Brazilian Oscar Academy members call for international election oversight

Approximately 60 Brazilian members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, including actors Wagner Moura, Alice Braga, and Sônia Braga, along with filmmakers such as Kleber Mendonça Filho and Fernando Meirelles, have issued an open letter calling for rigorous international scrutiny of Brazil’s upcoming presidential election runoff on October 25.

Published by Variety, the manifesto expresses deep concern regarding threats to democratic norms and the stability of the nation's cultural institutions. The signatories highlight several issues, including proposals by candidate Flávio Bolsonaro to rewrite the 1988 Constitution and grant amnesty to his father, Jair Bolsonaro. They also cite concerns regarding potential foreign interference, specifically referencing reports of US funding directed toward groups opposing the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF).

Additionally, the group raised alarms about the B22 cryptocurrency initiative, which allegedly offered tokens to promote Flávio Bolsonaro's candidacy, and potential algorithmic distortions on Meta platforms affecting political content visibility. The artists emphasized that protecting freedom of expression and the sustainability of the audiovisual industry is inseparable from defending democracy, warning of a potential return to the cultural policy restrictions seen during the previous administration.