Brandon Wilson, Alfre Woodard, Rapper Mavi Set For 'Pockets Of Heaven'

The feature is the directorial debut of Maria Belafonte, granddaughter of Hollywood icon and civil rights trailblazer Harry Belafonte.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:05pm

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Brandon Wilson, model Soap Collins, and Aaron Holliday are starring in Pockets of Heaven, the feature directorial debut of Maria Belafonte. Joining the ensemble are Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard, along with Jonas Gindin and Gilberto Ortiz. Rapper-musician Mavi is making his feature acting debut in the film. Set against the backdrop of a Los Angeles wildfire evacuation, the film follows three young people from vastly different worlds as their lives intertwine.

Why it matters

This film marks the directorial debut of Maria Belafonte, the granddaughter of legendary actor and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte. It explores themes of love, addiction, and survival in modern Los Angeles, with a focus on the experiences of unhoused individuals.

The details

Pockets of Heaven was co-written by Belafonte and Alexander Zeke Musca, with cinematography by Angel Barroeta. The film wrapped principal photography in December 2025 in Los Angeles. It was produced by Sofie Hubbard Warshafsky with Glia Productions, as well as Maria Belafonte and Alexander Zeke Musca under their New Wrinkle Films banner. Gina Belafonte with Sankofa.org and Jason Wiesenfeld served as executive producers. The project was made in partnership with Help USA and The People Concern to ensure authentic community engagement and representation of the unhoused stories it depicts.

  • The film wrapped principal photography in December 2025.
  • Post production is due to be completed in summer of 2026.

The players

Maria Belafonte

The director of Pockets of Heaven and the granddaughter of Hollywood icon and civil rights trailblazer Harry Belafonte.

Brandon Wilson

An actor starring in Pockets of Heaven.

Alfre Woodard

An Oscar-nominated actress joining the ensemble cast of Pockets of Heaven.

Mavi

A rapper-musician making his feature acting debut in Pockets of Heaven.

Help USA

An organization that partnered with the production of Pockets of Heaven to ensure authentic community engagement and representation of unhoused stories.

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The takeaway

Pockets of Heaven represents an important step forward in authentic storytelling about homelessness and marginalized communities in Los Angeles, with the involvement of experienced actors and filmmakers as well as community organizations working to address these issues.