ABOUT THE FILM
A documentary team followed the extraordinary journey of Khadijah Mellah who made global headlines and sporting history by becoming the first British Muslim woman to ride in and win a British horse race.
Following a high-profile premiere in London, attended by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, the documentary was aired three times by ITV to a cumulative audience in excess of 2 million with the film and Khadijah Mellah’s story attracting over 2000 pieces of global coverage.
Watch the full film here.
Press Coverage
“Riding A Dream is a highly enjoyable outsider story with a serious point at its core about racing’s need to make itself approachable for entire communities that know it not. ...I loved the way Riding a Dream introduces the sport with moments of drama rapidly intercut like something from Oliver Stone’s high-powered NFL drama Any Given Sunday.” (The Guardian)
GUARDIAN - Documentary reveals drama behind Khadijah Mellah's win
BBC SPORT - Khadijah Mellah: The history-making teen & the Brixton club trying to open up racing
EVENING STANDARD Star jockey Khadijah Mellah: I’m glad to challenge stereotype of Muslim women
THE TELEGRAPH How Khadijah Mellah rode to victory at Goodwood – and became an inspiration to other Muslim girls
THE TIMES Khadijah Mellah Interview: Meet Britain’s first hijab-wearing Jockey
CNN 'Role model' Khadijah Mellah delivers 'fairytale' win at Goodwood
The Filmmakers
Tommy Bolwell – Director and Producer Tommy studied photography with Mattia Reiniger at London College of Communication, and they have been collaborating ever since. He began his film career in 2011, shooting the first episode of multi award- winning web series, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, winning SXSW Grand Jury Award, 2012. Just before Riding a Dream, he worked with Ed Perkins on BLACK SHEEP which was nominated for an Oscar, at the 91st Academy Awards, 2019, for best Short Documentary.
Mattia Reiniger – Director and Producer Having graduated from the University of the Arts London with a degree in photography, Mattia soon chose a career in the field of moving image. As a filmmaker he has directed advertising and branded content for a variety of clients such as eBay, Sony, Swarovski, Olympus, M&S and, in the role of documentarian, was embedded in the Nike Football Academy, where he created weekly videos exploring the challenging path in the life of a young footballer, from amateur to professional.
Our Partners
GBR - Great British Racing is the sport’s official marketing and promotional body, working with all of racing’s stakeholders. Our objective is to grow interest and participation in horseracing – via racecourse attendance, television viewing, racehorse ownership and a lot more. We believe that horseracing offers something for everyone! Through our online channels we aim to get you closer to the sport and provide you with more insight into racing. We want to cater for all fans – whether aficionados or beginners.
Riding A Dream was produced in association with Great British Racing, The Racing Foundation & Goodwood Racecourse.
Ebony Horse Club - The Ebony Horse Club in Brixton is unique in London - a riding school in one of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. It uses young people’s interaction with horses as a tool for social change. This sense of inclusion, responsibility and structure gives young men and women the ability to develop confidence and better decision making in their own lives.