The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce proudly celebrates landmark achievements for Brazilian cinema! The Secret Agent (2025), written and directed by acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, won the 2026 Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language. The Chamber also applauds Wagner Moura for his powerful performance as Armando, earning him the 2026 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.

The evening marked historic milestones: The Secret Agent (in addition to its win) became the first Brazilian film ever nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Moura became the first Brazilian actor to receive a Golden Globe.

A gripping historical political thriller, The Secret Agent is set during Brazil’s 1977 military dictatorship. The film follows Armando (Moura), a former professor who returns to Recife to reunite with his son, only to be pursued by dangerous hitmen and forced to live under an assumed identity (Marcelo).

The Secret Agent triumphed over an impressive international field, including It Was Just an Accident (France), No Other Choice (South Korea), Sentimental Value (Norway), Sirāt (Spain), and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia). In his acceptance speech, Mendonça Filho reflected on the moment’s significance:

I am very honored to be in this group of international films, and also with great films from the United States. I dedicate this film to young filmmakers. This is a very important moment in time in history to be making films, here in the US and Brazil.

Moura prevailed against a remarkable slate of nominees, including Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine), Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein). Reflecting on the film's deeper themes, Moura shared:

The Secret Agent is a film about memory, or the lack of memory, and generational trauma. I think that if trauma can be passed down through generations, values can too. So this is for those who are sticking to their values in difficult moments.

These wins follow another milestone for Brazilian cinema: in 2025, Fernanda Torres became the first and only Brazilian actress to win a Golden Globe, earning Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for her role in I’m Still Here.

The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce congratulates Kleber Mendonça Filho, Wagner Moura, and all involved in The Secret Agent, and celebrates this extraordinary moment for Brazilian cinema!