Manas

The winner of the International Newcomer Award 2024 is Brazilian director Marianna Brennand with her feature film debut ›Manas‹ about the fate of young women in the Amazon. She has already won the directing prize in the Giornate degli Autori section at the Venice Film Festival this year. The film is the result of ten years of research into the Amazon region.

Manas

In her fight against violence and oppression within her own family, a young woman is prepared to go to extremes. A harrowing, important, and courageous film about female empowerment.

Brazil, on the banks of the Amazon. Teenage Marcielle (Tielle) lives here with her parents and three siblings. Despite superficial affection, the atmosphere at home is tense and restrictive. In order to escape and follow in the footsteps of her idolized older sister, Tielle goes aboard one of the barges that regularly pass by on the river. But even this doesn’t get her away from the island. So, the courageous young woman finally decides to stand up to oppression. And she is prepared to go to extremes in order to prevail.

In this stirring and masterfully staged drama, director Marianna Brennand documents the terrible injustice suffered by many young women in her home country. A tough and bracingly unsparing film.

Director: Marianna Brennand
Country: Brazil, Portugal

2024 | 106 min. | Portuguese
Subtitles: German, English

Cast_ Jamilli Correa, Fátima Macedo, Rômulo Braga, Dira Paes Screenplay_ Felipe Sholl, Marcelo Grabowsky, Marianna Brennand, Antonia Pellegrino, Camila Agustini, Carolina Benevides Camera_ Pierre de Kerchove Producer_ Carolina Benevides, Marianna Brennand Rights_ Bendita Film Sales