The Big Cheese

Cheese Professor: 9 Great Movies for Cheese Lovers — ““The Big Cheese” turns its focus to the world of cheesemongering — a path considered a serious career in Europe that does not command the same respect in the United States. ”

Ashland News: AIFF finds its footing at 25 — “ It is an entertaining, educational, humorously robust documentary...Like the cheese, the film is pleasantly sharp, earthy, with a degree of depth and worth savoring.”

Beyond the Cinerama Dome: The 'Big Cheese' is the Wheel Deal — “That’s what makes The Big Cheese such a heartwarming documentary. It’s a chronicle of these people’s pursuit of something larger than themselves, done not for a life-changing amount of money (the grand prize is $2,900), but because of what it means to love something so profoundly.”

Blaze Radio: Interview With Jason Carney of Phoenix Film Fest — “We've got a really fun documentary called “The Big Cheese.” It's about cheesemongers who are like sommeliers of cheese, and there's a competition, and it's the American team going to France to compete, and they're like the underdogs. ”

Boston Movie News: Focused on films: 23rd Independent Film Festival Boston features 90 movies in eight days — “For something lighter, Tamm and Campbell recommend “The Big Cheese,” a documentary about competitive cheesemongers. “I love a movie that shows you this world that you didn’t know existed,” Campbell said. “The craziness and delightfulness of humans.””

Boston.com: 5 Must-Watch Movies at IFFBoston 202 — ““It’s a big, competitive story told with great drama,” Campbell said. It’s a lot of fun, and people love cheese. I love cheese.””

CBS 58 Milwaukee: Milwaukee Film Festival preview includes look at 'The Big Cheese,' documentary about competitive cheesemongering — “"Our centerpiece film this year is a documentary called, 'The Big Cheese.' This is a film that when it was playing at Doc NYC I said oh, I need a screener of that because hello Wisconsin," said Cara Ogburn, Milwaukee Film artistic director. ”

Cambridge Day: Spring brings film festivals, starting with IFFB — “"The Big Cheese" spotlighted as one of the highlights of IFFBoston”

Cleveland.com: Cleveland International Film Festival announces jury award winners for 50th edition — “The big winners include “The Big Cheese,” which took home the Grand Jury Award for best documentary. Sara Joe Wolansky’s film follows a team of underdog American cheesemongers seeking unlikely glory at the “Olympics of Cheese” in France. ”

Eye on Annapolis: Annapolis Film Festival Showcases “The Finer Things in Life” With 3 Standout Features — “The film blends humor and personal stories with a look at craftsmanship and international competition.”

Film Threat: The Big Cheese Review — “...more thrilling and intense than you would expect a movie about cheese to be, and like any good documentary, that’s thanks to the director Wolansky and the subjects...”

Fox 13 Seattle: Seattle International Film Festival 2026: Dates, lineup and highlights — “One of the festival's standout documentaries....cited by Programming Director Megan Leonard as one of the three films she's most excited about.”

Ideastream Public Media: Cinephiles review Cleveland International Film Festival at Playhouse Square and Cedar Lee — “.... “The Big Cheese” at the Cedar Lee drew large audiences...”

In Their Own League: Top Five Anticipated Films Featured at SIFF2026 — “Even if I wasn’t a huge foodie and cheese lover, I would still be eagerly anticipating this documentary...I’ve got a feeling this one is going to be a winner at SIFF-you can quote me!”

In Their Own League: #SIFF Review: The Big Cheese — ““The Big Cheese’ is for the dreamers and chasers of rainbows and a much appreciated story of hope in a jaded and joyless world. Don’t miss it.”

Milwaukee Magazine: The Films Our Editors Are Most Excited to See at Milwaukee Film Festival 2026 — “I’m a born-and-bred Wisconsinite – cheese is part of my DNA. So naturally, I’m drawn to this 2025 documentary about a group of American cheesemongers’ attempt to do the seemingly impossible – win the Mondial du Fromage, France’s elite Olympics of cheese.”

Milwaukee Magazine: Two Film-Watching Wizards Share Their Game Plan for the Milwaukee Film Festival — “"The Big Cheese" listed as one of three "Must see" films at the festival”

Oregon Artswatch: 25 years and counting: Ashland Independent Film Festival marks a milestone and a comeback — “Among the other feature docs, the opening night crowd-pleaser The Big Cheese, a doc about the “Olympics of cheese,” provided the rasion d’etre for a fantastic spread at the festival’s opening night gala.”

SLO Review: SLOIFF Review: “The Big Cheese” — “The photography and sound are excellent, so much so that you must have some cheese close by—because you will want some after experiencing this film.”

Seattle's Child: SIFF 2026: Family-friendly film picks for kids, tweens and teens — “The exciting David vs. Goliath story will wow culinary enthusiasts.”

Sonoma TV: Rick Love with Sara Joe Wolansky Director of The Big Cheese — “TV interview with Sara Joe Wolansky, director of "The Big Cheese"”

Spoiler Free Reviews: THE BIG CHEESE — “...the leads are so much fun and passionate that I was instantly along for the ride and actually shed a few tears by the end of their journey.”

The Arts Fuse: Doc Talk: Local Heroes and Big Questions at Independent Film Festival Boston — “"One institution that Frederick Wiseman never got around to covering was that of cheesemongers...Luckily, Harvard alum Sara Joe Wolansky has filled that gap with the delightful, daffy, and inspiring 'The Big Cheese'...the outcome is unexpected and downright suspenseful..."”

Unseen Films: The Big Cheese (2025) DOC NYC 2025 — “To be completely honest I have no notes for THE BIG CHEESE. I just love the film and the people on screen. This is a great story well told. To be completely honest, I was just watching the film smiling, not taking notes and laughing. That's all I need.”

WBUR: IFFBoston's annual spring extravaganza serves 'buffet of films' — “"The Big Cheese" spotlighted as one of the highlights of IFFBoston”

Warm 106.9: REVIEW - "2025 Seattle International Film Festival:" Another Wild Spring Experiment Begins — “Wolansky covers [the story] with a form of dry wit and personal mediation that The Bear’s writers’ room could only dream of capturing. This nervewracking underdog- er, undercow story throws virtually no stones in its arcs of redemption and artful food creation, unafraid to educate or enlighten as much as display a gritty objective at immense depth, detail, and deconstruction. All of which lovingly interjected with punk-rocker interludes and Chef’s Table-esque beauty shots galore”