The Lion At My Back
The Lion At My Back | fiction/feature | Cyprus/Luxembourg/Greece | drama | (in production)
Created, Written and Directed by Tonia Mishiali
When teenage African asylum seeker Mariama crosses paths with adult Cypriot recovering drug addict Stella, their shared struggle for survival leads to an unexpected bond. Together, they redefine the true meaning of love and family in a heartwarming tale of an unlikely alliance.
Our Film’s previous working title was “Nala and Stella”
Principal Photography Starts on June 10th 2025
for 31 days
Funding News
The film has been funded for development by the European Union’s Creative Europe MEDIA Program
Bark like a cat films has been funded for development, for 3 films it is producing (including “Nala and Stella”) through Creative Europe’s program MEDIA mini slate.
Selections
Crossroads Co-Production Forum
Nala and Stella has been selected to participate in the Crossroads CoPro Forum amongst a selection of 17 projects from Southeastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean region, which will take place online, during the Thessaloniki International Film Festival (November 5-15, 2020).
In the press
Credits
CREATOR / MAIN WRITER / DIRECTOR Tonia Mishiali
MAIN CAST Sokhna Diallo, Elena Kallinikou, Prokopis Agathokleous, Erodotos Miltiadous
MAIN PRODUCER Tonia Mishiali / Bark Like A Cat Films
CO-PRODUCERS Katarzyna Ozga & Nicolas Steil / Iris Productions (Luxembourg), Marinos Charalambous & Vladimir Subotic / Avaton Films (Greece)
CINEMATOGRAPHER Manu Tilinski
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Christy Polydorou
ART DIRECTOR Yiorgos Yiannou
CO-WRITERS Dianne Jones, Simona Nobile