BIIR GARDI (Guardian of the well)

a.k.a. بئر قاردي

dir. Bentley Brown & Tahir Ben Mahamat Zene
6 min | Chad | 2025
Chadian Arabic

Amid a historic drought in the southern reaches of Chad's Sahara Desert, a well-goer recalls his lost cattle and contemplates his plans for a change in livelihood.

Festival Selections

• True/False Film Festival, Columbia, USA (2025)

• Thin Line Fest, Denton, USA (2025)

• New York African Film Festival, USA (2025)

• Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, South Africa (2025) - Runner-Up, Youth Jury Award for Best African Short

• Maine International Film Festival, USA (2025)

• Maine Outdoor Film Festival, USA (2025)

• Mimesis Documentary Festival, USA (2025)

• Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film, Durham, USA (2025)

• Animal Nature Future Film Festival, China (2025)

• Art Speaks Out, ikonoTV COP30 (2025)

• Fickin' International Film Festival Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (2025)

• Zambia Short Film Festival (2025)

• Trans Africa International Film Festival, Yola North, Nigeria (2025)

• Ji.hlava International Documentary Festival, Czech Republic (2025)

• Film Africa, London, UK (2025)

• Torino Film Festival, Italy (2025)

• Red Sea International Film Festival, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2025)

• Earth Connection Film Festival, Bloomington, USA (2025)

• Water Film Prize: Back to Our Future, USA (2025)

• FIPADOC, France (2026)

• Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival, France (2026)

• Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Missoula, USA (2026)