A still from ‘The Secret Agent’
| Photo Credit: NEON
Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, celebrated for Aquarius and Bacurau, is back in the global spotlight with his latest film The Secret Agent. The political thriller, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, has already made history — winning Best Actor for Wagner Moura, Best Director for Mendonça Filho, and the FIPRESCI Critics Prize for Best Film.
The Secret Agent has been announced as Brazil’s submission for Best International Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards. The film is being hailed as Mendonça Filho’s most ambitious work yet, with its political commentary during one of Brazil’s darkest periods.
Set in 1977, in the waning years of Brazil’s military dictatorship, the story follows Marcelo (played by Moura), a technology expert on the run from authorities. Fleeing to Recife during carnival week, Marcelo hopes to reunite with his estranged son, only to find that danger and corruption have reached every corner of the city. As he navigates an atmosphere of paranoia and unrest, his struggle becomes both intensely personal and profoundly political.
Critics have described Moura’s turn as “career-defining,” with his restrained intensity anchoring the film’s complex emotional core.
The Secret Agent also strengthens Neon’s formidable awards-season lineup, joining other acclaimed festival favorites like It Was Just an Accident (Palme d’Or winner), Sentimental Value (Grand Prix winner), Sirāt (Jury Prize recipient), and No Other Choice (TIFF’s International People’s Choice winner). With all five films serving as their countries’ official Oscar submissions, Neon could dominate the International Feature category in 2026.
Published – October 17, 2025 12:14 pm IST
