

Muanza is a woman born in the Kingdom of Kongo and trafficked to Brazil in the 19th century. Waking up nowdays, she finds herself in a time- twisting Rio de Janeiro. Figures from the past and from the present come into her search for her roots across the city’s territory. A portrait of the experiences and struggles that create community and sisterhood.
Featuring: Lucília Raimundo, Samira Carvalho, Maria D'Aires, Mãe Celina de Xangô
Director: Julia De Simone
Script: Aline Portugal, Julia De Simone, Mariana Luiza
Cinematography: Flávio Rebouças
Set: Ana Paula Cardoso
Costume designer: Diana Moreira
Sound: Marina D’Ávila
AD: Débora de Oliveira, Marianne Macedo Martins
Editing: Ricardo Pretti
Music: Marco Scarassati
Production Manager: Sabrina Bitencourt
Producer: Luana Melgaço, Julia De Simone, Filipa Reis
Executive Producer: Fernanda Vidigal, Joana Vaz da Silva, Luana Melgaço, Vanessa Santos
Produced by: Luana Melgaço (Anavilhana), Julia De Simone (Mirada Filmes), Filipa Reis (Uma Pedra no Sapato)
Funded by: FSA, ICA – Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual, Hubert Bals Fund, World Cinema Fund, RTP - Rádio e Televisão de Portugal
Original Language: Portuguese, Kikongo, Kimbundo
World Sales: Urtiga
Distribution Portugal: Urtiga
Distribution Brazil: Olhar Distribuidora
Festivals and Awards
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Tiger Competition (NL 01.2024)
Festival International de Films de Femme de Créteil
Fiction Competition (FR 03.2024)
Olhar de Cinema - Curitiba International Film Festival
BFI London Film Festival
Dare Competition (UK 10.2024)
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
International Competition (CA 10.2024)
Mostra Internacional de Cinema em São Paulo
Mostra Brasil (BR 10.2024)
Transcultural Arts Production Series
(NO 10.2024)
22 Festival de Sevilla
New Waves (ISP 11.2024)
International Film Festival of Kerala
World Cinema (IN 12.2024)
Santo Domingo Cine Global Film Festival
(DO 01.25)
FEMINA 2025
National Competition (BR 03.2025)