The Foggaras Treasure

Le Trésor des Foggaras

An ethnological documentary by Farid DMS DEBAH.

SYNOPSIS

Faced with industrial advances, the Foggaras system seems a little archaic. Nonetheless, it remains the most reliable way to allow the running and transportation of the most essential element in life: water. Thanks to this ancestral process, the habitants of Ksour have been able to survive in the hostile environment that is the Sahara.

Discover the photos of the documentary's location.
(photos : Farid DMS DEBAH).

Hanou Foggara Garden
(the oldest in the region of Adrar)

Thanks to the Foggaras water supply system, the plantation owners can hope for a decent harvest.

The water from the Foggaras comes before it's shared in the gardens

The sharing of the water, calculated for each garden owner.

A woman washing her clothes directly in the Foggara water.

After the floods in January 2009 at Aoulef, more than 1755 homes were destroyed. Now, some families live in tents.

View of a ksar, with its typical constructions in clay

Adrar Mosque

Abesse, the son of the headmaster of the oldest school in the village

The palm logs are used to make the houses

Hamadi Ahmed El Hadj, owner of and specialist in the Foggara

Monsieur Bani Abd Allah dug, with 19 others in his ksar, the last Algerian Foggara in June 1987.

Farmer working in his garden

Farid DMS DEBAH

I have already been on location in January 2009 to lead an investigation about the emergence of irrigation systems in the Algerian desert in the region of Adrar. This age-old and undervalued system is the only means of survival for some farmers.

Upon my return to Paris, I tried to find funding to finish my documentary. I thought I'd be able to return to the Sahara desert with a team and filming equipment soon enough, but after several months of fruitless research and trusty partners, I've put my project on a hold.

Today, I hope to be able to prolong this magnificent adventure thanks to you!

I invested 10,000 euros in the project which corresponds with 50% of the total cost of the documentary.

The funding will be used to pay for:

• Renting the film equipment (camera + machinerie + sound + lighting),
• Transport for the team and supplies (Paris/Algeria - Algeria/Paris),
• Meals and lodging for the team
• Filming insurance
• Postproduction costs (image editing + sound editing),
• DVD printing costs
• Development and enlargement of photos and purchase of frames
• Various unforseen expenses

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WILL HELP MAKE THIS MAGNIFICENT PROJECT EXIST

At the age of 20, by means of DMS Productions, I created my first "real" film entitled Venin Mortel" with Elodie Navarre. The story immersed us in the descent to the underworld of a drug addict. The film was successful in numerous festivals, and I decided to write my first full length film, "Nocent".

At the age of 24, he decided to concentrate enritely on his real passion/ cinema. He became lauréat Beaumarchais of the best script in 2002 for his film"Le Génie de la Théière".

For many years, Farid has worked in the creation of a cinema centre in Algeria. Now he would really like to create a link between Europe and the Maghreb, and thus contribute to sharing the experience in the world of arts.

• Farid DMS DEBAH's SHOWREEL 

• ART'N ACTE PRODUCTION (short in 35mm)

• LE BOURREAU DES INNOCENTS (Preview - Film en 35mm)

• MOBILIS (advert in 35mm)

• LUCIE CARRASCO - PARFUM (advert)