"The Secret Agent" Moves Cannes: Brazilian Film Receives 13 Minutes of Applause and Enters the Race for the Palme d'Or

With Wagner Moura in the lead role, Kleber Mendonça Filho's production celebrates a historic moment for Brazilian cinema and reinforces the country's presence on the international scene

Gabriel Leone, Wagner Moura, Emilie Lesclaux, Kleber Mendonca Filho em Cannes — Foto: Reuters

Brazilian cinema experienced a historic moment this Sunday (18) during the 78th Cannes Film Festival, when "The Secret Agent," directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and starring Wagner Moura, was given a standing ovation for an impressive 13 minutes after its screening in the competitive showcase. The warm reception not only moved the team present but also established the film as one of the favorites in the race for the coveted Palme d'Or, the festival's main prize.

The Brazilian celebration began even before the screening, when the cast and technical crew arrived on the red carpet to the sound of Pernambuco frevo music, bringing Brazil's energy and culture to the heart of the French Riviera. Among those present were actors Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Juliana Paes, Barbara Paz, Isabel Zuaa, and newcomer Caio Venâncio, as well as producer Emilie Lesclaux and the director himself. The delegation was accompanied by the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, and the Secretary of Audiovisual, Joelma Gonzaga, reinforcing institutional support for national production.

"The Marché du Film brings Brazil as the country of honor. This is a wonderful window of opportunity for us, drawing attention to Brazilian production," highlighted Minister Margareth Menezes. "It's a very strong and anticipated moment. It certainly changes the perspective and expectation of national production in relation to the world. We are betting a lot, working hard to go further."

The film's impact goes beyond the warm reception. The first international reviews are extremely positive, with outlets like The Playlist giving the production a perfect score and Indiewire rating it approximately 8 out of 10. Wagner Moura is already mentioned by several critics as a strong candidate for the Best Actor award at the festival, while many specialists claim it is "almost impossible" for the production to leave Cannes without at least one award.

Set in 1970s Brazil, "The Secret Agent" tells the story of a technology specialist professor who returns to Recife, his hometown, only to discover he is being spied on. Despite the historical context, Kleber Mendonça Filho makes it clear that it is not simply a film about the military dictatorship: "The fact that it takes place in 1977 does not automatically and obligatorily make the film about dictatorship. The film is a historical portrait of Brazil."

The production, which is a co-production with Germany, the Netherlands, and France, received resources from the Audiovisual Sector Fund (FSA), highlighting the importance of public support for the cultural sector. "Making culture express itself artistically is part of what a nation means," Kleber stated in an interview. "I'm very happy that 'The Secret Agent' is a Brazilian film, but made with public money, not only from Brazil but also from France, Germany, and the Netherlands."

The success of "The Secret Agent" in Cannes comes at a particularly significant moment for Brazilian cinema, which has been accumulating international recognition. In February of this year, "The Last Blue," by Gabriel Mascaro, won second place at the Berlin Film Festival, and a few weeks later, "Still I Am Here," by Walter Salles, won the Oscar for Best International Film. This sequence of achievements reinforces the quality and relevance of Brazilian audiovisual production on the global stage.

Parallel to the film's screening, Brazil also made its presence felt in Cannes with important events, such as the conference "Who to (co)produce with in Brazil?", which brought together production companies and institutions from different regions of the country to present the multiple profiles of Brazilian audiovisual to the international market. Producer Marco Altberg highlighted the country as "several Brazils in one. It's a gigantic country, with various biomes, cultures, and possible stories. And Brazilian cinema can offer this diversity of content that the world is seeking."

Another significant event was the panel "Voices of the Majority in Cinema: Brazil's 54% Black Population Cannot Wait," which brought together artists, producers, and representatives of organizations working to strengthen Black presence in Brazilian audiovisual. Actress and producer Camila Pitanga, UN Women ambassador, made an emotional appeal: "I want the Brazil of Luiz Gama, of Carolina Maria de Jesus. More Antônios, Pitangas, Benedita da Silva. We exist. This is the Brazilian cinema I want to see."

For us at Névoa Filmes, following the trajectory of "The Secret Agent" in Cannes is witnessing a transformative moment for Brazilian cinema. The 13-minute ovation is not just recognition of the talent of Kleber Mendonça Filho, Wagner Moura, and the entire team involved, but also a celebration of Brazil's ability to produce works that dialogue with the world without losing their identity and roots.

Expectations now turn to the awards ceremony, which will take place next Saturday (24), when we will know if "The Secret Agent" will bring the long-dreamed Palme d'Or to Brazil. Regardless of the result, the film has already entered history as a landmark of Brazilian audiovisual and a symbol of our country's creative and artistic potential.

Sources:

• O Cafezinho: "Brazilian film moves Cannes with 13 minutes of applause," 05/19/2025

• CBN: "Acclaimed in Cannes, 'The Secret Agent' already appears among the favorites for awards at the festival," 05/19/2025

• Brasil de Fato: "Brazilian film 'The Secret Agent' receives standing ovation at its premiere at the Cannes Festival," 05/18/2025