Chapter 47 – The BAFTA Triumph
February 16, 2026 – London, United Kingdom
The London cold cut through the air when Gustavo Salles got out of his car and stepped onto the red carpet at the Royal Festival Hall, where the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) ceremony would take place.
It was the first time that a Brazilian film had been nominated in the two main categories of the British awards: Best Film and Best International Film.
Getúlio had already won over audiences and critics around the world, but winning at BAFTA would be another historic step for Brazilian cinema.
And that night, Gustavo and the entire team were about to make history again.
Gustavo was wearing a classic black suit, impeccably cut and a discreet bow tie.
Beside him, Fernando Meirelles walked with the calmness of someone who has already experienced many awards, but still carried the tension of the moment.
— Ready for another night that could change everything? — Fernando asked, adjusting the cuffs of his jacket.
Gustavo smiled, trying to hide his nervousness.
— If I say I'm not nervous, I'd be blatantly lying.
Fernando laughed.
— It's part of it. But we've already done what we could. Now we just have to wait.
They posed for photos, answered a few quick questions to British journalists, and then headed to the main hall.
And the tension only increased.
The ceremony followed its elegant and punctual rhythm, until finally the first category for which Getúlio was nominated arrived:
Best International Film.
On the big screen, the nominees were announced:
Getúlio (Brazil)
Hearts beat faster.
Gustavo looked at Fernando, who simply smiled, relaxed, as if he already knew the result.
The presenter opened the envelope and announced:
— And the BAFTA for Best International Film goes to… "GETÚLIO" (Brazil)!
Gustavo and Fernando immediately stood up, hugging each other emotionally.
They walked to the stage to a wave of applause and cheers of encouragement.
Fernando took the statuette first and approached the microphone.
— This is unbelievable. Brazilian cinema has been telling incredible stories for decades, and to see "Getúlio" recognized in this way is a dream come true. Thank you to the British Academy for making space for films from all over the world. Thank you to our phenomenal cast and crew. And, of course, thank you to the audience, who embraced this film so powerfully.
Fernando looked at Gustavo and smiled.
— And now, a man who no longer needs an introduction: Gustavo Salles.
The audience applauded intensely as Gustavo took the microphone.
He took a deep breath, holding the statuette tightly.
— My God… I never imagined I would be here.
The audience laughed and applauded.
— "Getúlio" was a huge challenge for all of us. And more than a film about a man, it is a film about a country, about history, about decisions that shape the destiny of millions of people. And to see it recognized in this way, especially here at BAFTA, is exciting.
He looked at Fernando, then at the audience.
— And to the Brazilian filmmakers who dream of telling their stories: know that there is room for us. Brazilian cinema is more alive than ever. Thank you!
They left the stage to a new round of applause.
But the night was not over yet.
Because Getúlio was still nominated for Best Film.
The ceremony continued its course, with more winners being announced.
Until it was time for the most important category of the night.
Best Film.
Gustavo held the edge of the table, taking a deep breath.
— My God…
The nominees appeared on the screen:
Getúlio
Fernando gave a slight smile.
— This is already a victory.
The presenter held up the envelope and, after a dramatic pause, announced:
— And the BAFTA for Best Film goes to… "GETÚLIO"!
The room went wild.
Gustavo's eyes widened, completely shocked.
Fernando let out a surprised laugh and slammed his hand on the table.
— My God… We WON.
They stood up as the audience applauded them.
As he walked onto the stage, Gustavo felt his hands sweaty.
It was real.
They had just won the most important award at the BAFTA.
Fernando took the microphone first.
— This… This is unbelievable. I don't have enough words to thank you for this recognition. "Getúlio" was born as an ambitious project, but we never imagined it would bring us this far. Thank you to the BAFTA, thank you to our brilliant cast, to our tireless team. And thank you to the audience, because without you, this film would not have had the impact it had.
The audience applauded warmly.
Then he looked at Gustavo.
— And now, I want you to listen to a little the man who made this film what it is. Gustavo Salles.
The audience gave a standing ovation again.
Gustavo took the microphone and took a deep breath.
— Man… If someone had told me two years ago that I would be here, holding a BAFTA, I would have laughed in their face.
The audience laughed along.
— This film was the challenge of a lifetime. I lived and breathed Getúlio Vargas for months. And being here, seeing this effort recognized, means everything to me. But this award is not just mine. It belongs to Fernando, to our cast, to our crew, and it belongs to Brazil.
He held up the statuette.
