I’m Still Here has made history at the Academy Awards, becoming the first Brazilian film to win Best International Feature. Directed by Walter Salles and starring Fernanda Torres, the political drama triumphed over strong contenders, including Denmark’s The Girl With the Needle, Iran’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and the highly favored Emilia Pérez.
The film, based on the true story of Eunice Paiva, follows her struggle after her husband, Rubens Paiva, was forcibly disappeared and murdered under Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s. This marks Salles’ first Oscar win, though he was previously nominated for Central Station (1998), which lost to Life Is Beautiful.
I’m Still Here has garnered critical acclaim throughout the awards season, securing the Best Screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival and the Audience Award at Rotterdam. Torres, widely praised for her performance, is the daughter of Fernanda Montenegro, who earned an Oscar nomination for Central Station.
Accepting the award, Salles dedicated the honor to Eunice Paiva and the “two women who gave life to her”—Torres and Montenegro.
The film’s victory follows controversy surrounding Emilia Pérez, which initially led the nominations but faced backlash over past social media posts by lead actor Karla Sofía Gascón and criticism regarding its portrayal of Mexico’s history.
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