LOST BOYS
FEATURE FILMTwo weeks before graduating his orphanage, an unadopted Ethiopian boy must choose between his younger brother and the adventurous world of gang life.
Think SHORT TERM 12 meets SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE… produced by real orphanage graduates.
Written & Directed by: Josh Leong | Abel Engdayehu (Why Not Pictures)
Executive Produced by: Mehret Mandefro | Zeresenay Berhane Mehari (A51 Pictures)
Based on the proof-of-concept short THE OTHER SIDE, streaming on Peacock and featured on The TODAY Show, starring Ethan Herisse from Amazon MGM’s Oscar®-nominated NICKEL BOYS (Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay) and Ava DuVernay’s Emmy®-winning Netfix series WHEN THEY SEE US.
LINKS
“A breathtaking, singular vision of desperation and hope, LOST BOYS brings the story of two brothers and their dreams to life with nuance and heart.”
- The Black List
AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS
Semifinalist – 2023 Academy Nicholl Fellowship (Top 2%)
1st Place – 2024 The Black List Recommended (Overall Score: 9/10)
Semifinalist – 2025 Writers Guild Initiative Michael Collyer Fellowship
Shortlist – 2025 Sundance Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship
Quarterfinalist – 2024 Final Draft Big Break Competition (Ongoing)
Top 3% – 2024 Coverfly Annual List
Shortlist – 2023 The Black List Lab
Semifinalist – 2022 Sundance Development Track
Selected Script – 2022 Bad Robot Feature Program
Semifinalist – 2021 Sundance Creative Producing Lab
Selected Script – 2021 MACRO Feature Screenplay Incubator
Selected Script – WarnerMedia Writer Pipeline
Selected Script – FREE THE WORK Pipeline Initiative
PITCH DECK
To download PDF, please click here.
PRESS / INTERVIEWS
THE OTHER SIDE x NBCUniversal, Presented by Target
PREVIOUS WORK IN ETHIOPIA
2018 – 2021
IMPACT COMPANION GUIDE
For viewers of THE OTHER SIDE.
