The director Kleber Mendonça Filho57, opened up about the controversial award for Best Non-English Language Film no Critics Choice Awards 2026. At the time, “The Secret Agent” was awarded the award, but the revelation and award of the category took place during the red carpet in an improvised manner, surprising the filmmaker.
In an interview with BBC Brasil, he assessed the way in which the award ceremony handed out the statuette as a “big mistake”. “I think all that didn’t have a very positive result for the Critics Choice Association. I think it was a big mistake“, echoed the Brazilian director.
Kleber related the way foreign films and categories are treated in North American awards with the political moment the country is experiencing. “In a political moment that the United States is going through today, where there is a energy so negative in relation to the external elementto foreigners, to immigrants, you hold an international award like the Critics, have all the international directors present at the award ceremony and and it is delivered outside, as something super frivolous and superficial, almost like a joke. I don’t think it went over well at all.”
“And I hope that, next year, foreign films will be treated more respectfully”, he concluded in the interview.
The award for Best Non-English Language Film was given, and this happened because, during an interview with Kleber and producer Emilie Lesclaux, also his wife, the interviewer interrupted him and revealed the award. “I have a very special surprise for you. Congratulations! The Critics Choice Awards for Best Foreign Film goes to ‘The Secret Agent'”, declared the presenter.
“Really?” replies the Brazilian. “You had no idea?” asks the presenter. “No,” says Kleber. See the video here. The event organizers chose to leave some categories out of the ceremony, due to the number of winners and the broadcast time. .
