Meet ‘The Secret Agent’ 14 Rivals in the Race for Best International Film Oscar

• Oscars 2026: “The Secret Agent”, “Apocalypse in the Tropics” and the short film “Amarela” are on the pre-nominated lists

As expected, the Brazilian feature film “The Secret Agent” remains in the running and will attempt to repeat the feat of “I’m Still Here”, by Walter Sales, winner of the category during the last edition.

Discover the 15 pre-nominees for the Oscar for best international film:

“The Secret Agent” (Brazil)

The Brazilian film, which won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival – best director for Kleber Mendonça Filho and best actor for Wagner Mour – tells the story of Marcelo, a technology specialist who returns to Recife in search of peace and reunion with his own son. The plot takes place in Recife, in 1977. The cast also includes Alice Carvalho, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Gabriel Leone and Maria Fernanda Cândido.

“It was just an accident” (France)

Winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, “It Was Just an Accident”, by Jafar Panahi, is considered one of the favorites for the Oscar. In addition to rewarding one of the films of the year, the work could also represent an opportunity for the Academy to celebrate a filmmaker persecuted by the Iranian government. The plot follows a former political prisoner who thinks he recognized one of his torturers. He then attempts to confirm the identity of the subject so that he can take revenge.

“The only way out” (South Korea)

Park Chan-wook’s new film “The Only Way Out” was one of the highlights of the 2025 Venice Film Festival. The film tells the story of Man-soo (Lee Byung-hun), a man who is laid off from the paper company where he worked for 25 years. Faced with the difficulty of finding a new job, he sees the new financial reality radically change his family’s life. Desperate to find a job, he makes a drastic decision: eliminate his main competitors for the position.

“Sentimental value” (Norway)

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and with eight nominations for the Golden Globes, the Norwegian film “Sentimental Value” is one of the favorites of the year. Joachim Trier’s drama tells the story of a director (Stellan Skarsgård) who seeks to repair his relationship with his two daughters (Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas). He offers a role in his new semi-biographical work to his eldest daughter. Faced with her refusal, he ends up choosing a Hollywood star (Elle Fanning), which generates contradictory feelings in the first-born.

Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, “Sirât” is the new film by Oliver Laxe, produced by El Deseo, the production company of Pedro Almodóvar. The plot follows a father’s search for his daughter, who disappeared during a rave in the south of Morocco. Along with his youngest son, he undertakes a grueling journey across the desert, following a group of rave-goers.

“The voice of Hind Rajab” (Tunisia)

One of the most disturbing feature films of the season, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. It also won the “title” for the most applauded film at the event, celebrated with more than 20 minutes of applause during its official session. Written and directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film depicts the attempt of volunteers from the Red Crescent – ​​a humanitarian organization linked to the Red Cross in Palestine – to save Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl who finds herself alone in a conflict zone in Gaza, after her family is shot dead by the Israeli army.

“The Sound of Falling” (Germany)

Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, shared with “Sirât”, “The Sound of Falling”, by Mascha Schilinski, follows the lives of four women separated by decades on the same German farm. Hanna Heckt, Lena Urzendowsky, Susanne Wuest and Luise Heyer are part of the main cast.

“The Left-Handed Girl” (Taiwan)

A mother moves to Taipei with her two daughters to try to start a new life at a night market stall. The restart, however, is made difficult by financial difficulties and a past of lies. Directed by Tsou Shih-Ching, the film is produced by Sean Baker, multi-Oscar winner for “Anora”.

“Palestine 36” (Palestine)

Directed by Annemarie Jacir, Palestine’s long-time representative in the Oscar nomination race, looks back at the village uprising under British colonial rule in the first half of the 20th century.

“All That Remains of You” (Jordan)

Multi-generational plot that follows a family’s struggles with inherited trauma over the decades, depicting their struggle and personal growth. Written, directed and performed by Cherien Dabis, an American director of Palestinian origin.

Adapted from the book “Somos Belén”, by Ana Correa, “Belén” is the Argentinian representative in the running for an Oscar nomination for best international film. The film is directed by Dolores Fonzi, who also works as a screenwriter alongside Laura Paredes. The story revolves around Julieta (Camila Plaate), a young woman falsely accused of illegal abortion, and Soledad Deza (Dolores Fonzi), the intrepid lawyer who takes on this explosive and controversial cause.

Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the Indian film follows two childhood friends living in a small village in northern India who dream of getting a job in the police, which would guarantee them the dignity they have long been denied. Presented at the Cannes Film Festival.

“The President’s Cake” (Iraq)

Drama written and directed by Hasan Hadi. The plot follows 9-year-old Saeed (Sajad Mohamad Qasem), a girl tasked with baking a birthday cake in honor of Saddam Hussein and who fears being arrested or killed if she does not deliver the gift to the tyrannical president.

In the economic boom of post-war Japan, Kikuo Tachibana (Ryô Yoshizawa), born into a yakuza family, is adopted by a kabuki actor and despite difficulties becomes a talented artist. Directed by Sang-il Lee. Soya Kurokawa, Keitatsu Koshiyama and Ken Watanabe are part of the cast.

“On the front line” (Switzerland)