The Secret Agent Wins Spirit Award for Best International Film

At the Independent Spirit Awards on Sunday, February 15, 2026, the Brazilian film The Secret Agent won Best International Film. This marked director Kleber Mendonca Filho’s first win after three nominations. In his acceptance speech, Filho dedicated the prize to film programmers and young filmmakers worldwide, stating, “They have the chance to make emotional films about life, about people, about their neighborhood…Cinema is its own memory manifestation and a political act.” He also acknowledged the late German actor Udo Kier, a member of The Secret Agent team who passed away in November 2025. Brazilian filmmaker Adolpho Veloso also won Best Cinematography for Dreams of the Train (Sonhos de Trem). Wagner Moura, who stars in The Secret Agent, presented the award to Veloso, expressing his happiness and acknowledging the challenges of filmmaking. The Spirit Awards, presented by Film Independent, honor films made with budgets under $30 million. Nominations for the 41st annual awards were announced live on YouTube in December 2025. The ceremony, which moved from Santa Monica Pier to the Hollywood Palladium in May 2025, also recognized the following films: Train Dreams won Best Feature and is nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

The Perfect Neighbor Wins Spirit Award, Adolescence Triumphs in New Scripted Series, and The Secret Agent Scoops Best International Film & Academy Nominations

The Perfect Neighbor won Best Documentary. Endless Cookie was nominated for Best Documentary Feature. Boys Go to Jupiter was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award. Several awards were also given in the Best New Scripted Series category: Adolescence (Winner) Stephen Graham, Adolescence (Best Lead Performance) Erin Doherty, Adolescence (Best Supporting Performance) Owen Cooper (Best Breakthrough Performance) Chief of War (Best Ensemble Cast) Common Side Effects (Nominee) The Secret Agent beat out All That Remains of You, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Um Poeta, and Sirat for Best International Film. Veloso’s cinematography in Dreams of the Train edged out the work of Alex Ashe, Norm Li, David J. Thompson, and Nicole Hirsch Whitaker. The Secret Agent has also received four nominations for the Academy Awards on March 15: Best Picture, Best Actor (Wagner Moura), Best International Film, and Best Cast. Additionally, Adolpho Veloso is nominated for Best Cinematography. “I make a great thank you to everyone who participated in the film,” the filmmaker emphasized. “This prize goes to all.” Considered one of the premier independent film awards in the United States, the Spirit Awards celebrate independent filmmaking and talent.

In Case You Missed It

In a fascinating turn of events, Sophie Laurent explores the vibrant intersection of culture and commerce in her latest article, “Brazilian Games Sale 2026 Starts TODAY” Brazilian Games Sale 2026 Starts TODAY. Published on February 13th, this piece delves into how Brazil’s traditional Carnaval festival has evolved to become a showcase for Made In Brazil Sale promotions on Steam and Nuuvem. With over 1,000 indie games on sale from February 13th to 17th, this year’s edition is a testament to the growing strength of Brazil’s video game market. Meanwhile, film enthusiasts can mark their calendars for Sophie’s latest insightful article, published on February 9th, where she takes us behind the scenes of the International Cinephile Society Awards. Here, Brazilian film ‘The Secret Agent’ walked away with multiple wins, sparking intrigue about its Oscar 2026 prospects – catch this captivating read here International Cinephile Society Awards Brazilian Film ‘The Secret Agent’. Speaking of ‘The Secret Agent’, Margot Robbie recently took a moment to gush about her co-star Wagner Moura in an interview published on February 5th, calling him “really very handsome” and praising his exceptional performance in the film. If you’re curious about this heartthrob’s rise to fame and the upcoming romantic drama ‘The Hill of Winds’, be sure to check out Margot Robbie Calls Wagner Moura ‘Really Very Handsome’ Margot Robbie Calls Wagner Moura ‘Really Very Handsome.