Victoria provides a stunning backdrop to the highly anticipated adaptation of Saroo Brierley’s memoir A Long Way Home with the majority of the shoot shared between India and Melbourne’s CBD and inner city suburbs including Parkville, Northcote, Carlton North and Elwood.
Lion is the feature film debut of Melbourne director Garth Davis. He worked with award-winning screenwriter/author Luke Davies, local production designer Chris Kennedy and Melbourne-born cinematographer Greig Fraser who brought the story to life on screen.
Garth has recently been nominated for two Directors Guild of America awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2016 and Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First Time Feature Film Director for 2016.
Lion has been produced by Emile Sherman and Iain Canning of See-Saw Films with Angie Fielder of Aquarius Films. Melbourne’s award-winning post production facilities were also on display with Soundfirm, DDP Studios and Iloura all showcasing their expertise on the feature.
The remarkable true story stars Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel alongside Rooney Mara, David Wenham and Sunny Pawar who plays the role of young Saroo. It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before its US cinema release in November 2016. It was nominated for five BAFTA awards along with for four Golden Globe Awards including Best Motion Picture – Drama. Melbourne production designer Chris Kennedy recieved a nomination for the Art Directors Guild Award. Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel were nominated for their performances and are both in the running for a Screen Actors Guild award.
Lion was supported through Film Victoria’s Production Incentive Attraction Fund and will be released in cinemas on 19 January.
Images courtesy of Mark Rogers
