Argent Pictures Backs Otto Bell’s The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu Doc

Director Otto Bell (The Eagle Huntress) is behind a new documentary inspired by the New York Times bestseller The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts, which Argent Pictures is financing and producing with Cove Pictures.

The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu, written by Joshua Hammer about one of the greatest and most daring cultural evacuations in history, tells the story of how the titular librarians saved ancient texts of Africa’s written history from Al Qaeda. Led by adventurer and collector Abdel Kader Haidara, a band of brave librarians salvaged tens of thousands of ancient manuscripts, smuggling them out of the city before it was too late.

Bell’s documentary includes original vignettes shot on location in Timbuktu, jihadi content filmed by Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, newsreel and TV archival footage, as well as footage from citizen journalists taken during the 300 days of jihadi occupation (April 2012 to January 2013) that the film zeroes in on.

Argent Pictures’ Jill Ahrens said: “The story of the librarians and the hundreds of thousands of books they sought to preserve is a truly heroic act. We all need more stories like this, which will not only inspire audiences around the world but reinforce how critical the preservation of historical identity and heritage is for current and future generations.”

Producer Idil Ibrahim added: “Otto and I are very grateful to Abdel Kader and his network for sharing this astonishing story with us. This band of scholars made history by saving history. Sadly, Mali remains under constant threat. We hope the film will provide a cause for celebration while also shining a light on Africa’s rich, but all-to-often silenced heritage and global intellectual contributions.”

Cove Pictures’ Dame Heather Rabbatts said: “This film of a heist conceived and executed by an unlikely band of librarians against the stunning backdrop of the legendary Timbuktu is one of the most inspiring of our time.”