Golden Globes 2026: 'The Secret Agent' wins big, Brazil Prez Lula hails proud moment for country's cinema
Los Angeles, January 12
Brazilian cinema has received global praise after the film 'The Secret Agent' won big at the Golden Globe Awards 2026.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva joined in celebrating the big moment as the film bagged two major awards at the ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday night (local time) in California.
Lula took to his account on X social media platform to share a series of pictures along with a note expressing his happiness about the success of Brazilian artists on the world stage. He recalled hosting members of the film's cast and crew last year and said the moment remains special for him and First Lady Janja.
"Best Non-English Language Film and Best Drama Actor. A double win for The Secret Agent at the @goldenglobes, making history in Brazilian cinema. A day of glory and recognition for the talent of our artists. What an honor it was to receive, in August of last year, part of the film's cast and production team for a screening at the Cine Alvorada. Janja and I cherish every moment of that extraordinary night in our memory. The doors will always be open to Brazilian art and culture," his X post read.
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'The Secret Agent' bagged two major awards at the ceremony held on Sunday night, one for Best Non-English Language Film and another for Best Drama Actor.
Actor Wagner Moura made history by becoming the first Brazilian actor to win Best Actor in a Drama Film at the Golden Globe Awards. He won the award for his role in The Secret Agent. Years after gaining global fame with Netflix's Narcos and earning an earlier Golden Globe nomination, Moura finally took home the trophy.
While accepting the award, Wagner Moura spoke about the deeper meaning of the film and the message it carries across generations. Talking about values and difficult times, he said, "'The Secret Agent' is a film about memory, or the lack of memory, and generational trauma. I think that 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," said Moura as per Variety.
The Secret Agent is set in Brazil in 1977, during the time of military rule. In the film, Moura plays a technology expert and political dissident who tries to escape persecution while standing up against an oppressive system. The film is directed by Kleber Mendonca Filho.
The film earlier received strong praise at the Cannes Film Festival. Wagner Moura won Best Actor at Cannes, while the director won Best Director, according to Variety. The film also won the Art House Cinema Award and the FIPRESCI Prize.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Congratulations to the entire team! Wagner Moura is a phenomenal actor, loved him in Narcos. It's great that the film tackles a difficult period in Brazil's history. Art that reflects on political trauma is so important. Hope our Indian filmmakers also get more courage to explore such themes with depth.
President Lula's support for the arts is commendable. When our leaders celebrate cultural achievements on the world stage, it boosts national pride and the creative industry. More power to Brazilian cinema! Meanwhile, our own film industry needs better support systems beyond just box office numbers.
While the win is deserved, I sometimes feel these awards are still very Western-centric. A film needs to fit a certain 'international' narrative to be recognized. That said, kudos to the team for breaking through. The actor's speech about passing down values was very moving.
Double win! That's huge. It shows the power of regional storytelling. Brazil and India both have such rich, complex histories that can fuel incredible cinema. This should be a lesson for our producers to invest in meaningful content, not just masala remakes. Jai Brazilian cinema! 🙌
So happy for them! The plot about standing against an oppressive system during military rule sounds powerful. Art has a duty to remember and reflect. We need more Indian films that are unafraid to look at our own past with such honesty. Congrats to Wagner Moura and the director!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.