Wagner Moura, the renowned 49-year-old Brazilian actor, was the notable absence from the list of pre-nominees for the BAFTA 2026, the prestigious British Academy Film Awards announced by the British Academy this Friday (9th). The news, which has been circulating since then, caught many by surprise, as the star of “The Secret Agent” has collected over 20 awards for his performance in Kleber Mendonça Filho’s film. Despite this, national cinema achieved a significant feat, with four pre-nominations in important categories, showing the strength of Brazil’s audiovisual production at the beginning of 2026.
As a result of the selection, names like Cillian Murphy (“Steve”) and Russell Crowe (“Nuremberg”) appear among the pre-selected, while Moura, who has been nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award, was left out of this stage. However, the good news comes from the Brazilian productions: “The Secret Agent” is competing for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay, “Apocalypse in the Tropics” appears in Best Documentary, and “Train Dreams” is remembered in the Best Cinematography category, thanks to the work of Adolpho Veloso. Thus, even though one of its biggest names was overlooked, the country continues with strong representation in the race for the “British Oscar”.
Selection Details and Next Steps
Each category of BAFTA 2026 initially listed ten contenders, which will be reduced to just five finalists in the definitive list, expected to be revealed on January 27th. Meanwhile, the main awards ceremony is scheduled for February 22nd in London. Therefore, the Brazilian productions still have a decisive stage ahead to secure their spot in the final. Furthermore, Moura’s absence sparks debate about the international recognition of performances in a foreign language at major awards. The actor’s trajectory, however, remains solid, with the Best Actor title at Cannes and a career that transcends borders.
The fact that Brazil appears strongly in multiple categories, including with a documentary and a fiction film, reflects the diversity and technical quality that mark current production. Thus, the eyes of the national film industry turn to the end of this month, awaiting the announcement of the finalists. Regardless of the result, the Brazilian presence on this pre-list is already a positive milestone for the country’s cinema in the 2026 global scene, demonstrating that there is much talent beyond the already established names.
