About
Walter Salles
Master
As a director and documentarian, Salles has brought us some of the most celebrated and internationally acclaimed works in Latin American cinema, including 'Central Station' (1998), 'The Motorcycle Diaries' (2004), and 'I'm Still Here' (2024). His instinctive ability to interweave personal narratives with much broader socio-political issues has made him a prominent and vital voice in world cinema.
As a director and documentarian, Salles has brought us some of the most celebrated and internationally acclaimed works in Latin American cinema, including 'Central Station' (1998), 'The Motorcycle Diaries' (2004), and 'I'm Still Here' (2024). His instinctive ability to interweave personal narratives with much broader socio-political issues has made him a prominent and vital voice in world cinema.
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1956, Salles' childhood was shaped by movement and cultural transition. As the son of a diplomat, his almost nomadic upbringing brought him to multiple continents—an experience that surely helped instil his innate sensitivity to the opposing themes of both exile and belonging. This early exposure to different cultures would no doubt lead to the formation of his cinematic approach, urging him to explore intimate yet universal stories of those who find themselves on the margins. Before turning his attention to feature films, Salles directed documentaries such as 'Socorro Nobre' (1996), showcasing his already well-established eye for capturing human resilience on film.
Salles gained global recognition with 'Central Station' (1998), a poignant road film about an unlikely bond between a former schoolteacher and a boy searching for his father. The film won the Golden Bear for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for Best Foreign Film, in addition to receiving two Oscar nominations.
His biopic feature, 'The Motorcycle Diaries' (2004), chronicled the self-actualisation of a young "Che" Guevara. The film received more than 30 international awards, including seven BAFTA nominations and two wins, further cementing Salles' ever-growing reputation for distilling and narrating the precise intersection of personal and political awakenings.
His most recent work, 'I'm Still Here' (2024), continues his exploration of historical and personal memory, adapting the true story of a family living under Brazil's military dictatorship. The film made history as the first Brazilian film to win an Oscar for Best International Feature at this year's awards. The film's powerfully emotional depth also earned it the Best Screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe for Best Actress for Fernanda Torres.
Salles is also a passionate advocate for Brazilian cinema on the world stage. His achievements have been recognised with the Robert Bresson Prize at the Venice Film Festival (2009) and the Marcus Aurelius Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Rome Film Festival (2014). Across his career, his films have earned a remarkable three Palme d'Or nominations as well as seven Oscar nominations, including two wins.
As a 2025 Qumra Master, Walter Salles offers his unique voice and perspective to the art of crafting stories that coalesce the personal and the universal. His legacy is one of genuine empathy and exploration, reminding us that every journey—on screen or in life—can help reveal the true essence of who we are.
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1956, Salles' childhood was shaped by movement and cultural transition. As the son of a diplomat, his almost nomadic upbringing brought him to multiple continents—an experience that surely helped instil his innate sensitivity to the opposing themes of both exile and belonging. This early exposure to different cultures would no doubt lead to the formation of his cinematic approach, urging him to explore intimate yet universal stories of those who find themselves on the margins. Before turning his attention to feature films, Salles directed documentaries such as 'Socorro Nobre' (1996), showcasing his already well-established eye for capturing human resilience on film.
Salles gained global recognition with 'Central Station' (1998), a poignant road film about an unlikely bond between a former schoolteacher and a boy searching for his father. The film won the Golden Bear for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for Best Foreign Film, in addition to receiving two Oscar nominations.
His biopic feature, 'The Motorcycle Diaries' (2004), chronicled the self-actualisation of a young "Che" Guevara. The film received more than 30 international awards, including seven BAFTA nominations and two wins, further cementing Salles' ever-growing reputation for distilling and narrating the precise intersection of personal and political awakenings.
His most recent work, 'I'm Still Here' (2024), continues his exploration of historical and personal memory, adapting the true story of a family living under Brazil's military dictatorship. The film made history as the first Brazilian film to win an Oscar for Best International Feature at this year's awards. The film's powerfully emotional depth also earned it the Best Screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe for Best Actress for Fernanda Torres.
Salles is also a passionate advocate for Brazilian cinema on the world stage. His achievements have been recognised with the Robert Bresson Prize at the Venice Film Festival (2009) and the Marcus Aurelius Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Rome Film Festival (2014). Across his career, his films have earned a remarkable three Palme d'Or nominations as well as seven Oscar nominations, including two wins.
As a 2025 Qumra Master, Walter Salles offers his unique voice and perspective to the art of crafting stories that coalesce the personal and the universal. His legacy is one of genuine empathy and exploration, reminding us that every journey—on screen or in life—can help reveal the true essence of who we are.