David Leon is known as an actor, starring in renowned photographer Rankin’s directoral debut The Lives of the Saints and Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla. David’s short film Man and Boy won Best Narrative Short at the Tribeca Film Festival. He is a Screen Star of Tomorrow and Orthodox is his directorial feature debut which premieres at UKJFF 2015. Leon will take part in the Q&A after the screening.
Rebecca Callard has worked in theatre, television and film for over two decades. She has starred in The Borrowers, Ordinary Lies and Blackout for the BBC, as well as appearing on stage in the lead for Antigone and Romeo & Juliet directed by Judi Dench. Callard takes part in the Q&A after the premiere of Orthodox.
Michael Smiley initially started his career as a successful comedian, and has now worked in film for over a decade. He won Best Supporting Actor at the British Independent Film Awards for Ben Wheatley’s Kill List, and will be seen in upcoming productions The Lobster by Yorgos Lanthimos, and Black Sea by Kevin MacDonald. Smiley will take part in the Q&A after the premiere of Orthodox.
Christopher Fairbank trained at RADA and has a distinguished career in film, television and theatre. Best known for his role as Albert Moxey in the classic TV comedy-drama Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Fairbank also has featured roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Fifth Element and Alien³. Fairbank will take part in a Q&A after the screening of Orthodox.
Giacomo Mancini burst to fame playing the role of Gem in the Channel 4 series Top Boy. He went on to play roles in Ripper Street and stars in Orthodox. He will next be seen in the major motion picture Pan alongside Hugh Jackman. Mancini will take part in the Q&A after the premiere of Orthodox at UKJFF 2015.
“David Leon’s subversion of the classic sports drama is refreshing.” – The Upcoming
London’s criminal underbelly and Haredi Jewish community collide in this compelling debut feature from British director David Leon. Ben is a struggling kosher butcher by day and a successful backstreet boxer by night, but his luck is running out. Money becomes increasingly scarce, forcing him to resort to desperate and dangerous measures. Outstanding, nuanced performances from Stephen Graham (Ben) and Rebecca Callard (his wife) are at the heart of this disturbingly bleak portrait of disintegrating urban lives.
