– The feature film by Carlos Velasco and Kate Hu delves into the creative world of Paco Morales and his Córdoba-based Noor Restaurant
Noor by Carlos Velasco and Kate Hu
Noor is a feature-length documentary that immerses itself in the creative universe of Paco Morales and in the way that, at his Córdoba restaurant Noor Restaurant, he transforms the history of Al-Andalus into a contemporary, sensorial and profoundly cultural experience.
Directed by Carlos Velasco and Kate Hu, the film embarks on a cinematic journey to the creative heart of one of the most distinctive kitchens on the international scene: a cuisine that delves into history in order to research it, interpret it and project it into the future through its own lens. From Córdoba, and taking the motto “Cooking Possible Pasts” as its starting point, the film explores the relationship between memory, territory, architecture, music, craftsmanship, philosophical thought and, of course, gastronomy. It also offers a universal reflection on how cultures reinterpret their past in order to build their future.
Paco Morales is one of Spain’s most acclaimed chefs for his ability to transform history into a gastronomic experience. After training in some of the great temples of Spanish cuisine, such as elBulli and Mugaritz, he returned to his hometown to open Noor Restaurant in 2016. Velasco and Hu recall how the chef told them that one day he dreamed of cooking for the Umayyad caliph in Madinat al-Zahra: “From there must have come, all of a sudden, aromas, recipes, flavours, colours, textures, architectures, music and dances that burst through the realm of those dreams with such force that they eventually became reality. Imagining that moment is what spurred us to work on this piece,” they confess.
The documentary will begin its festival run ahead of its commercial release, slated for the final quarter of 2026. With screenplay, editing and cinematography by Carlos Velasco, the film features Alberto Omiste on camera; Alicia Narejos on dance and choreography; Menchu Benítez on make-up; and Silvia Vacas as narrator. Production is handled by Gema Ronchas and Neresa García, together with Godello Entertainment, with Noor Restaurant participating as associate producer.
Our exclusive poster, here:
