64 Minutes | Egypt, Germany 2023

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.

The film premiered internationally at the Film Festival della Lessinia in Italy, where it won the FUTURE Award, and it was selected for international film markets like IDFA 2023 and Vision du Réel 2024.