People congregate at a well on the southern edge of the desert. In a brutal drought, the vast majority of livestock have died. The nearest village used to be spotted with grass huts along the horizon, but these have been taken apart to feed cattle.
Guardian of the Well
Bentley Brown, Tahir Ben Mahamat Zene
Chad 2025
6′
Direction
Bentley Brown is an artist-scholar, Durban Talent, and Berlinale Talent, whose films revolve around the subjects of global mobility, disidentification, and belonging, such as Oustaz (Berlinale 2016) and Revolution From Afar (PBS AfroPoP 2022). In recent times, he has transitioned to projects with scientific explorations, such as Behind the Sun (Hot Docs 2023) and an upcoming feature-length project revolving around water access in north-central Chad, where he grew up.
Tahir Ben Mahamat Zene is an Ati-based nonprofit professional with film and theatre experience in the areas of community-building and societal issues. He previously collaborated with Bentley Brown and Abakar Chene Massar on Le Pèlerin de Camp Nou (IFFR 2010). This is Tahir’s first film to co-direct and produce.
