"I need to know you are somewhere safe." Gravitas Ventures has debuted an official trailer for Sweetness in the Belly, an adaption of the novel of the same name by Camilla Gibb. This premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year, and is debuting to watch on VOD this month. Sweetness in the Belly tells the moving story of Lilly, an English child abandoned in Africa. Lilly is forced to flee Ethiopia for England when civil war breaks out. She befriends Amina, an Ethiopian refugee who has fled the same war. Together they begin a mission to reunite people with their scattered families. Dakota Fanning co-stars with Wunmi Mosaku, joined by Kunal Nayyar, Gavin Drea, Peter Bankole, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. This looks like a sweet story of kindness and hope in places where there is little to be found. Might be worth a watch after all. Here's the official...
- 5/5/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has taken U.S. rights to 2019 Toronto premiere Sweetness In The Belly, which stars Dakota Fanning in the story of an English child abandoned in Africa.
The distributor will release the film digitally May 8, with theaters set to be closed beyond that date due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Based on the novel by Camilla Gibb, the film was directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari from a script by Laura Phillips. It follows Lilly, who is forced to flee Ethiopia for England when civil war breaks out. She befriends Amina (Wunmi Mosaku), an Ethiopian refugee who has fled the same war.
The distributor will release the film digitally May 8, with theaters set to be closed beyond that date due to the coronavirus pandemic.
More from DeadlineGravitas To Release 'Braking For Whales'; Cinema Guild Sets Date For 'Liberté' - Film BriefsGravitas Ventures Picks Up North American Rights To Documentaries 'Gamemaster' & 'Find Your Groove'Vertical Entertainment Nabs U.S. Rights To 'Run With The Hunted'; Gravitas Lands 'End of Sentence' - Film Briefs
Based on the novel by Camilla Gibb, the film was directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari from a script by Laura Phillips. It follows Lilly, who is forced to flee Ethiopia for England when civil war breaks out. She befriends Amina (Wunmi Mosaku), an Ethiopian refugee who has fled the same war.
- 4/17/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Actress Dakota Fanning found herself in the crosshairs of social media backlash last week, after Twitter learned about her new film, “Sweetness in the Belly,” in which she purportedly plays a “white Ethiopian Muslim.”
‘Sweetness In The Belly’: First Clip Of Dakota Fanning As A White Ethiopian Muslim In Refugee Drama-Romance – Toronto https://t.co/L8ZPRnTIfu pic.twitter.com/8eFCBiv9IQ
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) September 4, 2019
Reactions to the clip and social media post included attacks against Fanning, a nebulous Hollywood machine behind the film, and the filmmaker, who many assumed is white.
Of course, in clickbait culture — where headlines alone drive the narrative around issues — few actually read the articles announcing the project. But even a cursory glance would have informed the average flamethrower regarding a number of key facts:
The film is based on a novel from Canadian author Camilla Gibb. The character Fanning plays is indeed...
‘Sweetness In The Belly’: First Clip Of Dakota Fanning As A White Ethiopian Muslim In Refugee Drama-Romance – Toronto https://t.co/L8ZPRnTIfu pic.twitter.com/8eFCBiv9IQ
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) September 4, 2019
Reactions to the clip and social media post included attacks against Fanning, a nebulous Hollywood machine behind the film, and the filmmaker, who many assumed is white.
Of course, in clickbait culture — where headlines alone drive the narrative around issues — few actually read the articles announcing the project. But even a cursory glance would have informed the average flamethrower regarding a number of key facts:
The film is based on a novel from Canadian author Camilla Gibb. The character Fanning plays is indeed...
- 9/7/2019
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Dakota Fanning is breaking her silence about her controversial new role in her upcoming film Sweetness in the Belly.
The actress, 25, shared a statement on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday to give insight into why she accepted the role of a Muslim woman in the drama. Her statement came on the heels of some users protesting her casting on Twitter believing she had taken the role from black Ethiopian actresses.
“Just to clarify. In the new film I’m a part of, Sweetness in the Belly, I do not play an Ethiopian woman,” Fanning wrote. “I play a British woman...
The actress, 25, shared a statement on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday to give insight into why she accepted the role of a Muslim woman in the drama. Her statement came on the heels of some users protesting her casting on Twitter believing she had taken the role from black Ethiopian actresses.
“Just to clarify. In the new film I’m a part of, Sweetness in the Belly, I do not play an Ethiopian woman,” Fanning wrote. “I play a British woman...
- 9/5/2019
- by Alexia Fernandez
- PEOPLE.com
Dakota Fanning is speaking out amid backlash over her new film, Sweetness in the Belly. The movie, which is based on Camilla Gibb's novel, sparked controversy earlier this week when a preview for the film was released. "First Clip Of Dakota Fanning As A White Ethiopian Muslim In Refugee Drama-Romance," Deadline tweeted Wednesday, along with a still from the movie. In response, many social media users questioned Fanning's casting in the film. Amid the whitewashing allegations, Fanning took to social media to share more details about her character. "Just to clarify. In the new film I'm part of, Sweetness in the Belly, I do not play an Ethiopian woman," the 25-year-old actress wrote...
