‘I’m Still Here’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ Are Giving Non-English Films Their Moment at the Oscars
On January 23, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the final nominees for the 97th Academy Awards. Coming from the heels of their success at the Golden Globes, Emilia Pérez and I’m Still Here made history. They did so with record-setting nominations at the 2025 Oscars.
From sparking controversy to making history at the Oscars
Emilia Pérez, the controversial Jacques Audiard musical about a drug lord’s transition, became the most nominated non-English language film at the Oscars ever. The movie, starring Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, and Selena Gomez, racked up 13 nominations. These include International Feature Film and Best Picture. It also received nods for Makeup and Hairstyling, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Sound, Adapted Screenplay and Original Score. Additionally, Academy voters recognized the film’s musical performance. nominating Camille and Clément Ducol twice for Best Song (“El Mal” and “Mi Camino.”)
Spanish star Karla Sofía Gascón, acknowledged in the ‘Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role’ category, became the first openly trans actor nominated for an Oscar. Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña earned her career’s first nomination. She is now in the running for the ‘Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role’ award.
Despite kicking off 2025 with major awards and nominations, Emilia Perez has not gone without criticism. Audiard’s musical has faced scrutiny from Latin American audiences, receiving backlash for its cultural inaccuracies and stereotype-driven plot. Mexican moviegoers, in particular, have remarked on the “film’s sensationalist and deeply retrograde depiction of their country.”
Brazil under the spotlight
In stark contrast, I’m Still Here has been positively received. The Brazilian box office success tells the story of a family broken by the dictatorship in the 1970s. By December 2024, the film had sold more than 3 million tickets in Brazil, taking the fifth spot at the year’s box office.
Academy voters have acknowledged the film’s exploration of human drama, granting I’m Still Here nominations for International Feature Film and Best Picture. The Walter Salles-directed movie and Emilia Perez became the 10th and 11th non-English-language films to be nominated for both in the same year. Life Is Beautiful, Drive My Car, and Roma are some films that were previously nominated. However, to date, the Korean thriller Parasite is the only film to have won both awards.
I’m Still Here’s Best Picture nomination also marks the first time a Brazilian film has received a nod in this category—one of the most coveted at the Oscars.
Fernanda Torres carries her mother’s legacy to the Oscars
In another full-circle moment, Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres earned an ‘Actress in a Leading Role’ nomination for her portrayal of Eunice Paiva in I’m Still Here. The star, who took a Golden Globe home for the same role, becomes the second Brazilian actress nominated for an Academy Award. The first was her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, who landed a nod in 1999 when she starred in another Walter Salles film. Yes, talk about carrying your family’s legacy!
