I'm Still Here has won the Oscar for best international film at the Academy Awards, becoming the first Brazilian film to achieve the honour. The political drama, directed by Walter Salles and starring Fernanda Torres, was selected as Brazil's official entry and overcame a strong field to claim the prize.
The film is based on the true story of Eunice Paiva, whose husband Rubens was 'disappeared' and murdered in 1970s Brazil. Salles previously received a nomination in this category for his 1998 drama Central Station, but missed out to Life Is Beautiful. I'm Still Here had already picked up several accolades, including best screenplay at Venice and the audience award at Rotterdam.
The film's victory came at the expense of the beleaguered French favourite Emilia Pérez, which had led the nominations but faced controversy after bigoted posts by its star Karla Sofía Gascón resurfaced, along with complaints about its depiction of Mexico. Other nominees included The Girl With the Needle and The Seed of the Sacred Fig.
Accepting the award, Salles dedicated the win to Paiva and to 'the two women who gave life to her': Torres and her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, who was Oscar-nominated for Central Station. Torres, a celebrated figure on the awards circuit, is the daughter of Montenegro.
