'The Secret Agent' wins at Cannes crown a good moment for Brazilian cinema

The awards received by The Secret Agent , directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, at the Cannes Film Festival, in France, this Saturday 24, crown a six-month period of prosperity for Brazilian films.

Although international achievements have always punctuated the history of cinema made in the country, the triad of recognitions received at the Berlin Festival, in February , for The Last Blue ; at the Oscars, in March , for I'm Still Here ; and at Cannes, now , has something unique.

Being in the competition for the Palme d'Or is a huge achievement in itself. After all, only 22 films from around the world are selected for the competition. Coming out with two awards , as happened with The Secret Agent – ​​best director and best actor, for Wagner Moura – is an achievement that completely changes the career of a feature film.

The film, not by chance, closed two important deals there. Neon, distributor of some recent Palme d'Or winners, such as Parasite (2019), Anatomy of a Fall (2023) and Anora (2024) and), will release the Brazilian political thriller in the United States.

Mubi, a traditional arthouse cinema platform and distributor of films such as Perfect Days (2023) and The Substance (2024), has acquired the rights for territories including the United Kingdom, India and Latin America.

This movement in the international market, prior to the announcement of the awards, indicates not only that Kleber was seen as a potential winner but also that The Secret Agent should be considered as a possible Oscar nominee .

In Brazil, the film, in terms of audience, should benefit both from the visibility generated by a festival like Cannes – the main one in the world – and from the return of spectators to theaters to see productions made here.

Box office sales for Brazilian films, which had fallen dramatically since the pandemic, saw a significant recovery with Ainda Estou Aqui , released in November 2024.

Following the title directed by Walter Salles , came other feature films that were well-received by the public, such as Auto da Compadecida 2 , Chico Bento e a Goiabeira Maraviosa , Vitória and Homem com H.

This year, according to the National Cinema Agency (Ancine), 8.5 million people went to the cinemas to see a Brazilian film – a number that corresponds to 20% of all tickets sold in the country. It is also this context that makes this first half of 2025 remarkable.

The Brazilian delegation of 'The Secret Agent' in Cannes.Photo: Antonin THUILLIER / AFP

In addition to international recognition, there is now a reunion with the public. It is worth remembering that The Secret Agent , although the big star, was not alone in Cannes. This year, Brazil was the Country of Honor at the Film Market , a space where co-production agreements are made and films and projects are negotiated, and brought to the festival the largest delegation in its history.

A set of four Brazilian short films, produced in Ceará, under the supervision of Ceará-born director Karim Aïnouz , also opened a parallel section, the Directors' Fortnight. Also from the Northeast, more specifically from Pernambuco, were Kleber and Gabriel Mascaro, director of The Last Blue , which won an award at the Berlinale.

The knots of Brazilian cinema may be many – and difficult to untie –, but at this moment, one cannot deny its vigor. And the awards that have come in succession should be celebrated as the fruit of individual talent and persistence, but also as the result of a long collective journey.