Canadian Story Abducted by Al Qaeda in the Sahara, New Filming on the Island

Fuerteventura is hosting the shoot of the Canadian film Le Sablier (The Hourglass), directed by Oscar‑nominated filmmaker Kiym Nguyen. The production, backed by the Canadian company Item 7, will spend €1.6 million on the island.

Production details

• Duration: 27 days of filming, almost entirely on location in Fuerteventura.
• Filming sites: the municipalities of La Oliva and Puerto del Rosario.
• Co‑production: French company Noodles Production; local services provided by Fasten Films.
• Employment impact: about 50 jobs created, ranging from permanent staff to temporary crew.

“Hosting a production of this caliber is a great opportunity for our island,” said Lola García, President of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura.

“The economic ripple effect and the jobs generated are significant for our community,” added Nereida Calero, Deputy Director of the Fuerteventura Film Commission.

About the film

Le Sablier is based on the true story of Édith Blais, a Canadian woman who was held captive for 450 days by jihadist forces in the Sahara desert, alongside her Italian boyfriend Luca Tacchetto.

Edith’s ordeal

• Background: Blais, from Sherbrooke, Quebec, was traveling with Tacchetto to Togo for a volunteer project when they were abducted by Al Qaeda‑linked militants in the Maghreb.
• Captivity: The couple was moved repeatedly across the desert to avoid detection.
• Escape: In March 2020 they fled their captors, trekking through the desert until a United Nations patrol in Mali (near the Burkina Faso border) rescued them.
• Aftermath: Upon returning to Canada, Blais authored the memoir Le Sablier (The Hourglass), recounting how poetry helped her maintain sanity during the ordeal.

The film will bring Edith’s harrowing experience to the big screen, highlighting both personal resilience and the broader challenges of terrorism in the Sahara region.