Academia of Artes and Ciências Cinematográficas revealed this Thursday morning, January 22nd, the complete list of nominees for the 98th edition of The country won a total of five nominations, with great emphasis on the feature film “O Agente Secreto”, which competes in four weight categories, including Melhor Filme and Melhor Ator for Wagner Moura.
The ceremony, which celebrates the best films of the last year, is scheduled to take place on March 15, 2026, directly from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Além of the film directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brasil is also present in the Melhor Fotografia category with the work of
Among the films with the highest number of general nominations are “Uma Batalha Após a Outra”, by Paul Thomas Anderson, and “Pecadores”, directed by Ryan Coogler, which emerge as favorites in several categories. This year’s edition is also marked by the debut of the Melhor Elenco category, in which “The Agente Secreto” is also in contention.
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Historical performance of national cinema
The presence of “The Agente Secreto” in four main categories represents one of the most impressive performances by the Brasil in the history of the Oscar. The film was nominated for Melhor Filme, Melhor Filme Internacional, Melhor Ator for Wagner Moura and in the new category of Melhor Elenco. Essa multiple performance places Brazilian production at a level of recognition rarely seen, competing directly with major productions of Hollywood and world cinema. The acclaim reflects the positive reception the film has received at international festivals since its release.
Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, the film is a political thriller set in 1977, during the military dictatorship, and follows a university professor who finds himself involved in a spy plot. The dense narrative and precise direction of Mendonça Filho were crucial for the recognition of Academia, which valued both the technical aspects and the thematic relevance of the work. The nomination for Melhor Filme Internacional was already expected, but inclusion in the main category solidifies the film’s status as one of the most important of the year.
Wagner Moura in the fierce competition for best actor
The nomination of Wagner Moura in the category of Melhor Ator is a milestone for his career and for Brazilian acting. Ele delivers an intense and complex performance, which was widely praised by specialized critics throughout the awards season, guaranteeing its place among the five finalists.
Competition in the category is one of the strongest in recent years. Moura competes for the statuette with established names and rising talents, including Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme”, Leonardo DiCaprio for “Uma Batalha Após to Outra”, Ethan Hawke for “Blue Moon” and
This appointment consolidates the international trajectory of Wagner Moura, who had already gained global notoriety for his roles in productions such as the series “Narcos” and the film “Sergio”. Sua performance in “O Agente Secreto” is seen as the culmination of his artistic maturity, combining vulnerability and strength in an impactful way.
Adolpho Veloso recognized for photography
Completing the list of Brazilian nominees, Adolpho Veloso competes in the Melhor Fotografia category for his work in the North American drama “Sonhos de Trem”. The nomination highlights the technical excellence of the professional, who managed to create a visually poetic and desolate atmosphere for the film directed by Clint Bentley. Veloso competes with the directors of photography of “Frankenstein”, “Marty Supreme”, “Uma Batalha Após a
The biggest favorites of the edition
The competition for this year’s Melhor Filme prize promises to be fierce, with ten productions of varying genres and styles. Entre the main competitors are “Uma Batalha Após a Outra”, “Pecadores”, “Hamnet: A Vida Antes de Hamlet” and “Valor
In the category of Melhor Direção, competition includes Paul Thomas Anderson (“An Batalha Após to Outra”), Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”),
Among the actresses, the competition is also open, with acclaimed performances by Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Emma Stone (“Bugonia”) and Renate Reinsve (“Valor Sentimental”). The supporting categories also feature big names, such as Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn, both for “Uma Batalha Após to Outra”.
Films like “Frankenstein”, by Guillermo del Toro, stood out in the technical categories, such as Figurino, Som, respectively, showing the strength of large studio productions.
The debut of the best cast category
One of the biggest new features of the 98th edition of Oscar is the introduction of the Melhor Elenco category, a recognition that has long been requested by industry professionals. The new category aims to reward the joint work of a group of actors, celebrating the synergy and collective strength of the performances that support a film. The creation of this award aligns the Oscar with other important awards, such as the SAG Awards, which already have a similar category. Para to be eligible, the film’s main cast is evaluated as a whole, considering the way in which the performances complement each other to build the narrative and bring the characters to life. The first nominees in the history of the category are the casts of “Hamnet”, “Marty Supreme”, “Uma Batalha Após a Outra”, “O
Awards Ceremony Details
The big night of world cinema will take place on March 15, 2026, broadcast live to more than 200 countries from Los Angeles. Academia seeks to revitalize the event format to attract a younger audience, promising a dynamic ceremony with musical performances of the original songs nominated.
Expectations now turn to the coming weeks, when the directors, producers and actors unions will announce their own winners, serving as an important barometer for the night of Oscar. The studios’ campaign intensifies, seeking to secure votes from Academia members for their respective films.
Check out the full list of nominees
The following are the nominees in the main categories of the 98th edition of Oscar, as announced by Academia.
Best film
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet: The Vida Antes of Hamlet
Marty Supreme
One Batalha Após to Outra
The Agente Secreto
Value Sentimental
Sinners
Dreams of Trem
Best international film
The Agente Secreto (Brazil)
It was Apenas an Acidente (France)
Value Sentimental (Norway)
Sirât (Spain)
To Voz of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio, Uma Batalha Após to Outra
Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Pecadores
Wagner Moura, O Agente Secreto
Best actress
Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Rose Byrne, Se Eu Tivesse Pernas, Eu te
Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
Emma Stone, Bugonia
Renate Reinsve, Valor Sentimental
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro, Uma Batalha Após to Outra
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
Sean Penn, Uma Batalha Após to Outra
Stellan Skarsgård, Valor Sentimental
Delroy Lindo, Pecadores
Best Supporting Actress
Elle Fanning, Valor Sentimental
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Valor Sentimental
Amy Madigan, Hora of Mal
Wunmi Mosaku, Pecadores
Teyana Taylor, Uma Batalha Após to Outra
Best cast
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Batalha Após to Outra
The Agente Secreto
Sinners
Best direction
Paul Thomas Anderson, by Uma Batalha Após to Outra
Ryan Coogler, by Pecadores
Joachim Trier, by Valor Sentimental
Chloé Zhao, by Hamnet
Josh Safdie, by Marty Supreme
Best animation
Bow
Elio
K-Pop warriors
A Pequena Amélie
Zootopia 2
Best original screenplay
Blue Moon: Música and Solidão
Marty Supreme
Value Sentimental
Sinners
It was Apenas an Acidente
Best adapted screenplay
Bugonia
One Batalha Após to Outra
Hamnet
Dreams of Trem
Frankenstein
Best photography
Frankenstein
Marty Supreme
One Batalha Após to Outra
Sinners
Dreams of Trem (Adolpho Veloso)
