Kleber Mendonça Filho and Emilie Lesclaux appear backstage after winning the award for Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language award for "The Secret Agent" during the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on January 11, 2026. Photo: CFP

By Brasil 247 - Brazilian cinema reached a historic milestone when The Secret Agent (O Agente Secreto) triumphed at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, winning Best Non-English Language Film and securing a landmark victory for its lead actor, Wagner Moura. The film's international success has positioned Brazil's recent cinematic output at the center of a broader global conversation on political memory, democracy and the role of culture in confronting authoritarian legacies.

Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent is set in 1970s Brazil and blends political thriller elements with noir aesthetics to explore surveillance, fear and resistance. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, where it received major recognition, including awards for Best Director and Best Actor, as well as critics' prizes that signaled its strong resonance beyond national borders.

At the Golden Globes ceremony in Los Angeles, the film received three nominations - Best Drama, Best Non-English Language Film and Best Actor in a Drama - becoming the first Brazilian production to be recognized in the drama category. It ultimately secured two awards, marking one of the most significant achievements for Brazilian cinema in the history of the event.

(Reported by Brasil 247 on Jan 12, 2026)