Marianna Brennand’s Drama ‘Manas,’ Backed by Walter Salles and the Dardenne Brothers, Scores Top Venice Days Prize

Brazilian director Marianna Brennand’s drama “Manas,” about a 13-year-old girl suffering abuse in the depth of the Amazon rainforest, has scored the Venice Days director’s award.

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Backed by Walter Salles and the Dardenne Brothers, “Manas” is set on the island of Marajó in the Amazon rainforest. Marcielle lives near the riverbank with her father, mother and three siblings. Prompted by her mother’s words, she idolizes her older sister who supposedly escaped her reality by “finding a good man” on the barges that ply the region. As Tielle, as she is known, matures, her idealized visions shatter, leaving her trapped between two abusive environments. Increasingly worried about her younger sister and the bleak future they face, she decides to confront the oppressive system that controls her family and the women in their community.

The section’s top award, decided by a jury headed by “The Eternal Daughter” filmmaker Joanna Hogg, comes with a cash prize of €20,000 ($22,000). This is to be split equally between the filmmaker and the film’s international distributor, which is Bendita Film Sales, to promote the film.

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The Europa Cinemas Label for best European film in the section, awarded by a separate jury, went to Dutch director Jan-Willem van Ewijk’s “Alpha,” which revolves around a tormented father-son relationship and is set in the Swiss Alps. “Alpha” will benefit from promotional support from Europa Cinemas, the EU-funded entity that provides support to movie theaters that show European films.

For now, the Venice Days audience award is still being kept under wraps.

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