Benjamin Gilmour, a Sydney-based ambulance officer, became interested in filmmaking while working as a unit nurse on UK film sets. In 2004 Gilmour based himself in Pakistan for eight months of pre-production, making contacts and building relationships. He learnt some basic Pashto, and developed the invaluable collaboration with Executive Producer Hayat Khan Shinwari. In 2006 he returned to complete filming of Son of a Lion.