Synopsis
Eaten by Lions tells the heart-warming story of half-brothers Omar (Antonio Aakeel) and Pete (Jack Carroll), who were raised by their Grandma after their parents were tragically killed by lions in a bizarre accident. When their beloved Gran passes away, they embark on a life-changing journey to find Omar’s real dad (Asim Chaudhry). What follows is a funny and touching journey of self-discovery for both boys… in Blackpool. The Choudray family represent a truly contemporary example of modern multicultural Britain, but what will the brothers make of their eccentric newfound family?
Technical Information
2018; United Kingdom; Comedy, Coming of Age; 95 minutes; DCP, ProRes; 2,35:1 (16:9); 5.1 mix, Stereo; Original Language: English
DIRECTOR
Jason Wingard
WRITER
David Isaac, Jason Wingard
D.O.P.
Matt North
EDITOR
Andrew McKee
MUSIC
Dan Baboulene
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Martin Butterworth
PRODUCER
Hannah Stevenson
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Wingarm
Antonio Aakeel
Omar
Jack Carroll
Pete
Asim Chaudhry
Irfan
Johnny Vegas
Ray
Vicky Pepperdine
Ellen
Kevin Eldon
Ken
Jason Wingard
Eaten by Lions is Jason’s second feature film. His first feature In Another Life won
Best UK Feature at Raindance 2017 and picked up the BIFA Discovery award.
Jason’s short film accolades have included, Grand Prize Virgin Media Shorts 2011, Virgin
Media Shorts People’s Choice award 2010 best sitcom pilot COFILMIC 2014 and UNESCO
Bradford City of film filmmaker of the year 2015. His BFI-funded short film Going to Mecca
played at Palm Springs, Rio and Berlin. He has also produced two short films for
Creative England I-SHORTS.
Aakeel was born in Wolverhampton, England, to Indian parents and moved around the West Midlands as a child where he began acting in local theatre. He turned down an opportunity to attend the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in favour of leading a national theatre tour of Anna Perera’s bestselling novel, Guantanamo Boy. Antonio won his small screen debut in the BAFTA award-winning drama series Skins (2007) after applying to a nationwide campaign seeking new acting talent. This was closely followed by roles in Independent features and Television including a leading role in the critically acclaimed BBC One Drama Moving On: Eighteen (2016), which won Best Daytime programme at the Royal Television Society Awards in 2018.
He’s gained several supporting film roles and was cast as Nitin alongside Oscar winner Alicia Vikander in Warner Bros’ Tomb Raider (2018) reboot, establishing himself as one of Britain’s fast emerging talents. In 2019, he was cast as the flamboyant and reckless Rafe, a series regular in Starz and BBC One’s drama series Dublin Murders (2019) directed by Saul Dibb.
It was announced he will next lead the upcoming feature Granada Nights as Ben, an uncultured British-tourist struggling to overcome heartbreak in the Spanish province.
EATEN BY LIONS is a warm and surreally comic film, starring an array of British comedy talent. Overall, the film celebrates the kind of heart-warming multiculturalism that we knew during the Summer Olympics era in London in 2012. People’s families may be a bit dysfunctional; their behaviour may be eccentric or even strange beyond words, but underneath they’re all quite good-hearted really. (Alexa Dalby)
The film is shot beautifully too, which made a very pleasant and welcome surprise. Director Jason Wingard knows how to frame a shot and some scenes are gorgeous to watch. If you are looking for a break from Hollywood blockbusters EATEN BY LIONS dutifully obliges. (Entertainment Focus)
