By Coral Gables Gazette staff
A visionary new documentary arrives at the Coral Gables Art Cinema next week with a message that stretches far beyond what’s on our plates. Feeding Tomorrow, screening Monday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m., offers an unexpectedly hopeful look at how rethinking food could lead to transformational change across health care, education, and the environment. Tickets are just $5, making the one-night program unusually accessible for a first-run feature.
Directed by brothers Oliver and Simon English and released earlier this year, the 80-minute film follows a group of innovators pursuing real-world alternatives to a food system many see as unsustainable. Rather than offer a lecture or finger-wagging prescription, the film uses storytelling to build a case that reform is already underway—and that everyday choices can accelerate it.
From soil to school lunchrooms
Much of the documentary’s impact comes from the people it follows. Among them is Mark Shepard, founder of New Forest Farm, a pioneering agricultural site in Wisconsin built around agroforestry rather than conventional monocropping. Shepard’s work demonstrates how farming can integrate tree crops, animals, and perennial plants to restore soil and increase resilience.
The film also tracks Lisa McDowell, Director of Nutrition at St. Joseph Mercy Hospitals in Michigan. Her efforts to connect clinical health with food systems—particularly in patient recovery and community wellness—underline one of the film’s core ideas: food is not just fuel, but medicine, economics, and public policy rolled into one.
In Boston, the documentary profiles Thabiti Brown, Head of School at Codman Academy Charter Public School, who has embedded food literacy and nutrition into daily education. His work reflects a larger premise of Feeding Tomorrow: that habits and health outcomes begin in classrooms and cafeterias, not boardrooms or legislative halls.
These stories unfold alongside a broad critique of the food industry while pointing to real, replicable solutions. Themes of soil health, labor ethics, biodiversity, and accessibility all surface through personal narratives rather than policy analysis.
A systems lens—and potential audience
The film’s framing goes far beyond agriculture. In interviews with organic and regenerative farmers, nutritionists, educators, and advocates, Feeding Tomorrow argues that food is not a single issue but a connecting thread linking economic disparity, chronic illness, climate change, and cultural memory. Viewers are introduced to farming models such as permaculture, biodynamics, and agroforestry—approaches that reject chemical dependency and focus instead on crop diversity and animal integration.
A reviewer for Los Angeles Magazine recently noted that the filmmakers highlight “progressive systems that work with nature,” particularly those eliminating herbicides and pesticides while regenerating soil. Though the documentary covers national terrain, its message is in sync with growing interest in local sourcing, climate adaptation, and school-based wellness programs in South Florida.
Given Miami-Dade County’s ongoing discussions around food deserts, sustainability, and urban agriculture, the screening may draw educators, environmental advocates, healthcare professionals, and residents curious about alternatives gaining traction across the country.
One-night engagement
The screening is part of the cinema’s Special Presentations series, which brings limited-run and one-time showings to audiences looking beyond mainstream theatrical releases. The Coral Gables Art Cinema, widely known for its curated programming and community partnerships, often uses these events to introduce documentaries that might otherwise bypass traditional distribution in South Florida.
With a modest price point—$5 general admission—the event is positioned to attract students, young professionals, and families. The cinema recommends purchasing tickets in advance online due to limited seating for single-show programs.
Feeding Tomorrow is not rated and runs 80 minutes. The film is distributed by Gravitas Ventures and presented in digital cinema format (DCP). Though not marketed specifically as a children’s film, its focus on education and environmental storytelling may appeal to middle- and high-school audiences, especially those involved in sustainability clubs, culinary programs, or civic engagement.
A timely message
The documentary’s arrival comes as food issues occupy more public space nationally and locally. Supply chain vulnerabilities, rising costs, school nutrition debates, and concerns over land use have intensified interest in new models. Miami-Dade has seen increased public-private partnerships around food access, food waste reduction, and farm-to-institution programs, making the film’s themes particularly relevant.
While Feeding Tomorrow does not claim to solve the systemic problems it depicts, it makes the case that meaningful progress is already underway—and that innovation comes from people willing to rethink assumptions at every level.
Whether viewers approach the film as environmental storytelling, public health commentary, or community inspiration, the program offers more than observation. Its message is rooted in empowerment: that ordinary choices—from how schools feed students to how hospitals source ingredients—shape the future as much as laws and markets.
For those looking to understand how a loaf of bread or a field of soil fits into the larger architecture of change, Monday’s screening provides a thoughtful invitation.
Screening details
Feeding Tomorrow
Monday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m.
Coral Gables Art Cinema
260 Aragon Avenue
Tickets: $5 general admission
Advance purchase recommended
