Critics’ Choice Sparks Outrage With Red Carpet Award Snub

Plenty of punters were left scratching their heads after the Best Foreign Language Film gong at the Critics’ Choice Awards was handed out in a way that’s got everyone talking. Wagner Moura’s Brazilian drama, which had already cleaned up at Cannes in 2025, found itself at the centre of a storm—not for its story, but for how it was recognised on the night.

Instead of the usual fanfare, the award was announced by E! during a red carpet chat with director Kleber Mendonça Filho and his partner, producer Emilie Lesclaux. The host, mid-interview, suddenly revealed she had a surprise for the pair and presented them with the trophy right then and there. The moment caught both of them off guard, and it was clear they hadn’t been given a heads-up about this odd arrangement.

Backlash Over the Red Carpet Presentation

Fans didn’t hold back, calling the move a slap in the face. Many felt the network made it look like the filmmakers didn’t deserve a proper moment on stage. One viewer summed it up:

i find it insulting that E! announced the winner for Best Foreign Language Film on the #CriticsChoiceAwards red carpet. it makes it seem like they didn’t deserve to receive the award on the main stage with a proper speech

Spencer Althouse, an editorial director at BuzzFeed, also weighed in, saying the whole thing was confusing and left winners unsure if it was a joke. He wrote:

I absolutely hateeee that E! is randomly announcing "lesser" Critics' Choice Award categories live on the red carpet, which is confusing every single winner because they think it's a bit

here's the team from The Secret Agent finding out they just won Best Foreign Language Film

To make matters worse, Filho and Lesclaux weren’t even given a chance to say a few words about their work or deliver an acceptance speech. The whole thing felt rushed and awkward.

Fans Vent Their Frustration

The reaction online was swift and fierce. Many accused the organisers of trying to shuffle the filmmakers away as quickly as possible, sidelining their achievement in favour of more mainstream categories. Some reckoned it was a sign of how international films are still seen as second-rate in Hollywood circles. Others pointed out the visible disappointment on Filho and Lesclaux’s faces. Here’s what some had to say:

This was so weird. Like get the whack out of here.

A lot of award shows do this unfortunately, it sucks but there are more popular awards that they have to fit in the main show

The fact that @CriticsChoice still considers the Best International Film a lesser award says all about how much they still have to improve to any day to be compared to the Golden Globes or the Oscars.

You're right they seem sort of disappointed too 🙁

Nothing says "we're the superior critics" like banishing the Best Foreign Language Film win to a surprise red carpet ambush—because clearly, subtitles make it a "lesser" category unworthy of the stage.😐😐😐🙃#CancelTheCritics.

On a night when Timothée Chalamet, One Battle After Another, and Sinners were among the big winners, The Secret Agent’s team was left without the chance to address the crowd or celebrate their success properly.

Inside The Secret Agent’s Acclaimed Story

Kleber Mendonça Filho’s film stars Wagner Moura as Armando, a former academic who finds himself caught up in the chaos of Brazil’s military dictatorship. The portrayal of Armando’s struggle has been widely praised as one of the most powerful depictions of life under authoritarian rule.

Moura’s performance drew plenty of attention, earning him a nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama at the 83rd Golden Globes. The film is also Brazil’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, making the shortlist for the coveted prize.

The cast includes Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Maria Fernanda Cândido, and Gabriel Leone. It also marks the final screen appearance of Udo Kier, who passed away recently.

The Secret Agent is currently screening in select cinemas across the US.