Completed - ENGLISH, Other - Documentary - 78 minutes
Desert Riders is the story of some of the thousands of boys trafficked to the Middle East to work as camel jockeys from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mauritania and Sudan.With stunning visuals, it illuminates the mysterious beauty of the Middle East featuring the children in a bold and compelling way.
Year of production : 2011 Director(s) : Vic SARIN Writer(s) : Noemi WEIS Producer(s) : Noemi WEIS (Filmblanc)
Camel racing is a popular sport in the Middle East. In past years, thousands of young boys have been trafficked from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mauritania and other countries to work as jockeys in the UAE under excruciating conditions. Over the last 10 years, some governments have tried to put an end to the use of child jockeys. Desert Riders will examine the situation before and since these government policies were enacted, as well as the difficult journey to retrieve and recuperate these children.
Country(ies) : CANADA Financing plan : Documentary Channel (CBC); TV5 (Quebec); Rogers; Java Films; CMF Start of shooting : January 2010