LISTEN TO THE SOUNDTRACK
Set against the twinkling lights of West Hollywood, Breaking Fast is a romantic comedy that follows Mo, a practicing Muslim still reeling from heartbreak. When an All-American guy named Kal offers to join him in his nightly Iftars - the traditional meal eaten by Muslims during Ramadan - meal after meal, the two start to discover they have more in common than meets the eye.
The genesis of the feature film came about from overwhelming positive response to the short film of the same name from writer/director Mike Mosallam. The short film was lucky enough to screen at renowned film festivals such as Cannes, Inside Out, Newport, Boston and many more. The full-length feature is now available On Demand and Digital, and aims to be the first of its kind to feature a practicing Muslim character who is gay and not dealing with those two things in conflict, but rather, in harmony.
"My intention is to tell a story that speaks to the nuances of daily life and treats identity: religious, sexual, gender and otherwise, as harmonious lenses by which individuals interact with the world."
- Writer/Director Mike Mosallam
Haaz Sleiman
mo
Born and raised in Lebanon, Haaz Sleiman moved to the United States when he was twenty-one years old, where he developed a love for acting in film, television, and theater.
In 2006, Sleiman portrayed an American soldier in Iraq on the NBC series ER and, that same year, had a recurring role as an Arab billionaire in the CBS series Company Town. He portrayed the terrorist suspect Heydar in three 2007 episodes of the FOX series 24 and appeared on both NCIS and Veronica Mars in 2007. He co-starred as Tarek, an undocumented Syrian immigrant in the critically acclaimed 2007 independent film The Visitor, a drama directed by Tom McCarthy. The film was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Academy Award. Since then, Sleiman has been immersed in various projects including Nurse Jackie, The Promise, Nikita, The State and more.
Michael Cassidy
Kal
Michael Cassidy has graced the television and cinema screens for decades, perhaps most known for his roles in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Argo and Smallville.
Cassidy played Zach Stevens throughout the second season of the television series The O.C., and Cliff Wiatt in The CW television program, Hidden Palms. Cassidy joined the cast of Smallville shortly after, in the series' seventh season, starring as the new editor of the Daily Planet, Grant Gabriel, a love interest of Lois Lane. Cassidy later returned to the Superman franchise portraying Jimmy Olsen in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He played Charlie Hogan in the first fourteen episodes of the television show Privileged, and portrayed Tyler Mitchell on the TBS show Men at Work for 3 seasons. Cassidy also had roles in the film Argo, and in The Guilt Trip.
T E A M
Mike Mosallam
Writer / Director
Mike Mosallam is a director, writer, producer for theatre, film and television. His feature film debut, "Breaking Fast," had its world premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival and Los Angeles premiere at Outfest Fusion, subsequently playing more than 65 festivals worldwide and winning 18 jury & audience awards. The film was acquired for distribution by Vertical Entertainment and released on Apple TV, iTunes, Amazon Prime and anywhere one can buy or rent movies on demand. Through his production company, Mike Mosallam Productions, he and his team produced short films: "Breaking Fast” (short film precursor to the feature; Cannes Film Festival) and “Brothers" (11x award winner), both written and directed by Mike, along with the short film "Ubuntu," a co-production with the Muslim Public Affairs Council. He is the creator and Co-Executive-Producer of the critically acclaimed TLC series, "All-American Muslim," nominated for an Image and Vision Award. Most recently, Mike was Executive Creative Consultant on Season 2 of Hulu's “Ramy" (episode 9). He is currently writing his second feature loosely based on a true story. On the theatre side, Mike has produced and directed more than 100 theatrical productions from large-scale musicals, intimate cabaret settings, plays, concerts, and multimedia theatrical events. He is a proud Muslim, Lebanese-American, and fluent in Arabic.
Seth Hauer
Producer
Seth Hauer currently works in development at Alan Poul’s company Boku Films. He most recently wrapped Season 6 of the Emmy-winning show “Girls.” Prior to HBO, he worked for MGM, coordinating production on the studio side for shows such as “Teen Wolf” and “Vikings.” Prominent in Hauer’s other TV work was his involvement in “Codes of Conduct,” a HBO six-hour limited series helmed by Academy Award winner Steve McQueen, as well as his development in the “Tales of the City” reboot for Netflix. He was an Associate Producer on HBO’s “Looking,” which was recognized by GLAAD, GALECA, and won a NewNowNext Award.
