“The Secret Agent” is a historical political thriller film written and directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho that follows Armando (NYFCC Best Actor winner Wagner Moura), a former professor caught in the political turmoil of the final years of the Brazilian military dictatorship, attempting to flee persecution and resist an authoritarian, deceitful regime. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received widespread acclaim and was the festival’s most awarded film, winning the Best Actor award for Moura, the Best Director award for Mendonça Filho, the Art House Cinema Award, and the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film. At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, it became the first Brazilian film nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama (Moura), and it also received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. It has been selected as Brazil’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Kleber Mendonça Filho and Wagner Moura were kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from NEON. Thank you, and enjoy!
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