On this Sunday, March 2, Brazilian cinema etched a historic moment into the annals of the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “I’m Still Here,” directed by Walter Salles, claimed the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, marking the first time a Brazilian production has won this prestigious award. Starring Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva, the film moved a global audience with its portrayal of a woman’s fight against the horrors of Brazil’s military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the ceremony kicked off at 8 p.m. local time (midnight Brasília time), cementing the movie as a cultural and cinematic milestone celebrated by critics and viewers alike.
The triumph of “I’m Still Here” followed an intense campaign that earned it three Oscar nominations: Best International Feature Film, Best Picture, and Best Actress for Fernanda Torres. Though it competed in the Best Picture category against heavyweights like “Anora” and “Wicked,” it shone brightest in the international race, outpacing strong contenders such as “Emilia Pérez” from France and “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” from Germany. Adapted from Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s book, the film had already drawn over 4.1 million viewers in Brazil since its November 2024 release, making it the fifth highest-grossing Brazilian film ever with 85.41 million reais in box office revenue by February.
Broadcast live by ABC in the United States, the event reached Brazilian audiences via TNT and HBO Max, sparking a wave of national pride online as the win was announced. Walter Salles and his team accepting the award on the Oscar stage symbolized not just an artistic victory, but a tribute to the resilience depicted on screen.
Brazil snags the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Congratulations to the cast and crew of I'M STILL HERE! ???????? #Oscars pic.twitter.com/uT5ELiigMg
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025
Fernanda Torres shines on the red carpet
Even before the award was announced, Fernanda Torres was a standout of the evening. On the red carpet, the actress, portraying Eunice Paiva, arrived in a stunning gown that mirrored her character’s strength and grace. At 59, she joined the cast and director Walter Salles at the Dolby Theatre, radiating confidence after securing the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama in January. Her performance, marked by devastating subtlety, had been widely praised since the film’s debut at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024, where it received a ten-minute standing ovation.
Torres’ presence at the Oscars also bridged generations of Brazilian cinema, as her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, was the first Brazilian actress nominated for an Oscar in 1999 for “Central Station,” also directed by Salles. While Montenegro didn’t win that year, the victory of “I’m Still Here” in the international category crowned a family and artistic legacy spanning decades.
An unlikely journey to glory
The path of “I’m Still Here” to Oscar glory was filled with twists. Initially overlooked in early awards season predictions, which favored “Emilia Pérez” in the international category, the film gained momentum with its emotional portrayal of Eunice Paiva—a housewife turned lawyer and activist after her husband Rubens Paiva’s forced disappearance during the dictatorship. Its unexpected nomination for Best Picture, a first for a Portuguese-language Brazilian film, further defied expectations.
Behind the scenes, Sony Pictures Classics, the film’s distributor, ramped up its campaign after Torres’ Golden Globe win, expanding U.S. screenings in February to over 500 theaters by the 7th of that month. A mix of positive word-of-mouth, international accolades like the Goya Award for Best Ibero-American Film, and the FIPRESCI prize at Palm Springs propelled “I’m Still Here” to a level few anticipated at the campaign’s outset.
A Brazilian milestone at the Oscars
The win of “I’m Still Here” as Best International Feature Film resonated far beyond cinema, touching on historical and emotional chords for Brazil. The movie delves into the dark years of the military dictatorship, a period that left deep scars on society, and gives voice to Eunice Paiva’s struggle as she became a lawyer at 48 to seek justice and shield her five children. Featuring Selton Mello as Rubens Paiva, the production earned praise for its delicate handling of a heavy subject, avoiding melodramatic clichés and focusing on the protagonist’s quiet strength.
Since its premiere, the film posted remarkable figures. Beyond its record-breaking Brazilian box office, it grossed 18.7 million dollars worldwide by February, becoming the country’s biggest post-pandemic hit. The Oscar win solidified this success, putting Brazil in the global spotlight at a time when its culture seeks international affirmation. Walter Salles, who previously took “Central Station” to an Oscar nomination in 1999, accepting the award reaffirmed his stature as one of Latin America’s most influential filmmakers.
Awards season timeline
The road to the Oscar for “I’m Still Here” unfolded through key milestones in 2024 and 2025. Here’s a rundown of the film’s journey:
- September 2024: World premiere at the Venice Film Festival, winning Best Screenplay.
- November 2024: Theatrical release in Brazil, drawing over 2.9 million viewers in its opening weeks.
- January 2025: Three Oscar nominations announced, including Best International Feature, Best Picture, and Best Actress.
- March 2, 2025: Victory as Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
These steps illustrate how the film built momentum over months, culminating in its historic night at the Dolby Theatre.
Reactions to Brazil’s triumph
Met with a standing ovation at the Dolby Theatre, Walter Salles raised the Oscar alongside Fernanda Torres and Selton Mello, dedicating the win to Eunice Paiva’s memory and the dictatorship’s victims. The victory unleashed a flood of pride in Brazil, with millions of social media posts celebrating the achievement. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who had congratulated the film for its nominations in January, spoke again, hailing its significance for national culture.
Internationally, the press noted the surprise of “I’m Still Here” overtaking “Emilia Pérez,” which entered the Oscars with 13 nominations but missed out on the international prize. The Academy’s choice was seen as a nod to the film’s authenticity and historical weight, resonating with voters through its intimate yet powerful narrative.
Keys to the film’s success
Several elements fueled the triumph of “I’m Still Here” at the Oscars. Here are some standout factors:
- Fernanda Torres’ performance: Her restrained yet emotional portrayal of Eunice Paiva earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.
- Walter Salles’ direction: His sensitivity in balancing personal drama with political context won widespread acclaim.
- Historical relevance: The real-life story of resistance amid dictatorship struck a chord in a world focused on human rights.
- Strategic campaign: Expanded U.S. screenings and prior awards boosted the film’s visibility among voters.
These aspects turned “I’m Still Here” from an underdog into a frontrunner, securing its international win.
A landmark for Brazilian cinema
With “I’m Still Here,” Brazil not only clinched its first Oscar for Best International Feature Film but also carved a new chapter in its cinematic history. The film joins a rare group of non-English-language movies breaking barriers at the awards, like “Parasite” in 2020 and “The Zone of Interest” in 2024. Yet its Best Picture nomination, unprecedented for a Brazilian film, had already elevated the nation’s standing before the win.
The Oscar night also celebrated other victories, like “Anora” taking Best Picture and “Flow” winning Best Animated Feature, but “I’m Still Here” stood out uniquely. Fernanda Montenegro’s role as an older Eunice added a layer of familial and artistic continuity to the narrative. The film’s global success, with confirmed release dates in new Latin American and European markets, promises to extend its reach even further.
Eunice Paiva’s legacy on screen
The story of Eunice Paiva, which inspired “I’m Still Here,” came alive on screen with a force that transcends entertainment. Played by Fernanda Torres in her younger years and Fernanda Montenegro later in life, the character reflects a mother’s transformation into a resistance icon. After Rubens Paiva’s arrest and disappearance in 1971, Eunice faced interrogations, protected her children, and later earned a law degree to pursue justice, becoming a human rights symbol in Brazil.
Shot in chronological order, the film allowed Torres to embody the absence of Selton Mello, who exits after the early scenes, mirroring Eunice’s real loss. This narrative choice, paired with Salles’ deft direction, lent authenticity to a story already a critical hit since Venice. The Oscar win amplifies this tale, bringing it to a worldwide audience and cementing its place in collective memory.