Sarah Bazzi
Producer
Sarah Bazzi is a film and television producer whose most notable credits include the Emmy-nominated hit series, Ozark (Season 2). Most recently she co-produced the short film, Are You Still There?, alongside Academy Award winning Director, Rayka Zehtabchi, which made its North American premiere at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival. Previously, Sarah was with ABC Television where she helped launch a number of Digital Original Series, such as the Viola Davis produced, American Koko, and Ty Burrell's Boondoggle. Her work has been seen nationally and internationally at the Cannes Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival, Frameline, InsideOut: Toronto, and the Arab Film Festival. She is first-generation Lebanese-American and currently works at Netflix in Production Operations.
Bay Dariz
Producer
Bay Dariz co-produced his first feature “Pretty Perfect” in 2012 starring Sarah Sutherland and Christopher McDonald. Bay partnered with Oliver Thompson to form Minutehand Pictures in 2014, producing their first feature “Welcome to Happiness,” released theatrically by FilmBuff / Orion in 2016. He recently produced the YouTube Originals pilot “I’m Poppy,” which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival a, and the documentary feature “Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes,” which focuses on the friendship between Muhammad Ali and talk show icon Dick Cavett. It premiered at SXSW 2018 and was acquired by HBO Films.
Alex Lampsos
Producer
Alex Lampsos is an award-winning producer of over 50 films, commercials and music videos, including Netflix’s Cherry Pop. Since launching his career at the Toronto International Film Festival, Alex has gone on to produce music videos for Atlantic Records, Universal Music Group, Island Records and numerous Rupaul's Drag Race stars with millions of views on YouTube. His films have been distributed on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and screened in 100+ festivals worldwide collecting multiple jury and audience awards. On the commercial front, Alex has produced for Marvel, Disney, Sony, along with LA Models in collaboration with Elton John.
Davin Michaels
Post producer
Anka Malatynska
Director of photography
Mike Hugo
Editor
Tineka Becker
Casting Director
Omar Fadel
composer
Jourdan Henderson
production designer
Jessyca Bluwal
Costume designer
Stacey Hummell
Make-up artist & hair stylist
P R E S S
The Hollywood Reporter Review: a witty, beautifully observed and well-acted film
So what makes Mike Mosallam's debut feature so special? The easy answer is that one of its main characters is a religiously observant, gay Muslim, not exactly a familiar character in such stories.
Entertainment Tonight Exclusive: ‘Breaking fast’ trailer
Fall in love with the trailer for gay Ramadan rom-com 'Breaking Fast' (exclusive).
Vertical Acquires ‘Breaking Fast’
Vertical Entertainment has picked up the North American distribution rights to ‘Breaking Fast,’ a romantic comedy from first-time writer/director Mike Mosallam.
Vogue’s 7 new queer films You Will soon be watching
The coveted Vogue names Breaking Fast as one of 7 new queer films you will soon be watching, listing the film at #3.
A Weho doctor balances sexual identity and Islam in the rom-com ‘Breaking Fast’
Writer-director Mike Mosallam’s lively tale — based on his 2015 short film — of one man’s fraught romantic journey over the course of the holy month of Ramadan.
‘Breaking Fast’ Follows Gay Muslim Man Looking For Love During Ramadan
The romantic comedy stars Haaz Sleiman and Michael Cassidy as a cross-cultural, would-be couple and is due out Jan. 22.
The GLAAD Wrap highlights breaking fast
Listed at #2 in entertainment news, a VOD premiere date for gay rom-com ‘Breaking Fast’ has been set for January 22, 2021.
Watch Haaz Sleiman's Adorable Trailer for Queer Romcom 'Breaking Fast'
If you're in the mood for more queer romantic comedies, you're in luck. In January, ‘Breaking Fast’ will hit screens.
KTLA Interviews Writer/Director Mike Mosallam
Breaking Fast's Writer/Director, Mike Mosallam, Empire star Alexandra Grey and Outfest Executive Director Damien Navarro spoke with KTLA's Sam Rubin about the film's Outfest Fusion debut on Sunday, March 8th.
Binge This: How the ‘Breaking Fast' Film Is Breaking Down Barriers
NBC Miami chats with starring actors Haaz Sleiman and Michael Cassidy, who pull back curtain on the award-winning movie.
Outfest 2020 spotlight: Full page feature of Breaking Fast’s Amin el gamal
Our prolific Amin El Gamal (Sam) spotlighted in Outfest’s 2020 Film Guide.