- 9/5/2019
- E! Online
Dakota Fanning has responded to allegations of whitewashing over her latest role.
In Sweetness in the Belly, adapted from Camilla Gibb's 2005 novel and screening in Toronto, the actress — recently seen as a Manson girl in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood — plays a child refugee who is abandoned in Africa by her parents and raised in Ethiopia as Muslim.
The first clip from the film, directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari, was released earlier this week, and fell foul of several online commentators, who complained on social media that Fanning's role — which ...
In Sweetness in the Belly, adapted from Camilla Gibb's 2005 novel and screening in Toronto, the actress — recently seen as a Manson girl in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood — plays a child refugee who is abandoned in Africa by her parents and raised in Ethiopia as Muslim.
The first clip from the film, directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari, was released earlier this week, and fell foul of several online commentators, who complained on social media that Fanning's role — which ...
Dakota Fanning has responded to allegations of whitewashing over her latest role.
In Sweetness in the Belly, adapted from Camilla Gibb's 2005 novel and screening in Toronto, the actress — recently seen as a Manson girl in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood — plays a child refugee who is abandoned in Africa by her parents and raised in Ethiopia as Muslim.
The first clip from the film, directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari, was released earlier this week, and fell foul of several online commentators, who complained on social media that Fanning's role — which ...
In Sweetness in the Belly, adapted from Camilla Gibb's 2005 novel and screening in Toronto, the actress — recently seen as a Manson girl in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood — plays a child refugee who is abandoned in Africa by her parents and raised in Ethiopia as Muslim.
The first clip from the film, directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari, was released earlier this week, and fell foul of several online commentators, who complained on social media that Fanning's role — which ...
The Ethiopian filmmaker’s new movie is an adaptation of Camilla Gibb’s bestselling novel of the same name. Ethiopian filmmaker Zeresenay “Zee” Berhane Mehari is now working on his second feature, entitled Sweetness in the Belly, based on Camilla Gibb’s 2005 novel of the same name. The helmer’s debut film, entitled Difret, was executive-produced by Angelina Jolie and won the World Cinematic Dramatic Audience Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival as well as the 16th Panorama Audience Award at the Berlinale. The story, adapted for the big screen by Laura Philips, explores an immigrant’s life from a unique perspective and revolves around Lilly Abdal (played by young American actress Dakota Fanning), who was orphaned in Africa as a child and escaped to England as a refugee, fleeing civil war. Once in Europe, Lilly embraces the immigrant community in London, attempting to reunite people with their scattered families.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II didn’t always have his eyes set on being an actor. Long before he was starring in movies about circus oddities and underwater superheroes, he was utilizing his architecture degree from Uc Berkeley and working as a city planner in San Francisco. He left the city planning life behind and attended the Yale School of Drama and went on to appear in Baz Luhrmann’s The Get Down. He has since landed some sweet roles that are prepping him to be the leading man he is meant to be.
In the second episode of New Hollywood Podcast’s Aquaman series, we talked to Abdul-Mateen about his journey from city planner in San Francisco to an actor in Hollywood. Even before the James Wan-directed Aquaman, he starred in several A-list features including Baywatch with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron as well as The Greatest Showman with Hugh Jackman.
In the second episode of New Hollywood Podcast’s Aquaman series, we talked to Abdul-Mateen about his journey from city planner in San Francisco to an actor in Hollywood. Even before the James Wan-directed Aquaman, he starred in several A-list features including Baywatch with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron as well as The Greatest Showman with Hugh Jackman.
- 12/20/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos and Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is set to star opposite Dakota Fanning in the Zeresenay Berhane Mehari-directed Sweetness In The Belly based on the bestselling novel by Camilla Gibb.
Adapted for the screen by Laura Phillips, the film is a powerful love story that explores an immigrant’s life from a unique perspective. In a story that is relevant to today’s cultural landscape, Fanning stars Lilly Abdal (a role which Saoirse Ronan was originally attached), who was orphaned in Africa as a child and escaped to England as a refugee, fleeing civil war. Lost in this cold new world, Lilly embraces the immigrant community in London, attempting to reunite people with their scattered families. However, Lilly’s mission isn’t purely selfless: A passionate lost love affair is revealed between Lilly and Aziz (Abdul-Mateen II), an idealistic doctor. But can Lilly let go of the past?...
