Audible Honors ‘Bistec’ Podcast with 2024 ‘Lo Mejor del Año’ Fiction Award

Manuel Ruiz-Barrera, writer and director of ‘Bistec’ and co-founder of Nuestro Studios, expressed his gratitude for the honor. ‘This prestigious recognition, and the massive views and listens we’ve generated across digital platforms underscore why the timeless and timely story of ‘Bistec’ must come to the big screen, which is our ultimate goal,’ Ruiz-Barrera stated.

Since its summer debut, ‘Bistec’ has amassed over 1.5 million views and listens across multiple digital platforms in both Spanish and English. The series is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and Instagram, among other platforms.

Set during the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution in 2009, ‘Bistec’ offers a unique glimpse into Cuba’s enigmatic surveillance and informant system. The story revolves around a longtime Cuban Revolutionary and the upheaval caused when a prominent dissident moves into his neighborhood. It is the first narrative to delve deeply into the secret world of Cuba’s Comités de Defensa de la Revolución (CDR), a neighborhood government apparatus highly valued by Fidel Castro.

The series draws inspiration from events in the life of Micaela Ruiz, the late poet grandmother of writer Ruiz-Barrera, as well as his experiences during documentary photography trips to Cuba in the early 1990s. Prominent Cuban dissidents Amaury Pacheco del Monte and Iris Hernandez served as key story consultants and also appear as characters in the series.

‘Bistec’ features a diverse cast of actors, musicians, and producers with extensive experience in telenovelas and feature films. The production team includes talent from various Latin American countries, representing multiple generations of Cubans. The musical score, ‘Canción de un Disidente,’ was composed by nine-time EMMY-winning Maestro Alberto Bade and features a performance by the University of Miami Orchestra.

As part of the project’s expansion, the producers are preparing to launch pre-orders for a related photobook called ‘Surreal Cuba,’ set for release in early 2025. This development, along with Audible’s recognition, signals growing interest in multicultural storytelling and the potential for ‘Bistec’ to reach even wider audiences.

The success of ‘Bistec’ highlights the increasing demand for diverse, culturally rich content in the digital audio space. As streaming platforms continue to invest in multilingual and multicultural productions, stories like ‘Bistec’ play a crucial role in representing underrepresented voices and narratives.

Audible’s recognition of ‘Bistec’ as part of its ‘Lo Mejor del Año’ selection not only validates the quality of the production but also emphasizes the importance of storytelling that bridges cultural divides and explores complex historical and social themes. As the podcast industry continues to evolve, productions like ‘Bistec’ set a new standard for engaging, thought-provoking content that resonates with diverse audiences.