbert’s critically acclaimed films tell penetrating, character-driven stories about American culture and society. Her newest project, Food and Country, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Her previous work includes Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles (IFC/Hulu 2020); City of Gold (Sundance 2015, IFC), which was named as one of Vogue magazine’s “66 Best Documentaries of All Time;” No Impact Man (Sundance 2009, Oscilloscope); Sunset Story (Tribeca 2005, Independent Lens), and the nonfiction short Monument/Monumento (Field of Vision 2017). Gabbert executive produced the Netflix Original Disclosure, is completing a six-part series entitled The Power of Film, and is an AMPAS member.