Julia Roberts and Sean Penn are teaming up to help bring Oscar glory to the Brazilian movie Manas.
The Oscar-winning actors, who worked together in the 2022 Starz series Gaslit, co-hosted a screening of the film on Saturday (September 13) in Los Angeles.
Sean serves as an executive producer on the film, which is one of six titled shortlisted to represent Brazil in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards.
Also in attendance at the screening were director, writer, and producer Marianna Brennand and star Dira Paes.
Julia told the audience, “I am so excited for what’s about to happen to everyone in this room because it happened to me and it will change you. This movie is life-affirming in such a sad and beautiful and magical way.”
Manas tells the story of Marcielle (Jamilli Correa), a 13-year-old from Marajó Island. Silenced in a society that ignores violence against women and children, she confronts generational wounds and takes control of her destiny, forever altering her family’s fate.
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