Minding Sand
Globally, sand is the most extracted resource by volume after water. It is cheap, secure, and fast. The mineral is not typically associated with having value, is seemingly everywhere, and has not been given the same attention as other forms of resource extraction.This film follows the sand mining industry on the beach of Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Sand mining, along with the melting ice caps and natural erosion, creates the conjunction that leads to the fast disappearance of beaches. The government of Sierra Leone is attempting to curb mining activities as it strives to “rebrand” the country as a desirable tourist destination, with its tropical beaches being a key asset. Yet development also means building infrastructure and buildings. Which means concrete, cement, and bricks, all of which are made from sand. This is where an interesting tension lies. How can these two realities co-exist? We follow the lives of fishermen and miners as they try to navigate a changing beach, and the challenges that come with it.
Upcoming screenings
FIFEQ - International Ethnographic Film Festival of Quebec, May 10th 2025
Past screenings
ASA2025: Critical Junctions. April 2025
Eyes & Lenses, Warschau. November, 2024
33rd International Festival of Ethnological Film, Belgrade. December, 2024
Ethnofest, Athens. November, 2024
Visual Encounters - Amsterdam. November , 2024