UPDATE: Following what Variety calls a “national debate” that sparked major controversy, Brazil has chosen Kleber Mendonça Filho’s ’70s-set thriller “The Secret Agent” as its official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. The Brazilian Film Academy announced the submission Monday, following a decision by a 15-member selection committee.
EARLIER: I rewatched Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent” at TIFF after coming away mixed from its Cannes premiere earlier this year. Second time was the charm. This is an incredibly complex, layered work — one of the year’s very best.
That timing matters. Next Monday, the Brazilian Academy will meet to decide which film represents the country at the 2026 Oscars. The shortlist is strong, with “The Secret Agent” joined by “Manas” and “The Blue Trail.” Three festival darlings, three different paths forward, but the frontrunner is obvious.
On paper, “The Secret Agent” has the kind of momentum Brazilian cinema has rarely seen on the international stage. Mendonça Filho pulled off a rare Cannes double win — Best Director for himself, Best Actor for Wagner Moura — and the film was quickly scooped up by NEON. Add gala slots at Toronto and Telluride, plus a pristine 100% Rotten Tomatoes score after 40+ reviews, and you’ve got the kind of profile Oscar voters notice.
And yet, history complicates things. The Brazilian Academy has twice snubbed Mendonça Filho in puzzling ways. “Aquarius” was passed over in 2016, as was “Bacurau” in 2019, despite both films riding strong festival buzz. Meanwhile, his “Neighboring Sounds “” (2013) and “Pictures of Ghosts” (2023) were selected.
This week, rumors started to swirl that lobbying may be underway to block “The Secret Agent.” Mendonça Filho himself even retweeted a post alluding to pressure in favor of “Manas.” That film has its own credentials: a politically charged thriller set in 1970s Brazil, it weaves cinema itself into the narrative and just recruited Sean Penn as executive producer after a Venice sidebar win.
Then there’s “The Blue Trail,” fresh off a Silver Bear in Berlin, bringing further prestige to the table.
Still, neither rival can match the full package of “The Secret Agent”: rapturous reviews, major awards, international star power, and the crucial factor — U.S. distribution muscle via NEON. If the Brazilian Academy bypasses Mendonça Filho once again, it would not just be a surprise. It would be a controversy.