‘Breaking Fast’ finds color outside the lines of the traditional gay rom-com
If you’re looking for a gay rom-com that doesn’t blind you with its caucasity then look no further, ‘Breaking Fast’ is here to bring some culture into your rom-com routine.
‘Breaking Fast’ Wins aGLIFF 33: Prism 2020 Narrative Audience Award
‘Breaking Fast’ wins the Narrative Audience Award for Fiction Feature!
“Breaking Fast” delivers the Muslim queer stories we’ve been starving for
Mike Mosallam’s debut feature is a vibrant mosaic of Queer Arab Muslim-American life.
Director Mike Mosallam brings gay Muslim romance to the screen in ‘Breaking Fast’
In a time when images of happy, healthy queer couples continue to increase in number in films and TV, Mike Mosallam aims to bring the subversiveness back to gay romance.
Haaz Sleiman & Michael Cassidy To Star In ‘Breaking Fast’
Jack Ryan actor Haaz Sleiman and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s Michael Cassidy will lead ‘Breaking Fast,’ a romantic comedy about a gay Muslim navigating life, love, and loss during the holy month of Ramadan.
Breaking Fast Is an engaging gay rom-com
Haaz Sleiman plays slightly against type as endearingly neurotic Mo, an observant Muslim doctor living in West Hollywood, in writer-director Mike Mosallam’s engaging gay romantic comedy Breaking Fast.
Breaking Fast rises above genre expectation
Quite possibly one of the most engaging rom-coms of recent memory, ‘Breaking Fast’ is a queer-themed laugher that touches on both sexuality and religion with an organic thumb that assures it never alienates its viewers.
artswire weekly x BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL 2020 FILM REVIEW
Films about actors in Hollywood are as common as actors in Hollywood themselves. To be able to come up with an original spin on the romantic Hollywood fable is a feat within itself. Thankfully Breaking Fast has done just that.
film ink x Queer Screen Film Festival 2020 Film Review
Along with all the natural sweetness, the realistically flawed characters, and the pleasing matter-of-factness that the gay scene is treated with, ‘Breaking Fast’ also serves as another example of romance giving a misunderstood cultural perspective a chance to be seen.
Breaking Fast is as near a perfect film as one can ask for
With Breaking Fast, Mosallam has created a beautiful, tender, and heartfelt movie. A wrong turn is never taken by either him nor his extremely well-written characters.
SCREENINGS
Festival Screenings
Arab Cinema Weekend
AFMI Arab Film Festival
aGLIFF 33: Prism
Bent Sacramento LGBTQ Film Festival
Bentonville Film Festival
Cambria Film Festival
Cinema Diverse
Cinema St. Louis
CinemaQ
CINEMATTERS: NY SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM FESTIVAL
Cinequest Film Festival
Damn These Heels Queer Film Festival
deadCenter Film Festival
Denver Film Society
Desperado LGBTQ Film Festival
Downtown Dayton LGBTQ Film Festival
Fabulous Independent Film Festival
Florence Queer Festival
Frameline44
geelong pride film Festival
Gender Bender Festival Bologna
Hamburg International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Heartland International Film Festival
Holebi Film Festival Belgium
Image + nation film festival
ImageOut Rochester
Indy Film Fest
Inside Out Film Festival
KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival
Kaleidoscope lgbtq+ film Festival
Long Beach QFilm Festival
Louisville LGBT Film Festival
Malmo Queer Film Festival
melanin pride film festival
Melbourne queer film Festival
Milwaukee Film Festival
New Orleans Film Festival
NewFest 2020
NorthwestFest
Out at the movies
Out Film CT film festival
Out North queer film festival
Out On Film
Out on Screen film festival
Out South Film festival
Outfest Film Festival
Outfest Fusion Film Festival
Outfest United In Pride
Outflix Memphis film festival
OUTshine Film Festival
Outsouth queer film Festival
Pink Apple Film Festival Zurich
PhOenix Film Festival
Prairie Pride Film Festival
PrideFLIX Virtual Pride Film Festival
QFest Film Festival
qflix 2020 xl virtual event
Queer Film Festival Hannover
Queer Screen Film Festival
Rainbow Visions / Northwest Fest
Reel Affirmations
Reel Pride
Reel Q
Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
Scottish Queer Film Festival
Seattle Queer Film Festival
Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
TIGLFF Film Festival
TRANSITION Queer Minorities Film Festival,
Utah Film Center
Vancouver Queer Film Festival
Vinokino Turku: The Finnish Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
Way Out West Film Festival
Wicked Queer Film Festival
Yukon Pride Festival
C O N T A C T
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