Brazilian cinema is once again at the center of attention on the international scene with the victory of “The Secret Agent” at the 2026 Golden Globe, in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, the film was acclaimed at one of the world’s major audiovisual awards, marking a historic achievement for the country after nearly three decades without wins in the category.
A G1 report highlights the symbolic impact of the achievement for Brazil in the global film circuit. Brazil’s last win in the category was 27 years ago, with Central do Brasil. Upon taking the stage to receive the award, Kleber Mendonça Filho made a point of addressing the Brazilian public directly. The filmmaker sent a “hello, Brazil,” thanked the cast, and highlighted his partnership with Wagner Moura, the film’s protagonist. “The best things happen when you have a great actor and a great friend“, said the director, praising the actor.
During his speech, Kleber also dedicated the recognition to the country’s new filmmakers and highlighted the historical context of contemporary cinema. “I dedicate this film to young filmmakers. This is a very important moment in history to make films, here in the United States and in Brazil. Let’s keep making films”, he declared.
After the awards ceremony, the director reiterated the importance of Brazilian audiovisual production in a press conference, responding to a question from TV Globo. He highlighted the international reach of local narratives and encouraged new talents to keep producing. “We are very happy to see a Brazilian film generating so much good discussion about Brazil’s history. And I really want to see young Brazilian filmmakers. You can use the phone, you can make your own project. When we speak from our homes, the whole world listens”, he said. In the Golden Globe competition, *The Secret Agent* competed with international productions such as *Sentimental Value*, *It Was Just an Accident*, *The Only Way Out*, *Sirat* and *The Voice of Hind Rajab*. The winner was announced by actress Minnie Driver, the category’s presenter, who surprised everyone by starting the announcement with a word in Portuguese: “Parabéns” (Congratulations), before announcing the film’s name in English.
Set in the 1970s, the film follows the journey of a university professor, played by Wagner Moura, who returns to Recife to reunite with his youngest son amid the risks imposed by the military dictatorship. The narrative combines personal drama and political context, an element that contributed to the film’s broad international impact.
The victory consolidates The Secret Agent as a recent milestone in Brazilian cinema and reaffirms the relevance of Brazilian stories when told from an authorial perspective, connected to the country’s memory, politics, and identity.
Source: brasil247.com