Grande Othello chooses 'The Secret Agent' and 'Manas' as best films; see winners

"The Secret Agent", by Kleber Mendonça Filho, received 18 nominations, but was not the production with the most statuettes of the night. "Manas", by Marianna Brennand, beat Mendonça Filho's film by one category, winning five awards, including the one for direction.

The two films had a clash last year, when they competed for Brazil's place at the Oscars. "The Secret Agent" ended up representing the country at the American awards.

"There is a southeastern air that we need to dispel at the Brazilian Cinema Academy," said Mendonça Filho, upon receiving the statuette on stage. He also praised the performance of Wagner Moura, who stars in his film.

The most awarded production during the ceremony, however, was "Homem Com H", a biopic of Ney Matogrosso directed by Esmir Filho that won six statuettes - including the audience award and best actor for Jesuíta Barbosa, who plays the singer.

The ceremony even began with a performance by Matogrosso of the song "O Tempo Não Para", by Cazuza. Then, Marieta Severo and her daughter, Silvia Buarque, took over presenting the event. Renata Almeida Magalhães, president of the Brazilian Cinema Academy, dedicated the night to Luiz Carlos Barreto, one of the greatest producers of Brazilian cinema, who died at the end of July.

Denise Weinberg, renowned in theater, was chosen best actress for "The Last Blue", a film that won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. The role is his first as a protagonist in film.

Also with "O Último Azul", Rodrigo Santoro won the award for best supporting actor, and Dira Paes was crowned in the female version of the category, for "Manas". "I hope we never need a comeback again," said Santoro, on stage, about the good moment in Brazilian cinema with the international projection of "I'm Still Here" and "The Secret Agent".

Fernanda Montenegro starred in "Velhos Bandidos", chosen as best comedy film. Claudio Torres, his son and director of the film, was unable to attend the awards ceremony, but wrote a letter that was read on stage by producer Juliana Capelini. According to him, "Velhos Bandidos" was conceived thanks to his mother's presence and excitement. Ary Fontoura, who stars in the film alongside Fernanda, took to the stage to thank the statuette.

"Oxygen Masks Won't Fall Automatically", an HBO series with Johnny Massaro and Bruna Linzmeyer, was crowned the best of the year. The plot shows how flight attendants smuggled medicines in the 1980s to save AIDS patients in Brazil.

"Apocalypse in the Tropics", by Petra Costa, was chosen as best documentary. The film shows the influence of evangelical churches and pastors on political decisions made in Brasília.

See below the list of nominees and winners of this year's Grande Otelo Award.*Best fiction film- "Homem com H", by Esmir Filho- "Manas", by Marianna Brennand (winner/tie)- "The Secret Agent", by Kleber Mendonça Filho (winner/tie)- "The Son of a Thousand Men", by Daniel Rezende- "The Último Azul", by Gabriel Mascaro

Best comedy film- "Very Special Agents", by Pedro Antonio- "C.I.C-Central de Intelligence Cearense", by Halder Gomes- "Sexa", by Gloria Pires- "Sonhar Com Os Leões", by Paolo Marinou-Blanco- "Uma Mulher Sem Filtro", by Arthur Fontes- "Velhos Bandidos", by Claudio Torres (winner)

Best documentary- "A Queda do Céu", by Eryk Rocha and Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha- "Apocalipse nos Trópicos", by Petra Costa (winner)- "Hora do Recreio", by Lucia Murat- "Mambembe", by Fabio Meira- "Ritas", by Oswaldo Santana and Karen Harley

Best children's film- "Narciso", by Jeferson De- "O Diário de Pilar na Amazônia", by Eduardo Vaisman and Rodrigo Van Der Put (winner)- "The Last Episode", by Maurilio Martins- "Os Dragões", by Gustavo Spolidoro- "Thiago e Ísis e Os Biomas do Brasil", by João Amorim

Best animation - "Authentic Games no Império Desconectado", by Bruno Murtinho - "Eu e Meu Avô Nihonjin", by Celia Catunda - " Nosso Louco Amor ", by Nelson Botter Jr - "Tainá e os Guardianes da Amazônia - Em Busca da Flecha Azul", by Alê Camargo and Jordan Nugem (winner)

Best Ibero-American film- "Belén" (Argentina) (Winner/tie)- "The Mysterious Look of the Flamingo" (Chile)- "The Laughter and the Knife" (Portugal) (winner/tie)- "Pepe" (Dominican Republic)- "A Poet" (Colombia)

Best direction- Daniel Rezende, "The Son of a Thousand Men"- Esmir Filho, "Man with H"- Gabriel Mascaro, "The Last Blue"- Kleber Mendonça Filho, "The Secret Agent"- Marianna Brennand, "Manas" (winner)

Best first feature film direction- Douglas Soares, "Papagaios"- Gloria Pires, "Sexa"- Júlia Jordão, "Perfeitos Desconhecidos"- Márcia Faria, "A Procura de Martina"- afaela Camelo, "A Natureza das Ciências Invisíveis" (winner)

Best Feature Film Actress- Camila Pitanga, "Malês"- Carolina Dieckmann, "(Des)controle"- Denise Weinberg, "O Último Azul" (winner)- Jamilli Correa, "Manas"-Tânia Maria, "The Secret Agent"

Best feature film actor- Antonio Pitanga, "Malês"- Ary Fontura, "Velhos Bandidos"- Irandhir Santos, "Os Enforcados"- Jesuíta Barbosa, "Homem com H" (winner)- Rodrigo Santoro, "The Son of a Thousand Men"- Wagner Moura, "The Secret Agent"

Best supporting actress in a feature film- Alice Carvalho, "The Secret Agent"- Camila Márdila, "The Nature of Invisible Things- Dira Paes, "Manas" (winner)- Grace Passô, "The Son of a Thousand Men"- Hermila Guedes, "The Secret Agent"

Best supporting actor in a feature film- Adanilo, "The Last Blue"- Alejandro Claveaux, "Ruas da Glória"- Augusto Madeira, "The Hanged Men"- Carlos Francisco, "The Secret Agent"- Gabriel Leone, "The Secret Agent"- Robério Dio