The Scent of Things Remembered () is a 2025 drama film directed by António Ferreira, and co-written with Tiago Cravidão. A co-production of Portugal and Brazil, it follows Arménio (José Martins), an aging war veteran, who is forced into a retirement home, where he confronts ghosts of his past and forms an unexpected bond with his black caregiver.
The film had its world premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival on 15 June 2025, where it won Golden Goblet Award for Best Actor for Martins. It was theatrically released in Portugal on 6 November 2025. It was also selected as the Portuguese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.
Cast José Martins as Arménio Maria José Almeida as Amélia Pedro Lamas as João Robson Lemos as Jefferson Maria José Almeida (Mizé) as Joana Sofia Coelho as Psychologist Paula Barata as Laura José Castela as Tozé Cláudia Carvalho as administrator Ricardo Vaz Trindade as funeral home manager Francisco Paz as Telles Luís Ferreira as Morais Mina Andala as Hermínia
Release
The Scent of Things Remembered premiered at the Shanghai International Film Festival on 15 June 2025, where it won Golden Goblet Award for Best Actor. It was featured in the International Perspective section at the 49th São Paulo International Film Festival and was screened on 19 October 2025.
On 3 June 2026 it was screened as part of Narrative Feature section at Bali International Film Festival in Indonesia.
Accolades Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result Shanghai International Film Festival23 June 2025 Golden GobletThe Scent of Things Remembered Golden Goblet Award for Best Actor José Martins Sophia Awards 15 May 2026 Best Film The Scent of Things Remembered Best Original Screenplay Tiago Cravidão and António Ferreira Best Achievement António Ferreira Best Leading Actor José Martins Best Leading Actress Mina Andala Best Original Score Luís Pedro Madeira Best Assembly António Ferreira Best Sound Bernardo Theriaga, Matheus Miguens and Ricardo Cutz Golden Globes (Portugal) 26 September 2026 Best Film The Scent of Things Remembered Best Actor José Martins
See also
List of submissions to the 99th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film List of Portuguese submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
External links