Petra Costa's 'Apocalypse in the Tropics' Secures Four Nominations for the 2026 Oscars

Petra Costa’s documentary feature, “Apocalypse in the Tropics,” has garnered significant attention within the film community, culminating in four nominations for the prestigious 2026 Academy Awards. This recognition highlights the profound impact the work has made on cinematic discourse. The film is vying for accolades in key categories, including Best Documentary Feature, Best Director, Best Production Design, and Best Screenplay. Furthermore, the documentary leads the pack at the IDA Awards, having secured four nominations there as well, notably for Best Feature Documentary and Best Director.

Released on Netflix, the film offers an in-depth examination of the rapid ascent of evangelical influence within Brazil’s political landscape. This project continues Costa’s dedicated exploration of pressing socio-political issues, a thematic thread she established with her earlier work starting in 2019. The director, who previously earned an Oscar nomination in 2020 for “The Edge of Democracy,” meticulously analyzes how Christian nationalism has reshaped the contours of Brazilian governance. Her investigation zeroes in on the evangelical movement, which has transformed from representing about five percent of the population roughly four decades ago to commanding an estimated 30 percent today, thereby becoming a formidable political bloc.

“Apocalypse in the Tropics” features candid interviews with pivotal figures shaping the national narrative. Among those featured are the influential televangelist Silas Malafaia and the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, alongside former head of state Jair Bolsonaro. Malafaia, who established his branch of the Assemblies of God in 1993, leverages media platforms extensively. For instance, in 2024, he commanded 4.1 million followers on Instagram to disseminate his conservative viewpoints. Costa documented the crucial role Malafaia played in elevating Bolsonaro, whom the preacher viewed as divinely chosen to lead the nation.

The film premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, setting the stage for its international reception. The documentary provides a historical context, tracing how American evangelical missionaries may have been deployed to Brazil during the Cold War era as a countermeasure against the spread of liberation theology. Costa observed during her production process an “extraordinary capture of political power by religious leaders.” This phenomenon reflects a drive toward establishing a Christian state and safeguarding cultural conservatism, fueled significantly by a literal interpretation of the Book of Revelation.

The narrative effectively contrasts the positions taken by various political actors. Lula da Silva, who was raised Catholic, has chosen to align with supporting anti-abortion legislation, prioritizing food security as his primary concern. In stark opposition, Malafaia openly wields his political clout. It is noteworthy that while Malafaia supported Lula back in 2002, he later severed ties with the president and the Workers’ Party to back conservative factions. The international success of this film underscores the contemporary relevance of the fragility of democratic institutions—a central concern that also defined Costa’s earlier, 2020 Oscar-nominated effort.