KRATEN- El charfia documentary teaser (shot on

Last summer, seeking respite from the mainland's bustle, I found myself in the Kerkennah archipelago, where the sea whispers ancient stories through its shallow waters. What began as a personal retreat transformed into an encounter with one of the islands' most remarkable storytellers – Karim Ben Chikha, known locally as "the island's drone artist."
I met Karim in a local coffee shop, where islanders spoke of him with a mixture of pride and admiration. Through his drone's eye, he had been capturing daily life on the island, offering perspectives that even lifelong residents had never seen. But it wasn't until our conversations deepened that I discovered the profound purpose driving his work.
Karim's story is one of transformation and resilience. Living with muscle atrophy, he navigates life from a motorized wheelchair. Yet, he adamantly refuses to be defined by his physical limitations. Instead, he has found his voice through the humming wings of his drone, becoming the first person to reveal a hidden treasure that had been lying in plain sight for millennia – the magnificent geometric patterns of El Charfiya, a UNESCO-registered fishing technique that has sustained the island's community for generations.
The moment Karim first shared his drone footage with the local fishermen, something magical happened. These seasoned mariners, who had worked the Charfiya their entire lives, stood in awe. From above, their traditional fishing structures resembled ancient Roman symbols, a perfect marriage of function and form that they had created but never fully seen. This revelation transformed their perspective of their own heritage.
What struck me most was Karim's mission. As the son and grandson of Charfiya fishermen, he carries a deep connection to this tradition. While his condition prevents him from physically participating in the fishing practice, he has found a powerful alternative – documenting this cultural heritage from a vantage point that no one before him had explored. His drone isn't just a tool; it's his bridge to his family's legacy.
Understanding the profound significance of Karim's work, I knew I had to help bring his vision to a broader audience. This wasn't just about documenting a fishing technique; it was about capturing a son's tribute to his father and grandfather, a gift to his community, and a preservation of cultural heritage for future generations, including his own daughter.
Our documentary, "El Charfiya - KRATEN," is more than a film project. It's a collaboration that weaves together the threads of tradition, technology, and personal triumph. Through Karim's unique aerial perspective, combined with intimate ground-level footage, we're creating a visual poem that celebrates both the ancient wisdom of the Charfiya and the innovative spirit that keeps traditions alive.
As we continue filming through the winter months, each drone shot reveals new patterns, each interview uncovers deeper connections, and each day reinforces what an honor it is to help Karim craft his life's work. Through his lens, the Charfiya isn't just a fishing method – it's a symbol of resilience, adaptation, and the enduring bond between a people and their heritage.
In an age where traditional practices often fade into history, Karim's work reminds us that sometimes, we need to gain distance to see what's closest to our hearts. From his unique vantage point, he's not just documenting the past; he's helping his community see their heritage in a new light, ensuring that this piece of cultural brilliance continues to inspire future generations.
Behind the visual poetry of our documentary lies a carefully chosen suite of tools that allows us to capture El Charfiya from every possible angle. Karim's mastery of the DJI Mavic 4 Mini drone reveals the magnificent geometric patterns from above, while our ground team employs Fuji XT4 and Sony A7 IV cameras to capture the intimate human moments. Beneath the surface, a GoPro Hero 11 documents the rich marine life that thrives around these ancient structures. This combination of perspectives – aerial, terrestrial, and underwater – mirrors the three-dimensional nature of the Charfiya itself, where sky, land, and sea converge in an age-old dance of sustainable fishing.
This is more than a documentary project – it's a testament to how limitations can spark innovation, and how love for one's heritage can find expression in unexpected ways. Through Karim's eyes, we're all invited to see the extraordinary in what we might have taken for granted, and to recognize that our traditions, like the geometric patterns of the Charfiya, are most beautiful when viewed from new perspectives.