Cast and Crew

Cherno Jagne, Writer, Director, Producer

Cherno Jagne is an actor, writer and producer whose work spans theatre, film and social justice advocacy.

The Backway marks his debut as a writer, director and producer, signalling a bold new chapter in his creative practice, and he also stars in the film as Momodou, anchoring the story with a deeply intimate and restrained performance that foregrounds the emotional cost of migration, return and shame.

A Meisner‑trained actor, Cherno made his West End debut in the critically acclaimed production The Jungle, which received widespread praise for its urgency, humanity and ensemble performances.

Alongside his creative work, Cherno brings a strong background in human rights and refugee advocacy, having previously worked at leading international law firm Doughty Street Chambers and the global charity Choose Love.

His work is driven by a commitment to storytelling that foregrounds lived experience, dignity and justice.

Babou Ceesay, Producer

Babou Ceesay is a British‑Gambian actor whose work spans acclaimed film, television and theatre in the UK and internationally.

Known for his powerful, emotionally grounded performances, he received a BAFTA nomination for his portrayal of Richard Taylor in Damilola, Our Loved Boy and has appeared in a wide range of major productions including Guerrilla, Into the Badlands, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Eye in the Sky.

More recently, Babou has received widespread acclaim for his role in the sci‑fi drama series Alien: Earth. He will also shortly be appearing in Netflix’s upcoming thriller series Black Doves, as well as HBO’s Game of Thrones spin‑off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Born in London and raised partly in West Africa, Babou trained at the Oxford School of Drama and brings a deep cultural authenticity to roles that explore identity, displacement and family. In The Backway, he plays Alieu, delivering a nuanced and compelling performance at the emotional heart of the film’s exploration of migration, sacrifice and return.

Cinematographer

Alain Philippe Cross

Executive Producer

Shereener Browne 

Original Music by:

Adriano Aponte

Edited by:

Monika Radwanska

Cast

Mariama Colley

Sheikh Tijan Sonko

Sheriffo Kanute

Julia Czatoryski

George Petreanu

Assan jobe

First Assistant Director

Chinua Taylor Johnson

Associate Producer:

Vivian Bintou Adams

PR:

Will Taylor, Organic PR

Sound Recordist:                          

James Thomson

Second Unit Sound Recordist:   

Oumar Traoré

Sound Design:                                

Owen Shirley and Owen Peters  

Colourist:                                         

Paul Ensby

First AC:                                           

Abdoulie Jarju

Second AC:                                      

Malick Jammeh

Make Up Artist:                             

Lady Mariama King

Digital Imaging Technician         

& Behind the Scenes:

Rene Moses Ceesay

Assistant Digital Imaging            

Moses Gomez

Technician:

Ismaila Badjan

Gaffer:                                              

Haruna Sonko

Electric:   

Zilber Jatta                                

Grip:   

Muhammad Jabel Sanneh                                                       

Runner:                                            

Symdiel Palmer

Script Editor:                                  

Rachid Sabitri

Catering Manager:                        

Fatoumatta Baldeh

Poster Designer:                            

David Colon

Lighting Equipment                      

STS Pictures

Sugarland

Camera Equipment                       

Dominic Ellis

Sean Delahay

Production Insurance                   

Performance Film & Media Insurance

Additional Post House                 

Directors Cut

Pictureshop

Musician:                                         

Mafu Conteh

Drone Shots by:                            

Rene Moses Ceesay

Synth Programming                      

Adriano Aponte

Guitar and Bouzuki                       

Matteo Nahum

Duduk and Fula Flute                   

Sandro Friedrich

Alto Flute                                         

Luis Vilca

Violin by                                          

Katrin Romanova

Violoncello                                      

Mario Mortiz

Percussions                                     

Hugh Wilkinson

Voice by                                           

Stefania Secci Rosa

French Horn                                    

Tadas B

Additional percussions                

Adriano Aponte

Featured Extras

Modou Jammeh, Seedy Colley, Modou Chune, Alhassan Janneh, Ousman Njet, Momodou Lamin NK Minteh, Sinou Gomez

Extras on Beach

Musa Gaye, Musa Jatta, Momodou Jallow, Edrissa Jallow, Joseph Gibba, Ibrahim Prosper Baturo, David Mendy, Alpha Jatta, Oliver Jatta, Joseph E Jatta, Tamsir Jatta, Kebba Saho, Alfred Mendy, Muhammed Sanyang, Omar Jawo, Alhaji Faye, Alagie Kuyateh, Abubacarr Jobe, Sinou Gomez, Lamin Conteh, Momodou Salif Jallow, Sillah Abubacarr

Special Thanks

Lawrence Gregory, Adam Wagner, Liam Walker, Vinod Mahindru, Dav Patel, Mairead Reynolds, Steven Powles, Nicholas Angelet, Dominic Preston, Robin Oppenheim, Katy Thorne, Joe Middleton, David Lan, Elise Groulx Diggs, Mohammed Faal, Claire Wisson, Yasin Jagne, Omar Nget, Harpal Deol, Omar Davis, Zahra Al-Rikabi, Elham Ehsas, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Tublu Mukherjee, Sue Sleeman,