On Behalf of My Son
| On Behalf of My Son | |
|---|---|
 International promotional poster | |
| Portuguese | Vicentina Pede Desculpas |
| Directed by | Gabriel Martins |
| Written by | Gabriel Martins |
| Produced by | Thiago Macêdo Correia |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Leonardo Feliciano |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Tiganá Santana |
Production company | Filmes de Plástico |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 148 minutes |
| Country | Brazil |
| Language | Portuguese |
On Behalf of My Son (Portuguese: Vicentina Pede Desculpas) is an upcoming Brazilian drama film written and directed Gabriel Martins. It follows Vicentina (Rejane Faria), a 75-year-old retired teacher who seeks out the families of victims after the death of her son Wesley (Renato Novaes) in a bus accident in Belo Horizonte.[1]
The film will have its world premiere at the Platform section of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September, where it will compete for the Platform Prize.[2][3] It will be released in Brazilian theatres on 5 November and subsequently globally by Netflix on 20 November 2026.[4]
Synopsis
On a sunny morning in Belo Horizonte, a busy city bus heads toward downtown. While crossing an overpass, it suddenly swerves, leaves the road, and falls onto the avenue below. Where only one passenger survives. The disaster becomes major national news. Video footage raises doubts about whether the crash was an intentional suicide. Wesley's mother Vicentina, a 75-year-old retired teacher, is heartbroken and unsure how to cope. Deciding to visit the families of the victims, the painful and complicated journey is not what she expected.
Cast
- Rejane Faria as Vicentina
- Maíra Azevedo as Joana
- Renato Novaes as Wesley/Bruno
- Giovanni Venturini as Fred
- Giovanna Heliodoro as Gisele
- Grace Passô as Isabel
- Marisa Revert as Vera
- Fernanda Vianna as Marta
- Clébia Sousa as Solange
- Fábio Leal as Victor
- Docy Moreira as Marluce
- Carlos Francisco as Antônio
- Thalma de Freitas as Cleide
- Flavio Bauraqui as Luiz
- Bárbara Colen as Amélia
- Karine Teles
- Miguelzinho do Cavaco as himself
Production
Martins revealed on his Instagram account that the project was under development for the last 10 years. Vicentina was also the name of his paternal grandmother, who was a close relative to him.[5] Produced by Martins' co-owned Filmes de Plástico in partnership with Netflix, it marks Martins' second feature film, following Mars One (2022), about Belo Horizonte's working class.
Principal photography began on 18 September 2024, shooting on location at Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.[6]
Release
On Behalf of My Son will have its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September 2026, in Platform section.[7][8] The film was also selected for the main competition of the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2026, where it will compete for Golden Shell.[9][10]
The film will be available on Netflix to stream from 20 November 2026.[11][12]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto International Film Festival | 12 September 2026 | Platform Prize | On Behalf of My Son | Pending | [13] |
| San Sebastián International Film Festival | 26 September 2026 | Golden Shell for Best Film | Pending | [14] |
References
- ↑ "Netflix Unveils First Look at 'On Behalf of My Son,' the New Film By Gabriel Martins" (Press release). Netflix Newsroom. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ Ryan Lattanzio (21 July 2026). "TIFF Reveals Platform Lineup of 12 Films from the Next Generation of Auteurs". IndieWire. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "On Behalf Of My Son, Gabriel Martins' New Film , Selected For The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival" (Press release). Netflix Newsroom. 21 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "Netflix unveils poster and release date for On Behalf of My Son, Gabriel Martins' new film" (Press release). Netflix Newsroom. 27 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- ↑ @gabitomartins; (21 July 2026). "Deu a Louca Na Gerência!!" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2026 – via Instagram.
- ↑ Pinotti, Fernanda (18 September 2024). ""Vicentina Pede Desculpas": novo filme do diretor de "Marte Um" inicia gravações" ["Vicentina Apologizes": new film by the director of "Mars One" begins filming]. Cable News Network (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "On Behalf of My Son". Toronto International Film Festival. 21 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ Ntim, Zac (21 July 2026). "TIFF Platform: International Oscar Qualifying Competition Expands To 12 Films; Amma Asante Among Jury Members". Deadline. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ Emiliano De, Pablos (14 August 2026). "San Sebastian Adds Jesse Eisenberg, Fred Cavayé, Amanda Kernell Films to Golden Shell Race". Variety. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "On Behalf of My Son". San Sebastián International Film Festival. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Cajueiro, Marcelo (28 May 2026). "Netflix Unveils First Look at 'On Behalf of My Son,' the New Film by Gabriel Martins (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "Gabriel Martins' 'On Behalf of My Son' Selected for San Sebastián Film Festival Competition" (Press release). Netflix Newsroom. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ Pond, Steve (21 July 2026). "TIFF Adds 12 Films to Compete for Oscars' International Spot". TheWrap. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ Clarke, Stewart (14 August 2026). "Jesse Eisenberg's 'The Debut' & Fred Cavayé's 'Les Misérables' Among Six New Titles In San Sebastián Official Selection". Deadline. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
External links
- On Behalf of My Son at IMDb
- On Behalf of My Son at TIFF