Critics’ Choice Sparks Outrage With Red Carpet Award Stunt

Viewers were left scratching their heads after the Best Foreign Language Film prize at this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards was handed out in a manner that many found, frankly, a bit off. Wagner Moura’s Brazilian drama, which had already swept up accolades at Cannes, found itself at the centre of a row—not for its content, but for the way its win was announced.

Red Carpet Surprise Leaves Filmmakers Stunned

Instead of the usual fanfare on stage, the award was presented to director Kleber Mendonça Filho and producer Emilie Lesclaux during a red carpet interview. The host, mid-chat, revealed she had a ‘pleasant surprise’ for the pair, before producing the trophy. The moment, intended as a cheerful twist, landed awkwardly. Both Filho and Lesclaux looked rather blindsided, suggesting they’d not been briefed about this unconventional arrangement.

Fans didn’t hold back. Many took to social media to vent their frustration, arguing that the gesture diminished the achievement. One viewer summed up the mood:

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

Backlash Over ‘Lesser’ Categories

Spencer Althouse, an editorial director at BuzzFeed, was among those who called out the network for what he described as a confusing and dismissive move. He noted that winners seemed unsure whether the moment was genuine or some sort of joke:

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 add insult to injury, there was no opportunity for the filmmakers to say a few words or deliver an acceptance speech. The whole episode left a sour taste, with many feeling the organisers had hurried the team along, eager to get back to the main event.

Fans React: Disappointment and Disbelief

Social media was awash with criticism. Some suggested that international films are routinely sidelined at major awards, their categories treated as afterthoughts. Others pointed to the visible disappointment on the faces of Filho and Lesclaux. The reactions ranged from bemused to outright furious:

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 other big names and productions took centre stage, the handling of this particular award left many questioning the priorities of the organisers.

Inside The Secret Agent: A Story of Resistance

Kleber Mendonça Filho’s film follows Armando, a former academic played by Wagner Moura, as he becomes entangled in the political turmoil of Brazil’s military dictatorship. The portrayal of life under authoritarian rule struck a chord with critics, with Moura’s performance singled out for praise. He even secured a nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globes.

The film, which also features Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Maria Fernanda Cândido, and Gabriel Leone, marks the final screen appearance of Udo Kier, who passed away recently. It’s also Brazil’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Despite the controversy, The Secret Agent continues its run in select UK cinemas, inviting audiences to judge for themselves what all the fuss is about.