Dubai: Emirati walker Jalal Bin Thaneya, who recently concluded a grueling 51-day fundraiser trek from Al Ruwais in west Abu Dhabi to Makkah in Saudi Arabia, will be the subject of a new documentary film, which will premiere at the Gulf Film Festival in April.
Snapshot: A Trekking Man, directed by Tareq Al Dakheelallah from Saudi Arabia, documents a day of Bin Thaneya's 2,000-km walk to raise funds for the Dubai Centre for Special Needs.
In the documentary film, to be screened as part of the Student Competition at the festival, Dakheelallah joins the campaigner for a day, walking beside him to understand what motivated him to undertake such a journey.
Gulf News has been actively following Bin Thaneya's journey, which concluded on January 30, and which was also recognised by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who said he was proud of him.
"I am very happy," Bin Thaneya had said, following the royal acknowledgement. "It provides me with a new burst of motivation. Coming from the Ruler of Dubai, it means a lot."
The 25-year old has undertaken similar campaigns in the past which have seen him walk across all seven emirates in the UAE and climb multiple towers in Dubai to raise awareness for various charities.
The Gulf Film Festival will be held from April 10 to 16 at Dubai Festival City. Now in its fifth year, the festival's mandate is to promote filmmaking talent in the Arabian peninsula. Go to gulffilmfest.com for more.
