The Zurich Film Festival (September 25 to October 5, 2025) 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, which earned him the Best Actor Award in Cannes and established him as an Oscar contender. Moura will travel to Zurich to receive the prestigious award and present the internationally acclaimed film THE SECRET AGENT, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho 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, 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.
With THE SECRET AGENT, Moura returns to his Brazilian roots—and is making waves: Under the direction of Kleber Mendonça Filho, he portrays Marcelo, a university professor and technology expert who flees to Recife in 1977 to reconcile with his son during Carnival. But instead of peace, he finds a city gripped by violence, political tensions, and personal threats.
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 to win in this category.
«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.»
