Director: Karim Ali
Producer: Abdullah Mostafa
Executive Producer: Mohamed Salama
Production Companies: Rolling Narratives (Germany), The Yellow Vee (Egypt), 2023

SYNOPSIS:

Deep in the deserts of South Sinai, Egypt, a centuries-old Bedouin tradition continues—camel racing. But behind the spectacle of speed and competition lies a hidden reality: the lives of the young jockeys who risk everything to participate.

The Children Behind Zalaga follows a group of boys, some as young as seven, who are thrust into the demanding world of professional camel racing. Trained rigorously and often forced to forgo education, these children ride not just for glory but for survival—earning money to support their families while enduring grueling physical and emotional challenges.

Through intimate storytelling and breathtaking cinematography, the documentary offers unprecedented access to the lives of these young racers, their families, and the investors who fuel this high-stakes sport. It explores the ethical complexities surrounding child labor, tradition, and modernity, raising important questions about the price of heritage and the sacrifices made in its name.

Premiering internationally at the Film Festival della Lessinia in Italy, where it won the FUTURE Award, and selected for international film markets like IDFA 2023 and Vision du Réel 2024, The Children Behind Zalagais a gripping and emotional journey into a world rarely seen, told through the eyes of the children at its heart.