Internet users accuse the Oscars Academy of hiding posts from Brazilians on Instagram

By Marcela Leiros – From Cenarium

MANAUS (AM) – Following the broadcast of the 2025 Oscars, internet users noticed that posts from the Instagram page of the Academy, the organisation behind the awards, were not appearing for the Brazilian audience. The institution is being accused of blocking posts from being seen in the country, such as the video of Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles, director of the film ‘I’m Still Here’, which won the award for “Best International Feature Film”.

The “disappearance” of posts can be observed in at least three publications on the Academy’s social media. Besides Salles’ video, videos of “Best Actress” winner Mikey Madison and the director of ‘Anora’, Sean Baker, who won the “Best Picture” award, are also missing. Both were in direct competition with the Brazilian production.

The Instagram feed of the Academy, as seen by Brazilians, displayed the following sequence of images: the poster of ‘Anora’, winner of “Best Picture”; a photo of Adrien Brody, winner of the “Best Actor” award; and Paul Tazewell and Bowen Yang, awarded for “Best Costume Design”.

The difference in the visibility of posts irritated Brazilian internet users, who accused the official awards profile of blocking access to certain posts due to the volume of comments or to avoid criticism, particularly regarding the “Best Actress” award, for which Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres was a contender.

“The official Oscars page on Instagram simply blocked Brazilian access to certain posts, including the controversial ‘Best Actress’ one, which would have been one of the most anticipated and would have generated thousands of comments. You can only see it via VPN,” said one internet user.

“Well, I connected my VPN to the US just to complain (yes, I have time to spare), because indeed, they blocked the reels from being seen by Brazilians. The fear of the backlash is real,” said another user, referring to Virtual Private Network, a private communication network built over a public network.

Historic Award

At the 97th Academy Awards, held this Sunday, 2 March, in Los Angeles, California, United States, the Brazilian film Ainda Estou Aqui won the “Best International Feature Film” award, marking the country’s first-ever Oscar statuette.

Directed by Walter Salles and starring Fernanda Torres and Selton Mello, the film was also nominated in the categories of “Best Actress” and “Best Picture”. Since its release, the production has received international critical acclaim for its sensitive and impactful portrayal of the Military Dictatorship period in Brazil.

Based on a book of the same name by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, the film follows Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres), who faces the uncertainty and pain of not knowing the whereabouts of her husband, Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), a former congressman deposed after the 1964 coup and kidnapped by the government during the military regime.

Reviewed by Gustavo Gilona
Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves