Three Brazilian films have advanced another stage in the selection process to be nominated for the 2026 Oscars: O Agente Secreto, by Kleber Mendonça Filho, is among the contenders for Best International Feature; Apocalipse nos Trópicos, by Petra Costa, was included among the 15 selected for Best Documentary Feature; and Amarela, by André Hayato Saito, remains in the Live Action Short Film category.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday (16) the shortlists in 12 categories for the 98th Academy Awards, with the ceremony to be broadcast on March 15, 2026.
Brazilians are also competing in the Best Casting Direction (Casting) category, with Kleber Mendonça Filho for his work on O Agente Secreto, and in Cinematography, with Adolpho Veloso, the cinematographer on Train Dreams (Sonhos de Trem).
Shortlists in 12 categories were announced on Tuesday:
• Animated Short Film;
• Casting;
• Cinematography;
• Documentary;
• Documentary Short Subject;
• Best International Feature;
• Live Action Short Film;
• Makeup and Hairstyling;
• Music (Original Score);
• Music (Original Song);
• Sound;
• Visual Effects.
In the Best International Feature category, where O Agente Secreto is competing, 15 candidates advanced to the next round, selected from films from 86 eligible countries or regions in the category.
Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will vote from January 12 to 16, 2026, to determine the official Oscar nominees. In this round, they must watch all 15 shortlisted films.
The full list of nominees for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on January 22.
Meet the 15 candidates, in alphabetical order by country:
• Argentina, Belén;
• Germany, Som de Cair;
• Brazil, O Agente Secreto;
• South Korea, Nenhuma outra escolha;
• Spain, Sirât;
• France, Foi apenas um acidente;
• India, Homebound;
• Iraq, O Bolo do Presidente;
• Japan, Kokuho;
• Jordan, Tudo o que resta de você;
• Norway, Valor sentimental;
• Palestine, Palestina 36;
• Switzerland, Turno Tardio;
• Taiwan, Menina de Esquerda;
• Tunisia, A Voz de Hind Rajab.
The film O Agente Secreto was released in Brazil on November 6 last year. It tells the story of Marcelo, a technology specialist accused of subversive activities who moves from São Paulo to Recife in 1977 in an attempt to escape government agents.
The character arrives in the capital of Pernambuco and, in a short time, begins to suspect that he is being spied on by his neighbors. The film stars Wagner Moura as the lead actor.
Awards for O Agente Secreto so far:
• Cannes Film Festival (Best Actor and Best Director)
• Jerusalem Film Festival (Best International Film)
• Lima Film Festival (Jury Prize for Best Film, International Critics’ Jury Prize for Best Film, and Best Film in the Latin American Fiction Competition)
• Biarritz Amérique Latine Festival (Abrazo d’Honneur)
• Zurich Film Festival (Golden Eye Award)
• Film Festival Cologne (The Hollywood Reporter Award)
• Hamburg Film Festival (Arthouse Cinema Award)
• Chicago International Film Festival (Best Actor)
• Virginia Film Festival (Craft Prize for Achievement in Cinematography)
• Gáldar International Film Festival (Best Film)
• Newport Beach Film Festival (Best Performance)
• Stockholm International Film Festival (Best Cinematography)
• Key West Film Festival (Critics’ Prize)
• New York Film Critics Circle Awards (Best Actor and Best International Film)
• Atlanta Film Critics Circle Awards (Top 10 Best Films)
• IndieWire Honors (Best Performance)
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards (Best International Film).
Source: Agência Brasil