Unprecedented Victory: Brazil Makes History and Wins First Oscar with "I'm Still Here"

Brazil has achieved a historic milestone by winning an Oscar for the first time. The film "I'm Still Here" won the statuette in the Best International Film category. Directed by Walter Salles, the film was honored at the 97th awards ceremony on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. "I'm Still Here" not only won in the international category but also received significant nominations for Best Picture, competing with major productions for the evening's top prize, but lost to Anora. Actress Fernanda Torres, who played the lead role in the film, was nominated for her performance and stood out among the female performances of the year like Demi Moore, but lost to Mikey Madison from Anora. "On behalf of Brazilian cinema, it is a great honor to receive this award from such an exceptional group. It goes to a woman who, after such a great loss in such an authoritarian regime, decided not to bend and to resist. This award goes to her: Her name is Eunice Paiva. And it also goes to the extraordinary women who brought her to life. Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro," said director Walter Salles in his acceptance speech. With the victory of "I'm Still Here," Brazil joins the few countries that have already won an Oscar - a moment awaited by Brazilian filmmakers and fans for decades. This success is comparable to the historic nomination of "City of God" (2004) and the evolution of films like "Central Station" (1999), for which Fernanda Montenegro was nominated as Best Actress.