Exclusive Preview Screening: Desert Riders

Popular in the Middle East, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, camel racing is a prestigious and lucrative sport.

Wealthy camel owners used boys as young as five or six are as jockeys to gain an advantage in the races. Often, these were children from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mauritania and Sudan who were trafficked or sold by their parents.

The use of children has now been banned, but the suffering of the children is not over. 

Desert Riders includes interviews the children as they face repatriation, their families and the traffickers about how the human smuggling worked, revealing the abuse that went on in the name of entertainment.

A film for all people interested in using film to end human rights atrocities while still taking into consideration the realites of attempting to do so. 

 Directed by: Vic Sarin

Produced and Written by: Noemi Weis

Year: 2011

Running Time: 78′