Filmes brasileiros pré-Oscar 2026 agora, O Agente Secreto lidera lista com 4 obras

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recently released the shortlists for the 2026 Oscar, revealing the semifinalists for several categories. Among the Brazilian productions, four pre-nominated films stand out: O Agente Secreto, Amarela, Apocalipse nos Trópicos, and Yanuni. O Agente Secreto, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and starring Wagner Moura, is one of the main Brazilian candidates for the award, figuring in the categories of Best International Film and Best Ensemble Direction. In addition, the official list with the five nominees will be released on January 22, along with the nominations for the main categories, such as Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. The pre-nominated films now move on to the next stage of voting, where Academy members will decide which ones will be the finalists.

In O Agente Secreto, director Kleber Mendonça Filho explores the story of Marcelo, a university professor who flees to Recife after being sought after for subversive activities. The cast, led by Wagner Moura, offers a strong and emotional performance, while Filho’s direction presents a critical and reflective view of Brazilian reality. In Apocalipse nos Trópicos, filmmaker Petra Costa investigates the growth of evangelical faith in Brazil and its impacts on the political and social context over the past decade. With exclusive access to emblematic figures, such as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and former President Jair Bolsonaro, Costa analyzes the profound role that the evangelical movement played in the country’s recent political turmoil. The short film Amarela, on the other hand, follows the journey of Erika Oguihara, a Japanese-Brazilian teenager who rejects her Japanese family’s traditions. The photography and screenplay of these films present a unique and authorial view, exploring themes such as identity, politics, and religion in a sensitive and critical way.

The presence of Brazilian productions in the 2026 Oscar shortlists reflects the diversity and richness of national cinema, which has been gaining international recognition in recent years. The themes addressed in these films, such as censorship and freedom of expression, are particularly relevant in the current context, and the way they are presented offers a critical and reflective view of Brazilian reality. Although the official list of nominees will only be released in January, the pre-nomination of these films is already an important milestone for Brazilian cinema, demonstrating the strength and creativity of national filmmakers.

Now, the pre-nominated films move on to the next stage of voting, where Academy members will decide which ones will be the finalists. It is worth noting that O Agente Secreto’s presence in the Best International Film and Best Ensemble categories is an indicator that the film may have real chances of being nominated for the 2026 Oscar. In addition, the presence of other Brazilian films in the shortlists, such as Amarela and Apocalipse nos Trópicos, demonstrates the diversity and richness of national cinema, offering a unique and authorial view of Brazilian reality. With the official list of nominees being released on January 22, fans of Brazilian cinema eagerly await to see if any of these films will be remembered on the night of the award ceremony.