25/06/2025 - The Cypriot director’s second feature explores the bond between two women on the margins of society, set against a raw and emotionally charged backdrop of displacement and resilience

Director Tonia Mishiali (second from left) on the set of The Lion at My Back (© Christos Hadjichristou)

Principal photography is now under way on The Lion at My Back (formerly titled Nala & Stella), the sophomore feature by Cypriot filmmaker Tonia Mishiali. Following her critically acclaimed debut, Pause [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tonia Mishiali
film profile], Mishiali returns with a story about the transformative bond between two marginalised women, exploring themes of resilience and survival.

The Lion at My Back follows Mariama, a spirited Senegalese asylum seeker who turns 18 and must leave the shelter that once protected her, stepping into a world fraught with uncertainty. Far from her homeland, she crosses paths with Stella, a 40-year-old Cypriot woman quietly rebuilding her life. As they navigate a precarious landscape marked by marginalisation and survival, a deep and unexpected bond forms between them. When forces from the past threaten everything they have built, both women must confront impossible odds to protect what matters most. Their connection becomes a lifeline, challenging the limits of loyalty, sacrifice and trust.

Known for her emotionally charged, socially engaged storytelling, Mishiali wrote and directed the film, co-penning the script with Dianne Jones and Simona Nobile. The lead roles are played by emerging Senegalese actress Sokhna Diarra Diallo as Mariama and seasoned Cypriot actress Eleni Kallinikou as Stella. The supporting cast includes Prokopis Agathokleous as The Suit and Erodotos Miltiadous as Pantelis. There are additional appearances by Anna Giagkiozi, Marina Mandri, Eleni Sidera, Paris Erotokritou, Vasilis Charalambous and Athena Roditou, among others.

The film is being shot on 16 mm, lending a raw, intimate texture to its storytelling. The crew includes director of photography Manu Tilinski (Wasted Youth), production designer Christy Polydorou (Smaragda: I Got Thick Skin and I Can't Jump [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), costume designer Elena Katsouri and editor Emilios Avraam (Pause).

"With The Lion at My Back, I wanted to explore the resilience and quiet heroism of women who have been cast aside by society yet find unexpected strength in one another. It’s a film about survival and the family we choose. I’m proud to be working with long-time collaborators and an international team that shares this vision," commented Mishiali. “This film reflects my ongoing commitment to telling stories that challenge stereotypes and give voice to the unseen. Through Mariama and Stella’s journey, I examine how connection and empathy can transcend the hardships imposed by society.”

The Lion at My Back is a Cypriot–Luxembourgish–Greek co-production staged by Mishiali for Cyprus’s Bark Like a Cat Films, with Katarzyna Ozga and Nicolas Steil for Luxemburg-based Iris Productions, and Marinos Charalambous and Vladimiros Subotic, of Avaton Films in Greece. The project is supported by the Deputy Ministry of Culture – Department of Contemporary Culture of Cyprus, the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center SA – CREATIVE GREECE, Film Fund Luxembourg and Creative Europe – MEDIA. The film is slated to premiere in 2026, and is currently seeking festival, sales and post-production partners.