Updated at 7:43 a.m. ET March 3, 2025: “I’m Still Here” took home the Academy Award for best international feature, a first for Brazil.

Read the original story below, published Feb. 28.

Heading into Oscars weekend, a film nominated for Best Picture has New Jersey ties.

“I’m Still Here” tells the story of the Paiva family during a military dictatorship in 1970s Brazil. It chronicles Eunice Paiva (played by Fernanda Torres), a mother of five, after her life is upended by the arrest and “disappearance” of her husband, Rubens Paiva, a former congressman and dissident. It is particularly prescient given current geopolitical tensions we are all living through – with rising authoritarianism around the world.

The film, directed by the acclaimed film maker Walter Salles, made its world-premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September. It also won Best Screenplay at the event.

Since its release, “I’m Still Here” has garnered critical acclaim, cultural buzz, more nominations – and more awards. At the Golden Globes, Torres won Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.

And the film is up for some major hardware this weekend. “I’m Still here” received Oscar nominations for Best International Film, Best Actress (Torres) and Best Picture. The latter makes it the first Brazilian-produced film nominated for the prestigious award.

A timely topic

Sony Pictures Classics, where New Jerseyan Tom Bernard serves as co-president and co-founder (with Michael Barker), acquired the film’s distribution rights last May.

The film production and distribution company focuses on releasing independent, foreign and alternative films. Under the leadership of Bernard and Barker, Sony Pictures Classics has received 164 Academy Award nominations, including 10 for Best Picture and 59 for Best International Film.

Additionally, it boasts 41 Oscars wins, including Best Actor and Best Actress awards; 15 Oscars for Best International Feature Film; and five Oscars for Best Documentary Feature.

Ahead of Sunday’s 97th Academy Awards, NJBIZ spoke to Bernard, who also serves as a commissioner of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission.

The Monmouth County native and resident told NJBIZ that it is an exciting moment with the reception that the film is getting.

“It’s storyline and the content of the film is becoming pretty much relevant today,” Bernard told NJBIZ, who noted that people were disappearing during that time in Brazil. “And this is one woman’s quest to prove that her husband didn’t disappear – he was taken away and put to death by the dictator because he was on the other side. It’s really a moving film – and the Director Walter Salles, he was there at the time as a kid; was friends with the family.”

‘It’s what I love’

He noted how the film is being so well-received and supported in Brazil – and that the Oscars take place at the same time as Carnival in the country.

“In Brazil, they’re going to have a thousand Fernanda Torres’ dressed up at Carnival,” said Bernard. “And they are going to play the Oscars on the screens during the parades.”

“It’s the first film that’s ever been nominated for Best Picture from Brazil,” he said. “There’s a huge national pride. And I think also, just politically, the film speaks volumes to the nation – because they’ve had their issues with their government over four or five years.”

“You are describing an organic buzz that has grown for the film – what’s that been like from your perspective to watch?” NJBIZ asked.

“It’s exciting,” said Bernard. “It’s what I love.”

Bernard said there is a similar thing happening with another recent release from Sony Pictures Classic, “Becoming Led Zeppelin.” The documentary tells the origin story of the legendary band, and has also received cultural buzz and critical acclaim.

“When you can get something that becomes part of the culture – that I think is the most exciting way to be involved with a movie, especially for me over the years,” said Bernard. “You’re sort of pushing the movie and the message – and just making people aware. You don’t have to tell them anything. Our Oscar campaign is pretty simple – it’s get people to see the movie. We’re in like 700 theaters right now. And we opened right in the heart of Oscars season.

“So, it’s sort of the last movie people are seeing. And I think it’s pretty powerful,” said Bernard.

Anybody’s game

He believes the Best Picture race is a toss-up, while noting that the film is not a favorite in that category.

“You can’t count us out.”

Bernard likes Torres’ chances for Best Actress as well as the film’s chances in the Best International category.

“We’re just excited about getting this movie seen. I think it’s such an important movie to see,” said Bernard. “I don’t believe we’ve run into anyone who’s disliked it.”