© Bob Wolfenson
The ZFF will honor award-winning Brazilian actor, director, and producer Wagner Moura with the Golden Eye for his career and remarkable performance in the film THE SECRET AGENT, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho. His role earned Moura the Best Actor Award in Cannes and established him as an Oscar contender at the upcoming Academy Awards. He will travel to Zurich to receive the prestigious award and present the film at a gala premiere. In an exclusive ZFF Masters, he will also offer insights into his work and creative process.
Wagner Moura achieved worldwide fame for his nuanced portrayal of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar in the hit Netflix series NARCOS, for which he earned a Golden Globe award nomination. He starred in BEHIND THE SUN for director Walter Salles and ELITE SQUAD for director José Padilha. He has continued to deliver stand-out performances in numerous films including ELYSIUM for director Neill Blomkamp, THE GRAY MAN for directors Anthony and Joe Russo, and WASP NETWORK for director Olivier Assayas. He recently starred in the Netflix biopic SERGIO for director Greg Barker as well as the feature film CIVIL WAR for director Alex Garland and is currently starring in Apple TV+'s DOPE THIEF. His directorial debut MARIGHELLA, which chronicles the struggle of Brazilian politician and activist Carlos Marighella, premiered at the 2019 Berlinale Film Festival.
«THE SECRET AGENT is one of the most outstanding works of the year—a film with strong Oscar potential», explains Festival Director Christian Jungen. «Wagner Moura carries this story from the first to the last minute with an electrifying presence unlike anything else. For his exceptional performance in THE SECRET AGENT and for a career that has made him one of Latin America’s most charismatic and versatile actors, we are honoring Moura with the Golden Eye—and making festival history: For the first time, this award goes to an actor from South America.»
«I'm deeply honored to accept the Golden Eye Award», states Moura. «Thank you to the Zurich Film Festival for recognizing my work in Kleber Mendonça Filho's truly beautiful and important Brazilian film THE SECRET AGENT. I am humbled to be in the company of those who have received this award and I'm very proud to share the film with the Zurich Film Festival audience in person this September.»
© Victor Juca
THE SECRET AGENT
Brazil, 1977: Forty-year-old academic Marcelo (Wagner Moura) is on the run. He ends up in Recife during Carnival week, hoping to see his son again. However, he soon realizes that the city is anything but the peaceful refuge he had hoped for. In THE SECRET AGENT, director Kleber Mendonça Filho brings to audiences a sophisticated cat-and-mouse game, with NARCOS star Wagner Moura perfectly cast in the lead role. This aesthetically crafted political thriller makes palpable the brutal reality of the Brazilian military regime in the 1970s.
The film celebrated its world premiere in competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival where it was honored with the award for Best Director, the FIPRESCI Prize, and the award for Best Performance by an Actor for Moura, making him the first South American actor ever to win in this category.