Adapted for the screen by Laura Phillips, the film is a powerful love story that explores an immigrant’s life from a unique perspective. In a story that is relevant to today’s cultural landscape, Fanning stars Lilly Abdal (a role which Saoirse Ronan was originally attached), who was orphaned in Africa as a child and escaped to England as a refugee, fleeing civil war. Lost in this cold new world, Lilly embraces the immigrant community in London, attempting to reunite people with their scattered families. However, Lilly’s mission isn’t purely selfless: A passionate lost love affair is revealed between Lilly and Aziz (Abdul-Mateen II), an idealistic doctor. But can Lilly let go of the past?...
- 11/2/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Dakota Fanning is starring in the immigrant drama “Sweetness in the Belly,” which has begun shooting in Ireland and will continue in Ethiopia.
Zeresenay Berhane Mehari is directing from a script by Laura Phillips, adapted from Camilla Gibb’s bestselling novel that explores an immigrant’s life from the unique perspective of being orphaned in Africa as a child, escaping to England as a refugee, embracing the immigrant community in London, and attempting to reunite people with their scattered families — while dealing with a passionate lost love affair with a doctor.
Other cast members include Wunmi Mosaku and Kunal Nayyar (“The Big Bang Theory”). The project was unveiled at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival with Saoirse Ronan initially attached.
Berhane Mehari’s first feature film, “Difret,” was executive produced by Angelina Jolie and won the audience awards at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and in the panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival.
Zeresenay Berhane Mehari is directing from a script by Laura Phillips, adapted from Camilla Gibb’s bestselling novel that explores an immigrant’s life from the unique perspective of being orphaned in Africa as a child, escaping to England as a refugee, embracing the immigrant community in London, and attempting to reunite people with their scattered families — while dealing with a passionate lost love affair with a doctor.
Other cast members include Wunmi Mosaku and Kunal Nayyar (“The Big Bang Theory”). The project was unveiled at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival with Saoirse Ronan initially attached.
Berhane Mehari’s first feature film, “Difret,” was executive produced by Angelina Jolie and won the audience awards at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and in the panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival.
- 11/2/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Zeresenay Berhane Mehari directing project. Entertainment One takes Canada rights.
Dakota Fanning has signed up to play the lead in refugee story Sweetness In The Belly for director Zeresenay Berhane Mehari.
Principal photography gets underway this week in Dublin and will continue in Ethiopia including the Unesco world heritage site Harar Jugol. Further cast include Wunmi Mosaku and Kunal Nayyar.
The film will tell the story of a woman caught between two worlds. Orphaned in Africa as a child, and raised Muslim, Lilly Abdal (Fanning) escapes to England as a refugee, fleeing civil war. Lost in a cold new world,...
Dakota Fanning has signed up to play the lead in refugee story Sweetness In The Belly for director Zeresenay Berhane Mehari.
Principal photography gets underway this week in Dublin and will continue in Ethiopia including the Unesco world heritage site Harar Jugol. Further cast include Wunmi Mosaku and Kunal Nayyar.
The film will tell the story of a woman caught between two worlds. Orphaned in Africa as a child, and raised Muslim, Lilly Abdal (Fanning) escapes to England as a refugee, fleeing civil war. Lost in a cold new world,...
- 11/2/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
The Alienist actress Dakota Fanning has signed on to star in Sweetness in the Belly, an adaptation of the best-selling novel by Camilla Gibb, which Ethiopian filmmaker Zeresenay Berhane Mehari will direct.
Fanning will play Lilly, the child of English hippies who is orphaned when they are murdered and who is raised at a Sufi Islam shrine in Morocco. She embraces the Muslim faith but feels like an outsider in Africa and, fleeing a civil war, escapes to her parents' homeland in England, only to again confront the riddle of who she is and where she belongs. She embraces the immigrant ...
Fanning will play Lilly, the child of English hippies who is orphaned when they are murdered and who is raised at a Sufi Islam shrine in Morocco. She embraces the Muslim faith but feels like an outsider in Africa and, fleeing a civil war, escapes to her parents' homeland in England, only to again confront the riddle of who she is and where she belongs. She embraces the immigrant ...
- 11/2/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The Alienist actress Dakota Fanning has signed on to star in Sweetness in the Belly, an adaptation of the bestselling novel by Camilla Gibb, which Ethiopian filmmaker Zeresenay Berhane Mehari will direct.
Fanning will play Lilly, the child of English hippies who is orphaned when they are murdered and who is raised at a Sufi Islam shrine in Morocco. She embraces the Muslim faith but feels like an outsider in Africa and, fleeing a civil war, escapes to her parents homeland in England, only to again confront the riddle of who she is and where she belongs. She embraces the immigrant ...
Fanning will play Lilly, the child of English hippies who is orphaned when they are murdered and who is raised at a Sufi Islam shrine in Morocco. She embraces the Muslim faith but feels like an outsider in Africa and, fleeing a civil war, escapes to her parents homeland in England, only to again confront the riddle of who she is and where she belongs. She embraces the immigrant ...
- 11/2/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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