People react upon learning that Brazilian film ‘I’m Still Here’ won the Oscar for best International Feature Film while watching a projection of the ceremony, in Sao Paulo, Sunday, March 2, 2025
| Photo Credit: Ettore Chiereguini
The Brazilian political biographical drama I’m Still Here, made history by becoming the first-ever Brazilian nominee in any category to win an Academy Award.
Vicente Salles, left, Walter Salles, winner of the award for ‘I’m Still Here’ from Brazil, for best international feature film, and Helena Salles attends the Governors Ball after the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Los Angeles
| Photo Credit:
John Locher
Directed by Walter Salles from a screenplay by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, the film is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva‘s 2015 memoir of the same name. Starring Fernanda Torres as a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband during the military dictatorship in Brazil, the film also became the highest-grossing Brazilian film since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This goes to a woman who after a loss suffered during an authoritarian regime decided not to bend and resist. This prize goes to her,” Salles said during his acceptance speech, as he paid homage to Eunice’s bravery, and Torres for portraying her along with Fernanda Montenegro. “And it goes to the two extraordinary women who gave life to her.”
People celebrate upon learning that Brazilian film ‘I’m Still Here’ won the Oscar for best International Feature Film in Sao Paulo, Sunday, March 2, 2025
| Photo Credit:
Ettore Chiereguini
Interestingly, the win and the celebration spilt over to the country’s famous Carnival samba parades as Torres turned into the Carnival muse. The streets of Rio de Janeiro were filled with Torres imitators. According to reports, the announcer at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro shared the results with the tens of thousands of spectators in the crowd, eliciting shouts of joy.
“Today is the day to feel even prouder of being Brazilian,” Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote on X, “Pride for our cinema, for our artists and, primarily, pride for our democracy.”
People react to ‘I’m Still Here’ winning the Oscar for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, in a bar in Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 2, 2025
| Photo Credit:
Carla Carniel
After receiving critical acclaim at the film’s world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay award, Torres won the Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama category at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards. I’m Still Here, apart from being nominated for Best Picture, was also nominated for Best Actress (Torres),
Published – March 03, 2025 01:36 pm IST
