Belly of the Beast (2020 film)

Belly of the Beast
Film poster
Directed byErika Cohn
Music byOmar Fadel
Release date
  • June 11, 2020 (2020-06-11) (HRW)[1]
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Belly of the Beast is a 2020 documentary film by Erika Cohn about the illegal sterilization practices in the Central California Women’s Facility and other female penitentiaries. Made over a period of seven years, the 82-minute movie documents the fight of one inmate (Kelli Dillon) and her lawyer against the Department of Corrections.[2][3]

Their investigations inside prison, with assistance from outside allies, uncover statewide criminal practices ranging from poor healthcare, sexual abuse and assault, coercive sterilizations, and the targeting of women of color.[4]

The film was supported by the Tribeca Film Institute through the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund (2015), the TFI Network (2017), and the TFI Pond5 Program (Spring 2019).[5] 20% of proceeds from the film went to support the Women and Justice Project.[6]

  1. ^ "Belly of the Beast". ff.hrw.org. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  2. ^ "Belly Of The Beast (2020) Movie Review from Eye for Film". www.eyeforfilm.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  3. ^ "Belly of the Beast [Online]". Northwest Film Forum. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  4. ^ "Facets : Cinematheque Schedule: Belly of the Beast". www.facets.org. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  5. ^ "Tribeca Film Institute". www.tfiny.org. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  6. ^ "Belly of the Beast — maysles documentary center". mayslesdocumentary center. Retrieved 2020-10-21.