The Golden Spurtle

In a tiny village in the Scottish Highlands, kitchen amateurs and aficionados from across the globe gather to vie for the title of World Porridge Making Champion.

A spurtle is a Scottish wooden tool used to stir porridge, soups and stews. The Golden Spurtle, on the other hand, is an annual cook-off that brings the world’s best and brightest porridge makers to the humble town of Carrbridge (population: approx. 700). Armed with only water, salt and oats for the traditional competition, the contenders – including a Sydney taco chef, a wellness CEO, a young hopeful with grandma’s recipe and two ex-champs – build on a legacy that has grown since the prize’s founding in 1994. Meanwhile, elderly committee chair Charlie Miller contemplates this same legacy as he seeks someone worthy to take his place.

In this quirky documentary, Australian director Constantine Costi taps into his laurelled opera background to capture the drama and daring of real life, documenting the events leading up to and during the competition. But this is no mere MasterChef on the big screen: Costi and cinematographer Dimitri Zaunders interweave the simmering rivalries with striking landscape shots and touching portraits of the passionate locals who, year on year, put on the best show possible. A feast for the eyes and a shot of glee to the soul, The Golden Spurtle is a whimsical and heartwarming film that will definitely leave you sated.

Screening at Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, and the Windsor from December 11.