43° TORINO FILM FESTIVAL
SHORT FILMS COMPETITION
GUARDIAN OF THE WELL
by Bentley Brown, Tahir Ben Mahamat Zene
Country: Chad, USA
Year: 2025
Duration: 5'
In mid-2024, Chad experienced its worst drought in decades. Most of the livestock died, people moved away, and the city vanished. In the desolate Batha Prefecture, a chance encounter at a water well opens a window into the reality of a Central African country deeply affected by climate change.
Biography
film director
Bentley Brown
(USA, 1987) is an American filmmaker, producer, and university lecturer. He lived for many years in Chad, after his family moved there when he was eleven. His work explores themes related to global mobility and the loss of identity. His films include Oustaz, presented at the Berlinale in 2016, and First Feature (2018), screened at the Ji.hlava and Rotterdam Film Festivals.
FILMOGRAFIA
Oustaz (doc, cm, 2016), First Feature (doc, cm, 2018). Biir gardi (Guardian of the Well, coregia/codirector Tahir Mahamat Zene cm, 2025).
Tahir Mahamat Zene
is a Chadian journalist and activist who works for non-profit organizations in the fields of housing and social inclusion. He is also involved in film and theatre. Guardian of the Well is his first film, made in co-direction with Bentley Brown.
FILMOGRAFIA
Biir gardi (Guardian of the Well, co-direction/co-director Bentley Brown, cm, 2025).
Declaration
film director
“The droughts and floods in Chad aren’t isolated – they reflect broader climate change driven largely by industrialized nations.” (B. Brown)
Cast
& Credits
DIRECTORS: Bentley Brown, Tahir Mahamat Zene. PRODUCERS: Bentley Brown, Tahir Mahamat Zene. CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gabriel Dae-sung Lee. PRODUCTION MANAGER: Abdelsalam Brahim. CAST: Youssif Mahamat.
CONTACT: Bentlet Brown bentley@aboudigin.com
