Female-driven thriller You’re Not Safe Here will debut on Lifetime TV on July 31st, 2021 at 8pm. Directed by Rachel Annette Helson and produced by Shane O’ Brien, Zach O’ Brien and Anthony del Negro of Stargazer Films, the film stars Haskiri Velazquez (lead of Saved by the Bell, 2021 Entertainment Weekly Breakout Star,) Nicky Whelan (Hall Pass, Scrubs) and Cleo Anthony (Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It). Germany’s Beta Film handles world sales. You’re Not Safe Here follows Ava, a young pregnant woman. After fleeing from her abusive boyfriend, Ava is rescued from a car accident by a friendly married couple. While recovering at their home, however, the woman begins to fear the couple may actually have a sinister plan for her and her unborn baby.
The film marks the feature directorial debut for Helson who has appeared on-screen in TV shows like Steven Soderbergh’s The Knick, as well as Power and Law & Order: SVU. Her directorial debut short film Hatched was chosen as a 2021 Bitpix Short of the Week, an Official Selection of HollyShorts, an Official Selection of StudioFest where she was chosen as a finalist director, and a Film Shortage Daily Short Pick. She was selected for the SHOOT 2019 New Directors Showcase and is a alumnus of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts and a member of the Alliance of Women Directors and Film Fatales. She was also a 2009 TONY and Drama Desk Award nominee for her work as a producer on the Broadway production of Neil LaBute’s "Reasons to be Pretty." She has previously been featured in publications like The New York Times and Backstage, among others. Helson is repped by Robbie Kass and Roxanna Raanan of Kass Management.
Helson lives in New York City, but she was born and raised in Kentucky, where the film was shot in November 2020. “It was a treat to shoot in Kentucky. There are so many talented film and television professionals who live and work there, and the crew on You’re Not Safe Here was no exception,” said Helson. “As someone who was nervous about directing my first movie, having the opportunity to shoot in my hometown made me feel at ease and at home. The stars really aligned. I’m excited to have had the opportunity to work with such respected producers, and I can’t wait to see our film on Lifetime!”
