Berlin 2013: Debbie Isitt's 'Belly Dancing For Beginners' Enters EFM Buyers' Radar

7:14 AM PST 2/7/2013 by Stuart Kemp

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The next film from the British filmmaker whose "Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!" scored almost $16 million at the U.K. box office has Sheridan Smith attached to star.

British comedy writer and director Debbie Isitt, whose Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! was a British box office success story raking in nearly $16 million, is finalizing plans for Belly Dancing For Beginners, her next feature project.

Producer Marc Samuelson Exits Isle of Man's CinemaNX Five Years After Co-founding the Venture

•Berlin International Film...

Isitt's latest has Sheridan Smith (Quartet) attached to star in the movie which details the story of woman who is persuaded to go on a mystery holiday in Turkey by her mother and sister after discovering her fiance in a compromising situation with another woman on the eve of her wedding day.

The holiday turns out to be her recycled honeymoon with an unwanted daily belly dancing course thrown in for good measure. Avoiding the dance classes by befriending a local tour guide, she then has to fend off attempts by her ex to win her back.

U.K. sales and finance banner Bankside Films has boarded the project and is taking international pre-sales duties bringing it to market for the first time at the EFM.

Isitt's previous credits, with producer Nick Jones include Confetti, Nativity! and Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!

The film is based on an original screenplay by Rachel Cuperman and Sally Griffiths.

A Samuelson Productions, Brilliant Films and Mirrorball Films production, Belly Dancing For Beginners is produced by Marc Samuelson and Nick Jones with Joe Abrams, Phil Hunt, Hilary Davis and Stephen Kelliher taking executive producer roles.

It marks the first feature project for Samuelson as producer following his recent departure from the Isle of Man government's movie financing and production company CinemaNX.

Set to shoot in June 2013 for eight weeks on location in Turkey, Bankside said it was in final negotiations to ink a U.K. and Ireland distribution deal.