Brandon Wilson, Alfre Woodard, Soap Collins, Aaron Holliday, and Rapper Mavi Join Maria Belafonte in ‘Pockets of Heaven’
Brandon Wilson, Soap Collins, and Aaron Holliday Star in ‘Pockets of Heaven’
Brandon Wilson (Nickel Boys), model Soap Collins, and Aaron Holliday (Sharp Objects) are headlining Pockets of Heaven, the feature directorial debut of Maria Belafonte, the granddaughter of Hollywood legend and civil rights advocate Harry Belafonte.
Accompanying the trio are Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave), Jonas Gindin (Lurker), and Gilberto Ortiz (Atropia). Additionally, rapper and musician Mavi is making his feature acting debut in this film.
Set against the backdrop of a wildfire evacuation in Los Angeles, Pockets of Heaven centers on three young individuals from vastly different backgrounds: a privileged runaway from rehab, and two unhoused people in their twenties navigating a burn zone. The film examines the delicate interplay between love, addiction, and survival in contemporary Los Angeles.
Co-written by Belafonte and Alexander Zeke Musca, with cinematography by Angel Barroeta, the film concluded principal photography in December in Los Angeles.
Produced by Sofie Hubbard Warshafsky with Glia Productions, along with Belafonte and Musca under their New Wrinkle Films banner, the project has executive producers including Gina Belafonte from Sankofa.org and Jason Wiesenfeld.
The film is developed in partnership with Help USA and supported by The People Concern to ensure authentic community engagement and representation of unhoused narratives. Post-production is anticipated to conclude in the summer of 2026.
Maria Belafonte is a graduate of New York University’s Gallatin School for Individualized Study. Her previous work encompasses music videos and commercials, and she serves as the creative director of the nonprofit organization Sankofa.org.
