Historic Night for Brazilian Cinema at 83rd Golden Globes
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards, held on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, marked a historic occasion for Brazilian cinema. The film 'The Secret Agent' (O Agente Secreto), directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, clinched two prestigious awards: Best Motion Picture in a Non-English Language and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for its lead, Wagner Moura.
This double victory represents a significant milestone, as it is the first time a Brazilian film has won two major awards in the same edition of the Golden Globes. The last Brazilian film to win in the Best Foreign Language Film category was 'Central Station' in 1998.
Wagner Moura's Groundbreaking Win
Wagner Moura's win for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for his portrayal in 'The Secret Agent' is particularly noteworthy, making him the first Brazilian actor to achieve this honor. Moura, 49, previously received a Golden Globe nomination in 2016 for his role as Pablo Escobar in the Netflix series 'Narcos'.
In his acceptance speech, Moura reflected on the film's themes, stating, 'The Secret Agent is a film about memory — or the lack of memory — and generational trauma. I think if trauma can be passed along generations, values can too. So this is to the ones that are sticking with their values in difficult moments.'
'The Secret Agent': A Story of Memory and Trauma
Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, 'The Secret Agent' is a political thriller set during Brazil's military dictatorship of the 1970s. Moura plays Armando, a former professor forced into hiding while attempting to protect his young son during this tumultuous period.
The film's critical acclaim extends beyond the Golden Globes, having previously earned Moura the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival, making him the first Brazilian performer to win that honor as well. The film also received three awards at Cannes and was named Best International Film by the New York Film Critics Circle.
National Pride and Recognition
The victories were met with widespread celebration in Brazil. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate the film's team, writing, 'Brazilian cinema once again at the top of the world!' He further emphasized the importance of Brazilian art and culture, stating, 'The doors will always be open to Brazilian art and culture.'
These awards follow another recent success for Brazilian talent, with Fernanda Torres having won Best Actress in a Drama at the 2025 Golden Globes for her role in 'I'm Still Here'. The achievements of 'The Secret Agent' and Wagner Moura underscore Brazil's growing presence and influence on the international cinematic stage.
6 Comments
Fuerza
Wagner Moura's performance is clearly captivating, and his speech about values resonates deeply. Still, the Golden Globes have faced criticism for their voting body and influence, so the 'prestige' needs to be viewed with some perspective.
Manolo Noriega
It's fantastic to see Brazilian talent recognized on a global stage, and Moura's win is well-earned. However, these awards often don't translate into broader audience engagement or consistent funding for diverse local productions.
Fuerza
Golden Globes are just an industry pat on the back. Doesn't mean much in the real world.
Ongania
While the national pride is understandable and it's great for visibility, we should be cautious not to overstate the impact of Hollywood awards. True progress for Brazilian cinema requires sustained investment and infrastructure, not just occasional accolades.
Fuerza
The film's exploration of generational trauma during the dictatorship is undoubtedly important and brave. Yet, focusing so heavily on a specific political period might limit its appeal to international audiences not deeply familiar with that history.
Leonardo
Awards don't fix anything. What about the real problems Brazil faces daily?