“The Secret Agent” was chosen by the Brazilian Academy of Cinema to represent Brazil in dispute for an indication in the category of Best International Film no Oscar 2026. The announcement was made this Monday (15).
Kleber Mendonça Filho’s film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where he was awarded E, and has already won the. Now he can try on Hollywood’s main awards. See below the film’s trajectory so far.
Set in the 1977 Recife, the feature is a political thriller, accompanying Marcelo, a technology expert who runs away from a mysterious past and returns to Recife in search of peace, but soon realizes that the city is far from being the refuge it seeks.
The production is starring Wagner Moura (“Elite troop”), MARIA FERNANDA CANDID (“Terra Nostra”), Gabriel Leone (“Dom”), Isabel Zuaa (“O not to the diabo”), Alice Carvalho (“New cangaço”) and more.
How is the choice of the Brazilian Cinema Academy?
The Brazilian Academy of Cinema forms the Selection Committee, responsible for choosing the Brazilian film to run for a place in the category of best international film in the 98th edition of Oscar, which takes place in 2026.
The committee consists of 15 full members, 12 being elected in voting between the members of the Academy and another 3 (another) members appointed by the board, all professionals of the Brazilian cinematographic environment, but not necessarily associated with the academy.
To apply for the Brazilian film spot nominated for running in the Oscar’s Best International Movie category, The work must have been launched in the country between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025 and to be publicly aired for the first time, for seven consecutive days at least in a profitable commercial cinema for the benefit of its producer and exhibition.
If the film’s commercial debut occurs on dates after the end of the call for the gym (August 10, 2025), as is the case with “The Secret Agent”, the responsible producer must send a letter to the Brazilian Academy of Cinema, signed together with a distributor of the film, specifying the release date, cinema, city and the minimum number of 7 consecutive days of display until the maximum established deadline.
Candidate films may not have been screened on open television, closed or OTT/streaming platforms before their commercial release in theaters.
Members receive links from the movies enrolled exclusively on the gym platform for viewing, through personal and non -transferable password.
The Commission met on September 8 to choose one of all registrants. This Monday (15), they gathered again for the announcement of the choice of the representative.
The trajectory of “The Secret Agent” so far
Although it has not yet been released in Brazilian theaters, the film has already begun a international journey – similar to “I’m still here”, but perhaps with, having joined lists of specialized magazines as one.
The debut of “The Secret Agent” took place in May at the Cannes Film Festival. The title was part of the official national team and was the most awarded production of the event, winning better direction and actor, as well as the federation awardo International of Critics (Fipresci).
Then the film went through other European cities, such as Paris and Breslávia, until they make its debut in North America at the Telluride Festivals in Utah, United States, and Toronto, Canada; in Australia and New Zealand, at local festivals; and in Peru, at the Cine de Lima Festival. The movie has premiere confirmed in another 90 countries around the globe.
Already the national day began in the city of Kleber Mendonça Filho and where the film is set: Recife. The first sessions were released on September 10 at São Luiz and Parque Theater. Then it was the turn of the federal capital to receive the production. “The Secret Agent” was the opening film of the Brasilia Festival.
Now part ara o OLhar do Norte, in Manaus (16/9); Maranhão on the screen (18/9); Cinebh (9/23); Cine Ceará (24/9); and Rio Festival (date to be released), in sessions that are part of the special exhibition series that o Long will have for the country, before reaching the rooms across the country ofifthly, on the day November 6with distributiono From the showcase movies.
