Kleber Mendonça Filho: Hollywood Must Draw a Line on Streaming to Save Theatrical Filmgoing
Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, whose latest film The Secret Agent is Brazil’s entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature, has warned that streaming culture is disrupting traditional moviegoing. He notes that audiences in the United States and other markets are increasingly conditioned by short theatrical windows, challenging cinemas and the business models that support them. At the Marrakech Film Festival, Mendonça Filho discussed the issue on panels and in interviews, arguing that streaming platforms have reshaped how films are consumed and how they are financed, which in turn affects the international feature circuit and festival runs. He told reporters that Hollywood should draw a line with streaming if it wants to keep filmgoing alive, suggesting that a sustainable balance is needed between streaming access and a robust theatrical experience. The discussion comes as The Secret Agent contends for a place in the Oscars international feature race, highlighting Brazil’s growing presence in global cinema. The broader message from Mendonça Filho centers on an urgent need for a model that preserves cinema as a cultural event while still embracing the reach of streaming for discovery and distribution. As the awards season unfolds, his comments add to a broader industry debate about the future of cinema in an era dominated by on-demand platforms and changing viewing habits.