Manas (US Import DVD) Release Date October 13/26

Manas is the powerful fiction feature debut from acclaimed documentarian Marianna Brennand, inspired by years of interviews with young girls and women living throughout the Amazon rainforest. Set on Brazil's island of Marajó, the film follows thirteen-year-old Marcielle, known as Tielle, whose seemingly idyllic childhood begins to unravel as she recognizes the cycle of exploitation surrounding the women in her isolated community. Determined to protect her younger sister from suffering the same fate, Tielle finds the courage to challenge generations of oppression despite the enormous personal risk.

Combining intimate family drama with urgent social commentary, the film explores resilience, survival, and female empowerment within a remote Amazonian setting rarely depicted on screen. Through Tielle's emotional journey, Marianna Brennand presents a deeply human portrait of courage, injustice, and hope while examining the realities faced by vulnerable communities in contemporary Brazil.

Produced by Marianna Brennand alongside Maria Carlota Bruno, Sean Penn, Walter Salles, Luc Dardenne, and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, the film stars Jamilli Correa, Dira Paes, Fátima Macedo, and Rômulo Braga. The internationally acclaimed production marks a significant dramatic debut for Brennand while drawing upon years of documentary research and firsthand experience.