'The Secret Agent' director slams 'outdated' casting focus on looks

Kleber Mendonça Filho, whose political thriller The Secret Agent recently earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, used a spotlight panel at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) to challenge outdated casting norms in the film industry. 

The director urged his peers to move beyond superficial standards that favor “good looks” and instead embrace authenticity and talent in casting decisions.

Speaking alongside Spanish director Carla Simón, Mendonça Filho described the pressures inherent in casting, noting that agencies and industry expectations often push filmmakers toward conventional aesthetics rather than searching for performances that resonate emotionally. 

“There is still this outdated way of looking at actors and actresses as good-looking, which is something I find really old … it’s not about good looks,” he said, underscoring his belief that screen presence and depth matter more than physical appearance.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Secret Agent director also shared insights from recent casting experiences, expressing concern that social media culture has influenced even young performers to behave more like influencers than actors.

He highlighted his preference for working with individuals who bring “expressiveness” and authenticity to the screen rather than those shaped by commercial casting trends.

Moreover, both Mendonça Filho and Simón praised the value that untrained performers and children can bring to a production, noting that fresh faces often enhance the realism and emotional impact of a film.