Could Emilia Pérez & I’m Still Here be In The Running For An Oscar?

The BFF ran from 9–20 October 2024, and 15 films by Latin American directors participated (a full list below). I had the chance to chat with 🇧🇷 Brazilian-born, London-based film journalist Patricia Dantas, who’s been covering the festival for 12 years! She shared her top picks from this year’s selection and some insights about two potential contenders for the oscars.

One of this year’s most anticipated films, Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard and starring Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana and transgender Spanish Mexico-based actress Karla Sofia Gascón, (who resides in Mexico since 2009), premieres tomorrow, 25 October. (Gascón, by the way, also landed the cover of Vogue Mexico’s November issue.)

Dantas says it’s entertaining but she remains sceptical about its premise, where a notorious drug lord undergoes gender reassignment surgery to change their life. However, it’s a potential contender for the Oscars, alongside the Brazilian film I’m Still Here by Walter Salles in the International Film category.

Indeed, Brazilian cinema seems to be having a moment, particularly with I’m Still Here gaining traction globally. Starring Fernanda Torres, Fernanda Montenegro and Selton Mello. Based on a true story, it’s a family drama that sheds light on a dark period in Brazil’s history during the dictatorship—"a reminder that we should never go back to a similar era where our human rights are not respected."

After winning Best Screenplay at Venice and an Audience Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Dantas believes the film has a strong chance at an Oscar nomination. "It’s been a long time since Brazilian cinema had such international visibility," she says, noting that the last Brazilian film to receive an Oscar nomination was Central do Brasil in 1999, also by Walter Salles and starring Fernanda Montenegro.

Dantas also mentions Bury Your Dead, directed by Marco Dutra, as a unique horror set in apocalyptic rural Brazil, marking renowned Brazilian actor Selton Mello’s first foray into the genre. As Mello celebrates 40 years in the industry, she shared that he "was happy to be in this movie that he loves."

More of Paty’s Favourites from the Festival:

 Memoir of a Snail (Australia)

Directed byAdam Elliot. Stars: Sarah Snook, Eric Bana, Jacki Weaver.A stop-motion feature, My Memoir as a Snail is a witty and touching film about personal transformation and healing. Dantas calls it a reminder that "it's never too late to change and let go of our past selves, especially after enduring trauma."

Four Mothers (Ireland-UK)

Director: Darren Thornton. Stars: James McArdle, Fionnula Flanagan, Dearbhla Mollo. For those in need of a laugh and a relatable story, Four Mothers tells the tale of parents ageing and the dilemmas faced in deciding how best to care for them. Dantas notes it’s a story that touches on something we all will face one day.

Anora (USA)

Director: Sean Baker. Stars: Mikey Madison, Paul Weissman, Lindsey NormingtonA fun and whimsical fairytale, Anora is about how your luck can change overnight, though you never know if or how long it will last. Dantas describes it as a lighthearted story full of charm and unpredictability.

We Live in Time (UK-France)

Director: John Crowley. Stars: Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Grace Delaney."A tear-jerker about meaningful relationships and how to enjoy life to the fullest in the present moment with our loved ones when adversity and disease come into the foreground."

Conclave (UK-USA)

Director: Edward Berger. Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, Isabella RosselliniIn this gripping drama, Ralph Fiennes delivers a standout performance as the head of a conclave following the death of a Pope. Conclave delves into the political manoeuvrings within the Catholic Church, one of the world’s most powerful institutions.

Other Films Worth Watching:

• The Apprentice: A film that gives insight into Donald Trump.

• Maria: Starring Angelina Jolie as soprano Maria Callas.

Have you seen any of these films? Would love your opinon

The full LATAM film selection of the festilval:

Argentina:

• Collective Monologue (2024) – Directed by Jessica Sarah Rinland

• El Llanto (The Wailing, 2024) – Directed by Pedro Martín-Calero

Brazil:

• Baby – Directed by Marcelo Caetano

• Bury Your Dead – Directed by Marco Dutra

• Cidade; Campo – Directed by Juliana Rojas

• I’m Still Here – Directed by Walter Salles

• Praia Formosa – Directed by Julia de Simone

Colombia:

• Nido de Cocodrilo – Directed by Jazmin Rojas Forero

Dominican Republic:

• Bionico’s Bachata – Directed by Yoel Morales

• Olivia and The Clouds – Directed by Tomás Pichardo Espaillat

• Sugar Island – Directed by Johanné Gómez Terrero

Mexico:

• La Cocina – Directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios

• Maria Candelaria (1944) – Directed by Emilio Fernández

• Sujo – Directed by Astrid Rondero and Fernanda ValadezShare GEN33