The Brazilian film “I’m Still Here” made history and achieved an unprecedented feat for Brazil by being nominated in the Best Film category at the 2025 Oscarsthe most recognized award in the world cinema industry. The feature film by Walter Salles also competes for Best Actress (Fernanda Torres) and Best International Film.
Reaching the 2025 Oscars was a cause for celebration for Brazilians. Before gaining a place in the categories, the film went through a long process of campaigns, trips to events and festivals and even victories in other awards — all of this in favor of visibility for the film, as hundreds of films try to “call out” voters’ attention.
The last time Brazilian cinema was remembered by the Academy (made up of thousands of members with positions in the industry) was in 2008, when the country had its name on the pre-selected list with the film ““, at the time called Best Film Foreigner. The film ended up being left out. The last time he was nominated was in 1999, with “Central do Brasil”, also by Walter Salles.
Both the director and the film’s cast were committed to making “I’m Still Here” seen. “It is necessary to do a lot of work to get voters to see the film, because there are many titles”, .
Where it all started
In September 2024, “I’m Still Here” had its international premiere on Venice Festival 2024one of the largest in the world. In addition to being part of the official selection, to Murilo Hauser e Heitor Lorega.
It was then that the film began to receive its first reactions from specialized critics. International magazines, such as Vanity Fair, Variety e The Hollywood Reportersome of the most recognized and respected in the industry, gave glowing reviews of the production.
Soon after Venice, Salles, Fernanda Torres and Selton Mello traveled to Canada for the Toronto Film Festival. There, they gave interviews to the international press and talked about the film in conversation with the public.
Biggest campaign ever carried out in Brazilian history
The campaign began when the Brazilian Cinema Academy chose “I’m Still Here” as Brazil’s representative for the International Film Oscar. In the meantime, the production was also highlighted at other film festivals around the world, such as New York and London.
Receiving increasingly positive reviews, the film . Some of the award rules required that productions be shown both in their respective countries and in the United States within a specified period. Walter Salles there was already
International films can gain strength in the race if they have professionals involved who have already been nominated or are on the commercial circuit in the United States. “I’m Still Here” and will hit theaters across the country in February 14.
Waldemar Dalenogare, film critic, told CNN that the “I’m Still Here” campaign is about largest ever made in the history of Brazil.
Advertisements in magazines and newspapers, and other actions necessary for an Oscar campaign, involve high costs. Fernanda Torres also gave interviews to the main magazines and newspapers, such as The New Work Times and Variety itself.
Featured at the Golden Globes
The film and Fernanda Torres’ performance were highlighted in other big awards, but smaller than the Oscar. They were very important for the film to achieve visibility and respect, especially the Golden Globe.
At the beginning of January this year, “I’m Still Here” competed for the Golden Globe and emerged victorious in the Best Actress category, with Fernanda Torres beating names like Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman.
Clayton Davis, editor of Variety, said the timing was crucial for the Oscars, as it occurred before Oscar voting closed.
“Fernanda Torres’ Golden Globe win brought significant attention to the film, which is also a guarantee for an international feature film. This moment could translate into a surprising nomination for best film (and perhaps adapted screenplay)”, he wrote.
Recently, “I’m Still Here” won the award for best international film at the
All of this made the main specialized vehicles highlight “I’m Still Here” as one of the main names in the race for the category.
Voting by Academy members at the Oscars takes place, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, from February 11th to the 18th of the same month.
The Oscar ceremony is scheduled for March 2, 2025.
With information from Flávio Pinto, in collaboration with CNN Brasil.
