Kleber Mendonça Filho's "O Agente Secreto" (The Secret Agent) has made a splash at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, securing significant accolades. The film earned Filho the Best Director prize and Wagner Moura the Best Actor award.
Set in Recife in 1977, "O Agente Secreto" delves into the political tensions of Brazil's military dictatorship. The film follows university professor Marcelo's return to Recife as he seeks to reconnect with his family. Filho wrote the role specifically for Moura, praising him as a great actor and admirer of Brazilian culture.
Filho described the film as an honest portrayal of Brazil from a historical perspective. Before the official ceremony, "O Agente Secreto" also received the FIPRESCI award from international critics and the "Art et Essai" award from independent exhibitors in France. The Palme d'Or 2025 was awarded to "A Simple Accident" by Jafar Panahi.