The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences shared a scene from "Ainda Estou Aqui" ("I'm Still Here") on its Instagram account, prompting a wave of reactions from Brazilian fans of the Oscar-winning film.
In the clip, Rubens Paiva, played by Selton Mello, is shown at an ice cream shop with his wife Eunice, played by Fernanda Torres, and their children. The scene then cuts to Eunice returning to the same spot with the children, but this time without her husband, who has been taken away by plainclothes military agents and vanishes without a trace.
The post drew a string of comments from Brazilian users. One follower wrote that she had been missing this kind of engagement. Another pointed out that it was Fernanda Torres's birthday and joked that everyone knew that Oscar had really been hers, a reference to her loss in the Best Actress race to Mikey Madison for "Anora." A third commenter wrote that the Oscar account seemed to be missing engagement from Brazil and asked to be given a way to nominate Brazil again this year.
"I'm Still Here" at the Oscars
"Ainda Estou Aqui," directed by Walter Salles, competed at the 2025 Academy Awards ceremony and won Best International Feature Film, Brazil's first Oscar win in that category. The film is based on the disappearance of Rubens Paiva, a former congressman taken by agents of Brazil's military dictatorship, and draws on a memoir written by his son. Torres was also nominated for Best Actress for her performance as Eunice Paiva, though the award went to Madison. Torres and Mello are among Brazil's best known film and television actors.
Brazil's Next Oscar Contender
On Wednesday, September 16, the Brazilian Academy of Cinema is set to choose the country's new submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the next Academy Awards. Six titles are in contention:
- "100 Dias," directed by Carlos Saldanha
- "A Fabulosa Máquina do Tempo," directed by Eliza Capai
- "A Natureza das Coisas Invisíveis," directed by Rafaela Camelo
- "Feito Pipa," directed by Allan Deberton
- "Nosso Segredo," directed by Grace Passô
- "Vicentina Pede Desculpas," directed by Gabriel Martins
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce this year's Oscar nominees on January 21, 2027. The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 14.
