🎬 Oscar wins and market gains

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How politics shaped Latin America’s Oscars history

As the 97th Academy Awards approaches, Brazil's “I'm Still Here” stands poised to make history. The film secured nominations for Best Actress (Fernanda Torres), Best International Feature Film and the highly prestigious Best Picture category. A Best Picture win would mark only the second time a non-English language film claims Hollywood's top prize, following South Korea's "Parasite" in 2020.

• Though financed by France, the 13 nominations for “Emilia Pérez” (more than any other film) will also be in the spotlight. Its story about a ruthless Mexican drug dealer searching for a new life as a trans woman has sparked much controversy in the region.

👉 Why it matters. While Latin America boasts a rich cinematic tradition, its film industry lacks the infrastructure and financial resources of US or European counterparts, making international recognition — such as Oscar nominations and wins — particularly significant for the region. Latin American films have claimed the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film four times, with sporadic victories in other individual categories.

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