Sean Penn, Julia Roberts, and John and Nancy Ross hosted a screening of Marianna Brennand’s debut movie “Manas” on Saturday in Los Angeles.
The movie, a kind of vying to be the Oscar contender for Brazil, was launched by Roberts and Penn, who serves as an govt producer. The screening was adopted by a Q&A with Brennand, the movie’s director, author and producer, and its star, Dira Paes.
Sean Penn and Julia Roberts with Marianna Brennand on the Los Angeles screening
Courtesy of Phil Faraone, Getty Pictures
Roberts instructed the viewers: “I’m so excited for what’s about to occur to everybody on this room as a result of it occurred to me and it’ll change you. This film is life-affirming in such a tragic and exquisite and magical approach.”
Constructing on that sentiment, Penn mirrored on the primary time he encountered Brennand, recalling: “On the Cannes Movie Competition this 12 months, there was a Kering Basis dinner, and a lady got here as much as the stage to just accept the Rising Expertise Award. She gave a speech, and the authenticity of this individual was the sort of energy that might solely make an amazing movie.”
Julia Roberts with Marianna Brennand and Sean Penn on the Los Angeles screening
Courtesy of Phil Faraone, Getty Pictures
Brennand expressed her gratitude to her hosts: “Thanks, Sean, for seeing us, for recognizing the facility of this story, and for talking out… And Julia, thanks for empowering us along with your presence right here at present. You each are immensely amplifying our voices.”
The movie was born out of 10 years of analysis within the Amazon by Brennand, who started her profession as a documentarian. It tells the story of Marcielle (Jamilli Correa), a 13-year-old from Marajó Island. Silenced in a society that ignores violence towards ladies and youngsters, she “confronts generational wounds and takes management of her future, ceaselessly altering her household’s destiny,” in accordance with a press release.
“Manas” gained Brennand the very best director award at Venice Days, the unbiased parallel part of the Venice Movie Competition, and has collected a complete 27 awards so far. The Brazilian movie is one among six titles shortlisted to symbolize the nation on the 2026 Academy Awards, with Penn, Academy Award winner Walter Salles, two-time Palme d’Or winners Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, and “I’m Nonetheless Right here” producer Maria Carlota Bruno serving as govt producers.
On his resolution to hitch as govt producer, Penn beforehand acknowledged: “Within the custom final fulfilled by Walter Salles’s ‘I’m Nonetheless Right here,’ Marianna Brennand’s movie ‘Manas’ continues Brazil’s most enduring cinematic legacy. Movies of putting social relevance that by no means fall to polemic or sensationalism, however as an alternative so trustingly fulfill their characters’ plight and braveness. ‘Manas’ is deeply emotional, stirring, and God forbid… vital. I felt as if I needed to put my pores and skin again on after watching it.”
