Breakout documentary “Sweetheart Deal” has finally landed a North American distributor — and unveiled its buzzy trailer.
After debuting at Slamdance and going on to receive awards at the Seattle Film Critics Society, Seattle International Film Festival, Chicago Underground Film Festival, Bend Film, Atlanta Underground Film Festival and the Brooklyn Film Festival, IndieWire can confirm that “Sweetheart Deal” will be distributed by Abramorama. Elisa Levine and Gabriel Miller co-direct the film.
“Sweetheart Deal” follows four sex workers who are caught up in the spiral of addiction. The group turn to a self-proclaimed healer who offers a path to salvation from working the streets of Seattle. But just as they begin to rebuild their lives, a shocking betrayal comes to light that will change them all, as the official synopsis teases. The documentary is filmed in a cinema vérité style across several years.
“Though we didn’t know what we would find, the story ended up taking a very different direction than we could have ever imagined at the start,” co-director Levine said in a press statement. “We never had an interest in making a social issue or ‘message’ film or in telling viewers what to think. Instead, our hope was for audiences to connect with these remarkable women and come away feeling as if they truly know them.”
“Sweetheart Deal” was supported by the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program. The documentary is co-produced by Tracey Rector and Joe Shapiro, with Melisse Barrett, Eliza Flug, Peggy Rajski, Elizabeth Rudolf, and Brent Stiefel executive producing. The producers were Peggy Case, Elisa Levine, and Alan Pruzan.
Abramorama in association with Votiv Films presents the film.
“[Co-director] Elisa, along with the ‘Sweetheart Deal’ team, have been able to capture an astounding story on camera revealing the strength of the human spirit,” Abramorama CEO Karol Martesko-Fenster said. “We are thrilled to be able to bring this captivating documentary to the American public.”
Recently, Sean Baker’s fictionalized focus on sex workers has led to predicted Oscar frontrunner “Anora,” which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2024.
“Sweetheart Deal” premieres in theaters September 13 from Abramorama, starting at the Village East by Angelika in New York for a weeklong run followed by nationwide theatrical engagements. Check out the trailer below.