— Brazilian cinema is conquering the world. And this is just the beginning.
The audience cheered and applauded intensely.
And so, Getúlio marked another chapter in the history of world cinema.
On social media, Brazil exploded in celebration.
— TWO BAFTAS! GETÚLIO IS RUNNING THE WORLD!
— Gustavo Salles is officially the greatest Brazilian actor of our time!
— If this doesn't guarantee an Oscar, nothing will!
And, on the Brazilian news, the headline was clear:
"For the first time, a Brazilian film wins the BAFTA for Best Picture."
Gustavo returned to the hotel that night holding two golden statuettes.
And he knew that the next stop would be the biggest of all.
The Oscar awaited him.
Chapter 48 – The Oscar Favorite
The morning after Getúlio's victory at the BAFTA brought a wave of repercussions that Gustavo had never seen before.
If before the film was already considered a strong contender for the Oscar, now its favoritism was practically official.
Newspapers, critics and experts analyzed the impressive trajectory of the Brazilian production, and the question that echoed in all the headlines was clear:
"Will Gustavo Salles win the Oscar for Best Actor?"
The New York Times:
"After taking home the top prizes at the BAFTA, 'Getúlio' is consolidating itself as one of the strongest films in the Oscar race."
Variety:
"Gustavo Salles has already won the Golden Globe, the Critics' Choice and now has a BAFTA. Can anyone stop him?"
The Guardian:
"Is Brazil about to win its first Oscar for Best Actor? Everything indicates that it will."
In Brazil, the impact was even greater.
O Globo:
"Getúlio continues to make history: victory at the BAFTA reinforces his favoritism for the Oscar."
Folha de S. Paulo:
"Gustavo Salles could become the first Brazilian to win the Oscar for Best Actor. We are facing a historic moment."
Jornal Nacional:
"Gustavo Salles and Fernando Meirelles put Brazilian cinema at the top of the world industry."
Euphoria was everywhere.
On social media, Brazil collapsed.
On Twitter, the posts were a mix of emotion and expectation.
— "We are talking about the FIRST Oscar for Best Actor for Brazil. This is not only great, it is HISTORIC."
— "If Gustavo wins, I will go out on the streets dancing samba like he promised to do on stage."
— "Brazil has always had incredible cinema. Now the world is finally recognizing this."
And, of course, the bets started to appear.
The Gold Derby website, a reference in awards analysis, updated its predictions:
Best Actor – Chances of winning:
✅ Gustavo Salles – 85%
In addition to the film, Gustavo himself was being praised.
Many critics spoke about the impact of his performance in Getúlio, but also about his charisma and presence in the industry.
IndieWire:
"Gustavo Salles is not just a phenomenal actor. He is a phenomenon. Hollywood is completely enchanted by him."
The Hollywood Reporter:
"What sets Gustavo Salles apart from other young actors on the rise is his ability to transition between artistic genius and accessibility. He is the definition of the modern star."
Even Hollywood personalities began to talk about him.
On the red carpet at the SAG Awards, a reporter asked Robert Downey Jr. who he thought would win the Oscar for Best Actor.
The answer was simple:
— Gustavo Salles. No discussion.
The same thing happened with Tom Hanks, who said in an interview:
— If Gustavo doesn't win, something is very wrong.
And even Al Pacino, who rarely praised young actors publicly, commented during an event:
— This kid has presence. He knows how to carry a scene like few others.
At this point, Gustavo was no longer just an actor nominated for an Oscar.
He was the absolute favorite.
While the world was in turmoil, Gustavo was trying to process everything.
He was in his hotel in Los Angeles, drinking coffee and scrolling through his cell phone, when Fernando video called.
As soon as Gustavo answered, Fernando laughed.
— What's up, superstar? How's it feeling waking up as an Oscar favorite?
Gustavo ran his hand over his face and sighed.
— Man, I don't even know how to react. Everyone's freaking out.
Fernando pointed to the TV in the background, where an American program was talking about him.
— Take a look at this. You're dominating the world's media.
Gustavo looked up and saw a CNN commentator saying:
"If Gustavo Salles doesn't win the Oscar, we can consider this one of the greatest injustices in the history of the awards."
Gustavo shook his head in disbelief.
"I swear I don't know how this happened. I just wanted to make a good movie…
Fernando smiled.
"And you ended up making history. Now relax and enjoy the moment."
But Gustavo knew that the pressure would only increase from now on.
After all…
The Oscars were less than a month away.
And he had a promise to keep.
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