Brazilian cinema is experiencing a historic moment of international recognition, driven by consecutive achievements at the world's major awards ceremonies and record-breaking public investment in the audiovisual sector. The film "I'm Still Here," directed by Walter Salles and starring Fernanda Torres, won the Oscar for Best International Film last year, attracting 5.8 million viewers in Brazilian theaters. Now, "The Secret Agent," by Kleber Mendonça Filho, starring Wagner Moura in the lead role, has accumulated four Oscar nominations and already sold 2.5 million tickets on the national circuit.
Funding figures confirm the sector's vitality. In 2025, the audiovisual sector received BRL 1.41 billion in disbursed public funds — the highest on record and a 29% increase from 2024. The Audiovisual Sectoral Fund (FSA) invested BRL 564 million directly, supporting 1,556 active projects. The country produced 3,981 non-advertising audiovisual works in the period, also an absolute record.
Despite production growth, distribution remains a structural challenge for the sector. Of 203 Brazilian productions commercially released in 2025, just seven concentrated 73% of total viewership, while 111 films attracted fewer than one thousand viewers each. Market consultant Rodrigo Saturnino Braga observes that "resources invested in production lack proportional investment in commercialization and release," pointing to an asymmetry that limits the reach of works with audiences.
To expand the visibility of national cinema in commercial theaters, the government implemented mandatory screen quotas through Law 14,815/2024, with validity extended through 2033. In December 2025, new regulations were established requiring all commercial cinemas in the country to reserve a minimum number of sessions or screening days exclusively for Brazilian films, varying by theater complex size.
Distributor Silvia Cruz emphasizes that spontaneous public engagement transformed "The Secret Agent" into a cultural phenomenon that transcends entertainment, demonstrating the economic and identity-building impact cinema can have when it achieves genuine connection with audiences. Brazil's presence at international festivals has also strengthened: Brazil was the Country of Honor at Cannes' Marché du Film in 2025 and actively participates in BRICS cinema initiatives and CPLP audiovisual programs.
The internationalization of Brazilian cinema gains new chapters with the opening of registrations for the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, scheduled for June 12-21, 2026. The festival, which combines screenings with market activities, has previously featured Brazilian productions such as "Pacarrete," "Pelé," "Saudade Fez Morada Aqui Dentro," and "Phantom Portraits" in prior editions. Memorandums signed between Brazil and China in 2024 strengthen bilateral cinematographic relations, focusing on co-productions, cultural diversity promotion, and professional exchange.