About the production company
Black Pen is a Brazilian audiovisual production company dedicated to telling uplifting and inspiring stories through original projects and co-productions that reflect the strength and diversity of our culture. Our mission is to create narratives we wish we had seen throughout our lives—stories that deeply connect with audiences, celebrate plural subjectivities, and expand the imagination of what it means to be Brazilian. Each project is born from the desire to represent Brazil in an inspiring, vibrant way—one that can recognize itself on screen while also projecting itself to the world.
Founded by actor and producer Jonathan Haagensen, who rose to prominence in City of God, in partnership with journalist and producer Mariana Veil, Black Pen believes that well-told stories have the power to move, challenge, and open paths for new forms of belonging. That’s why we carefully consider the themes our projects explore, aiming to reach broad audiences and generate meaningful cultural impact by shaping new references.
Our team is made up of experienced industry professionals, and we also actively encourage the entry of new talent into the field. We believe that strengthening Brazilian audiovisual storytelling requires diversifying the perspectives of those who create, direct, write, and produce. Our sets are spaces where experience and renewal go hand in hand, as we understand that broader representation behind the camera directly enhances the power of what appears on screen.
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trajectory and Projects
Since 2021, Black Pen has built a portfolio of works that combine artistic quality with strong production value. In 2024, we released our first original series, Every Family Has One (Toda Família Tem), a co-production with Amazon Studios that was selected in the 1st RioFilme Cash Rebate Program. That same year, we were selected in Petrobras’s national “Novos Eixos” fund with a free adaptation of the book Since Samba Is Samba (Desde que o Samba é Samba), by Paulo Lins, currently being developed in partnership with Ventre Studio.
In series development, we are currently working on the children and youth series Picolé, Pintinho e Pipa, inspired by the 2012 short film by André Santinho and Gustavo Mello. The project was selected for the Serial Bridges Workshop 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, where it received a special honorable mention for its quality and narrative potential.
In film, the feature Tá Pago!—currently in post-production—was selected for the RioFilme First Investment Fund 2024 and also received financing through Brazil’s Article 1A incentive mechanism with support from Nubank. Another original feature, My First Girlfriend (Minha Primeira Namorada), was created by Black Pen and developed in partnership with TV Globo, with production made possible through Article 3/3A incentives in collaboration with NBCUniversal Media and Kromaki.
We are also developing co-productions with key players in the audiovisual industry, such as Anonymous Content BR, Manas Filmes, and CosmicDog Studios, expanding our reach, diversifying our scope, and building bridges across different creative ecosystems.
By investing in narratives that celebrate plurality, Black Pen reaffirms its commitment to audiovisual storytelling that moves and provokes, establishing itself as a space for both creation and listening. We strive to ensure that each project becomes a meeting point between art and entertainment, allowing our purpose to be reflected in everything we produce.
Actor, Producer, and Director
Born and raised in Vidigal, Rio de Janeiro, he discovered his passion for acting through the Nós do Morro project. He gained national recognition as part of the cast of City of God, the Oscar-nominated film by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, which marked the beginning of his career in audiovisual storytelling. Since then, he has built a solid career, appearing in numerous films, soap operas, and series across major platforms and networks such as Globo, Netflix, and Star+, among others. With over two decades of on-screen experience, he now channels this artistic background into the creation, production, and direction of original projects and co-productions at Black Pen Filmes.
Journalist, Producer and Screenwriter
She worked as a writer for the talk show Conversa com Bial on TV Globo, from the program’s creation and development in 2016 through 2023. She has also written podcasts for B9 Company and developed documentaries and special reports for GloboNews in Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, and as a correspondent in Spain. She produced the Brazilian feature film B.O. and the international documentary Farselona (SXSW 2016 / PriMed 2016). Currently, she focuses on producing original series and co-productions at Black Pen, while also working as a screenwriter for various streaming platforms.
