About this project

**WE DID IT! We reached our initial goal!!! But it's not over yet!**

We still have time to continue to raise funds.

DONATIONS MADE NOW ARE NO LESS IMPORTANT THAN ONES MADE BEFORE THE GOAL. Every dollar counts. The more we raise, the more we can do with the film!

Thank you all so much for all of your support!

-Justin, Carrie, and Lauren

ABOUT THE PROJECT

"Zabaleen" (or "Garbage Collector") is the story of Mourad and his family. Mourad and his sons are garbage collectors and all of the families income is generated by the garbage they collect each day. They live on the outskirts of Cario called Manshayet Nasser (or more commonly known as "Garbage City").

Manshayet Nasser is home to about 70,000 people. No matter their religion, they are all the same. They are all garbage collectors. They all live off of the 15,000 tons of garbage produced by Cairo's 17.8 million residents daily. 

This film chronicles the daily life and hardships faced by Mourad and his family of 11. The massive obstacles put forth by their government, religious tensions, and a looming revolution that will change their lives forever.

This is a story of patience, love, and resilience.

WHAT WE FUNDRAISE FOR

We have launched this Kickstarter campaign in order to raise money to complete the film. Your contribution will help us to go to the final phases of the film. With your support, we will be able to complete this film and distribute it to festivals and elsewhere.

This film has been made 100% independently and we have received no funding from any other sources.

HOW IT WORKS

Your identity as a donor, and how much you donated, will not be shared publicly on the Kickstarter campaign page if you do not wish.
If our goal of $15,000 isn’t met before the deadline, we don't receive any of the pledges. Your credit or debit card will not be charged.
We can accept funding from all over the world, and if we receive more than $15,000--the excess will go into distribution costs. The more we raise, the more resources we will have to make the best impact we can with this film.

WHY WE MADE THIS FILM

Producer, Lauren McCarthy, visited Manshayet Nasser in 2006. With her roots in Documentary Photography, she saw a beauty in the area that was often over looked. The vibrant colors, the neatly organized piles of plastic yellow chairs, and the faces of the people- the area spoke to her.

In 2009, she met Carrie Vermillion (Producer) and Justin Kramer (Director and Cinematographer) and told them about the area. After doing countless hours of research on the area, they decided to go and begin filming the stories of the people who inhabit Manshayet Nasser.

Through arranged interviews and chance meetings, we stumbled upon Mourad and his family. We were instantly drawn to them. Even though they lived in the smallest, most rundown house in the area, they were rich with more passion and love than anyone we had met. 

They invited us into their homes and after a few meetings, we were a part of the family. Mourad opened up about everything from marriage to the impending doom of the zabaleen living in Manshayet Nasser.

During these meetings, we uncovered tales of extreme hardship and trials that were jeopardizing the livelihood of Mourad and his family. His perseverance and attitude toward the survival of his family touched us very deeply.

After 2 and a half years of filming, a story of perseverance in the face of the most intense adversity shone through. Its a story of survival and a universal tale of a man who would stop at nothing to save his family and the home they shared.

If you have any questions about "Zabaleen", please feel free to email us at anytime via Kickstarter or emailing us directly at zabaleenproject@gmail.com.

To learn more about the film, please visit our blog at http://zabaleen.wordpress.com 

Shukran | Thank you!

Justin Kramer