Diamonds and the Afterglow of the Champagne: Cinematic Bliss!
The 2026 Oscars have come to a close, leaving us with that familiar, delicious vertigo and an irrepressible urge to pour a glass of vintage bubbly to toast the speeches. The night belonged, indisputably, to Paul Thomas Anderson. His sweep with One Battle After Another, earning him the statuettes for Best Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay, proved that cinema is a magnetic mosaic of human emotion. Anchored by the ever-magical presence of Leonardo DiCaprio, the film navigates an intimate odyssey through time, deconstructing urgent themes of politics, racism, and immigration. It is a narrative that hijacks the senses with a pulsating, hypnotic aesthetic, standing as the most vital mirror of our current society.
From One Battle After Another
The evening’s true emotional gravity, however, centered on Michael B. Jordan. His win for Best Actor in Sinners was more than a nod to his immense talent, it was the coronation of a presence that overflows with dignity. Jordan possesses that rare weight: the ability to command the space within every silence, elevating the film to a profound level of humanity.
Michael B. Jordan receives the Oscar for Best Actor for Sinners.
Meanwhile, Sentimental Value, the winner for Best International Feature, brought a singular force to the ceremony. This Norwegian gem, centered by a brilliant, weathered performance from Stellan Skarsgård, dives with razor-sharp delicacy into the complexities of family. It is the kind of story that captures the soul and lingers in the mind long after the house lights come up.
The Best Original Screenplay win for Sinners, which touched upon the raw, contemporary scars of racial segregation, reaffirmed that courageous storytelling is the true lifeblood of Hollywood. The script transforms dialogue into a tool for both healing and confrontation, handling dense, difficult themes with a sophistication that never underestimates its audience.
The night was also a sparkling tribute to the women rewriting history, flavored with moments of pure, delicious wit. We were treated to a delightful meta-nod to The Devil Wears Prada when Anne Hathaway and Anna Wintour shared a moment, with the legendary editor playfully referring to Hathaway as "Emily", a sharp, nostalgic wink to the iconic way Meryl Streep’s famously dismissed Anne in the film. But the levity was met with profound milestones: Autumn Durald Arkapaw took home the prize for Best Cinematography for her impeccable work on Sinners, a milestone that, heartbreakingly, had yet to occur in nearly a century of Academy history. One couldn't help but think of trailblazers like Rachel Morrison, who paved the way with her historic nomination years ago but never took home the Oscar. Autumn gifted us what I would call the great moment of lucidity of the night: standing on that stage, she asked every woman in the room to rise, declaring that she wouldn't be there without them. It was one of those gestures that remind us that revolution is never a solo act. She was joined in the winner's circle by Amy Madigan, who delivered a visceral, breathtaking performance in Weapons to secure Best Supporting Actress.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw receives the Oscar for Best Cinematography for Sinners.
Hathaway and Anna Wintour in an iconic moment at the 2026 Oscars.
For Brazilians like myself, the heart beat a little faster seeing Wagner Moura and Kleber Mendonça Filho on that red carpet. It’s the kind of image one needs to frame and hang upon a "memory wall of the soul." Kleber’s direction is nothing short of fabulous, offering a masterful portrait of 1970s Recife with a rhythm that is simultaneously breakneck and reflective of a repressive era that left so many marks on our history. Moura, with a career built on enviable artistic integrity, proved once again that world-class talent knows no borders. Even without taking home the trophies in its four nominated categories, Best Picture, International Feature, Best Actor, and Casting, the film’s presence was a stunning showcase for our cinema. Coupled with Adolpho Veloso’s vibrant cinematography for Train Dreams, the night proved our aesthetic is truly universal.
Wagner Moura at the Oscars
Kleber Mendonça Filho at the Oscars
In the Best Original Song category, the gold went to the infectious "Golden," performed by the powerhouse voices of EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI. If you have children, or simply a Wi-Fi connection, you’ve undoubtedly had this melody on a loop for months. It’s a track that sticks to the soul with an inevitable sweetness, making history as the first K-pop song to take the prize. Beyond the song category, the film also secured Best Animated Feature under the title K-Pop: Demon Hunters. And, of course, we must mention the legendary Diane Warren. With yet another nomination under her belt, she remains the force of nature behind the great soundtracks of our lives.
And speaking of stars, Jessie Buckley, in Hamnet, reminded us exactly why we still leave our homes for the cinema. Jessie delivered a monumental performance, balancing a devastating fragility with a near-supernatural strength, proving she is one of the most complete artists of her generation. Accepting her Best Actress award, she dedicated the win to the "beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart." It was one of those inspiring speeches that makes you want to call home immediately, just to hear a familiar voice and give thanks for the stories we still have left to tell.
A night that was vibrant, sophisticated, and, above any other label, human.
Jessie Buckley receives the Oscar for Best Actress for Hamnet
The Night in a Sip (The Winners):
Best Picture: One Battle After Another
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Best Original Screenplay: Sinners
Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another
Best International Feature: Sentimental Value (Norway)
Best Animated Feature: K-Pop: Demon Hunters
Best Documentary Feature: Mr Nobody Against Putin
Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)
Best Film Editing: One Battle After Another (Andy Jurgensen)
Best Sound: F1 (Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta)
Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash (Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon e Daniel Barrett)
Best Production Design: Frankenstein (Tamara Deverell e Shane Vieau)
Best Costume Design: Frankenstein (Kate Hawley)
Best Make-up and Hairstyling: Frankenstein (Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel e Cliona Furey)
Best Casting: One Battle After Another (Cassandra Kulukundis)
Best Live Action Short (Tied): The Singer and Two People Exchanging Saliva
Scene from O Agente Secreto
Scene from Sinners
Scene from Hamnet.
