Rebel Film tells the story of research, the territory, and the transformation of the cross-border dairy supply chain
Telling the story of a complex applied research and technological innovation project is not easy: it requires the ability to summarise two years of scientific work, to transform technical concepts into narratives that are accessible to different audiences, and to show how theory becomes practice. For this reason, the DAIRY+ project has also chosen to rely on audiovisual production as a communication tool, collaborating with Rebel Film S.r.l., an independent production company based in Monfalcone.
The result? Two emotional documentaries that together offer a 360-degree view of the project: one looking at the roots, the other looking to the future. A choice that proved to be a success and of which we are truly proud.
“Mountain pastures, guardians of the environment”: the beating heart of tradition
The first documentary, “Mountain pastures, guardians of the environment”, was broadcast on RAI Friuli Venezia Giulia and is now available on YouTube and RAI Play. Presented by Sara Svagelj and Ettore Spezza, the video explores the mountains shared by Italy and Slovenia, where the mountain pastures transcend borders to become guardians of a single, great rural spirit.
It is a living testimony to how Alpine tradition, with its methods consolidated over generations, is itself a model of sustainability. Alpine mountain dairies are the cradle of the dairy tradition, but they are also the pillars of the protection of the mountain landscape and biodiversity. The voices of their custodians tell directly the story of a reality that risks disappearing and that deserves to be preserved and enhanced.
This documentary speaks to everyone: to those who live in the mountains, to those who love them, and to those who want to understand how tradition can teach us important lessons about sustainability and living in harmony with the territory.
"Dairy+, a Circular Bioeconomy for the Dairy Sector": Innovation in Practice
The second documentary, "Dairy+, a Circular Bioeconomy for the Dairy Sector," is available on YouTube. A 16-minute production that presents the results of the project's applied research.
This video shows how innovation is not just theory. We visited two facilities, the Latteria Sociale di Cividale e Valli del Natisone (Italy) and Mlekarna Planika (Slovenia), to discover, together with the people who work there, how the innovation introduced by the DAIRY+ project can concretely improve the daily operations, sustainability, and competitiveness of a dairy plant.
The voices guiding this journey are those of the people who have been part of the project:
From the universities:
Dr Petra Mohar Lorbeg and Dr Diana Paveljšek (University of Ljubljana, Institute of Dairy Science and Probiotics)
Dr Giulia di Filippo and Prof Nadia Innocente (University of Udine)
From applied research:
Dr Alessandra Tata (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie)
From industrial practice:
Katarina Rutar (Mlekarna Planika)
Dario Roiatti (Latteria Sociale di Cividale e Valli del Natisone)
Each interviewee explains what they do, how they do it, and how they were involved in the DAIRY+ project. The result is a story that combines scientific rigour, narrative accessibility, and operational concreteness.
The choice of audiovisual storytelling
The decision to tell the story of DAIRY+ through the language of the documentary was a conscious strategic choice. Audiovisual production allows us to:
Humanise the research: letting the researchers speak for themselves, not just their findings
Show the locations: taking the audience inside the dairies, into the mountains and into the laboratories
Evoke emotion: because sustainability and innovation touch the soul, not just the mind
Reach diverse audiences: from industry specialists to curious members of the public, from policy-makers to the younger generations
Together, the two documentaries create a complete narrative experience: the first shows how sustainability is rooted in tradition, whilst the second demonstrates how scientific innovation can further enhance that heritage. Tradition and innovation are not opposites: in the DAIRY+ project, they come together and reinforce one another.
Watch the documentaries
📍 " Mountain pastures, guardians of the environment "
📍 " Dairy+, a Circular Bioeconomy for the Dairy Sector "
Two stories, two perspectives, one message: that the future of the cross-border dairy sector lies in respecting tradition and consciously embracing innovation. 🌱
