Brazil Declared Country of Honor at Cannes Following ‘I’m Still Here’ Triumph

Brazilian cinema is enjoying a historic resurgence, with Walter Salles’ “I’m Still Here” becoming the first Brazilian film directed by a Brazilian to win an Oscar for Best International Feature, and the first to be nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress.

Now, Brazil is taking that momentum to the Cannes Film Festival, where it has been named the Country of Honor at this year’s Marché du Film.

The Oscar win follows another major success: Gabriel Mascaro’s “The Blue Trail” clinched the Silver Bear at Berlinale. Brazil is also in the Cannes main competition with Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent,” further proving its strength on the global stage.

Marché du Film Executive Director Guillaume Esmiol said Brazil was chosen for its cinematic legacy, fast-growing industry, and vibrant presence at Cannes, adding that Brazil “brings an unmistakable festive spirit to the Croisette.”

The Marché is hosting a series of events to spotlight Brazil, including a Producers Network with emerging Brazilian talent, a Cannes Docs showcase with four documentaries, and new projects presented by the Rio Film Festival.

Culture Minister Margareth Menezes, who reinstated the Ministry of Culture under President Lula, said Brazil now sees culture as a strategic economic driver. “Brazil is back in cinemas,” she said, noting over 12 million admissions for national films in 2024 alone, with $45 million in box office revenue and a 30% market share for Brazilian films in early 2025.

Over $742 million was invested into the audiovisual industry through the Audiovisual Sector Fund, alongside a $495 million post-pandemic relief fund under the Paulo Gustavo Law. Brazil also reached a record 3,509 screens and reinstated national quotas for local films.

Producer Fabiano Gullane (of Senna and Netflix Brazil) said the country now offers top-tier talent, infrastructure, and global readiness, calling it a “mature market” after 30 years of development. “Today, we’re not just consumers — we’re global content creators.”

Alex Medeiros of Globoplay Originals, which produced I’m Still Here, said the Oscar win for a Portuguese-language, Brazilian story has reignited global interest in the nation’s storytelling power.

O2 Filmes’ Gustavo Gontijo, producer of City of God, said Brazil is entering a new creative wave post-Bolsonaro, with bold upcoming titles like Fernando Meirelles’ Amazon epic “Animal Race” and Netflix’s mini-series “Pssica.”

“This is a moment we must seize,” Gontijo said. “Thanks to restored incentives and Lula’s support, we can finally say again: We want to make cinema.”