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Brazil’s Gramado Fest Set to Honor ‘I’m Still Here’ Star Selton Mello and ‘The Secret Agent’ Standout Maria Fernanda Cândido
As Brazilian cinema gains prominence on the international stage, the Gramado Film Festival will recognise two of the nation's most celebrated actors. Selton Mello starred in "I'm Still Here," which made history as the first Brazilian feature in Portuguese to win an Academy Award, whilst Maria Fernanda Cândido achieved global recognition through "The Secret Agent," which received four Oscar nominations—a Brazilian record. Both performers will be honoured at the festival's 54th edition.
Running from August 12–22 in the mountain resort of Gramado, the festival will showcase six Brazilian films competing for the main prize, with five premiering for the first time. The opening selection is "Antártida," produced by media corporation Globo and set at an Antarctic research station, whilst the festival will also present the Brazilian premiere of "Emergência 53," a television series that won recognition at Berlin's festival marketplace. The programme concludes with a Chilean-Brazilian co-production.
In short
- Brazil's Gramado Film Festival honours Oscar-winning actors Selton Mello and Maria Fernanda Cândido
- The 54th edition (August 12–22) features six Brazilian films competing, opening with Antarctic-set drama 'Antártida'
- The festival reflects Brazil's growing prominence in international cinema
Explained simply
The Gramado Film Festival is a major annual event held in a mountain resort town in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state. It is one of Brazil's most significant film events, showcasing cinema from across the country and internationally.
Brazilian cinema has recently gained prominence on the international stage. In 2025, "I'm Still Here" became the first Brazilian film in Portuguese to win the Academy Award for Best International Feature. Another Brazilian production, "The Secret Agent," received four Oscar nominations, the most ever for a Brazilian film.
Selton Mello and Maria Fernanda Cândido are two of Brazil's most celebrated actors who have recently achieved international recognition through their performances in Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated films. By honouring them at the Gramado Festival, the event acknowledges both their individual talents and the broader international success of Brazilian cinema.
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