Brazilian Film Festival Launches with Links to Orange Week

On Wednesday 26 November 2025, the resurgent Brazilian Film Festival in Luxembourg held its Opening screening at Ciné Utopia in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg.

Previously, the festival had been held on eight occasions, with the last taking place pre-COVID.

On Wednesday evening, Festival organiser Dominique Santana addressed the almost-full screening room #2, welcoming those attending, particularly those who had travelled, including from the Brazilian embassy in Brussels and the director of the opening film (MANAS), Marianna Brennand.

MANAS (Sisters) is set in the Amazon and follows 13-year-old Maricelle who lives in a small one-roomed shack in a riverside community on Marajó Island. Her older sister has moved out of the family home, she has two brothers and a younger sister, and her mother is pregnant again. Her hammock breaks so her father makes room in his bed for her; he also brings her hunting alone. 

Meanwhile, she prepares shrimps for sale to the men on board the large barges that move up and down the river, aware that such "barge girls" have a bad reputation. She also attempts to get an id card, initially lying about her age...

Screened during Orange Week which raises awareness of violence against women and girls, it addresses the issue of sexual exploitation of minors by showing how this happens both inside and outside the family home. Some viewers may be aware of the 2025 Netflix mini series PSSICA (Rivers of Fate) which is set in nearby Belem and addresses similar issues and follows related storylines.

The post-screening Q&A included many questions from the audience (in English, Portuguese and French), which the director answered in depth, explaining that she spent six years getting to understand the issues and getting to know the people. She also confirmed that she spent a year casting the film, and explained how they had to communicate delicately and sensitively with the young actors.

The evening concluded with a networking reception with live Brazilian music; the festival continues until Sunday with five other screenings (at Ciné Utopia, Ciné Paris in Bettembourg and the CNA / Ciné Starlight in Dudelange), with Marianna Brennand leading a Masterclass on Saturday in Cercle Cité, and a conference on the history of Brazilian Cinema by Yves Steichen (CNA) and Dominique Santana. For details, see https://chronicle.lu/event/13737-brazilian-film-festival-2025