Brazilian film that competed in 4 Oscar categories in 2026 will arrive in Chinese cinemas on March 27
The Brazilian feature film “The Secret Agent”, by Kleber Mendonça Filho, repeats the trajectory of and will be shown in China. For the first time, Chinese cinemas will be offered Brazilian films for 2 consecutive years.
The premiere will be on March 27, a week after the Oscar ceremony, in which the film –Best Film, International Film, Best Cast and Best Actor–, but did not win any statuette. Despite the defeats, the Brazilian film arrives in the Chinese market with pride for having won other international awards.
On the Chinese social network Weibo – similar to X–, users expressed excitement about the film’s premiere. They highlighted Wagner Moura’s Oscar nominations for best actor and the awards the film received abroad. On , the main Chinese film review website, “The Secret Agent” has a score of 7.8/10.
China authorizes the screening of 34 foreign films per year, which makes the release process particularly rigorous. The wins at international awards and Oscar nominations were what attracted the attention of Chinese distributors to show “The Secret Agent” and “I’m Still Here”.
For a foreign film to be shown in China, approval from the CFA (acronym for China Film Association) is required. The approval process includes submitting the final version of the film. Parts that contain political representations or messages considered negative about China, horror or sex scenes may be censored.
“The Secret Agent” poster in Chinese
THE SECRET AGENT
The work stars Wagner Moura, who plays Armando, a former university professor who starts using the false identity of Marcelo. Set in Pernambuco, in 1977 – during the period of the military dictatorship –, the film follows the character after fleeing threats and persecution in São Paulo and returning to Recife in search of refuge. In the city, he finds shelter in a house that welcomes dissidents and people displaced by the political context of the time.
The feature film’s trajectory in awards began at the Cannes Festival, where the film premiered in May 2025. Kleber Mendonça Filho won the award for Best Director given by the jury, while Wagner Moura won the award for Best Actor.
“The Secret Agent” also won important awards in regional critics cycles in the United States, such as the NYFCC, in New York. The wins for best international film at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards and the 2026 Golden Globes boosted the Oscar campaign.
