Doha: Qumra Master Walter Salles, the acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker known for films such as Central Station and The Motorcycle Diaries, emphasized the role of cinema as a tool for preserving identity and combating oblivion. Addressing a full house at the first Masterclass at Qumra, Doha Film Institute’s annual talent incubator event, Salles shared insights into his cinematic journey, which spans documentaries and award-winning features, including I’m Still Here, a film that won the Best International Feature Award at the Academy Awards 2025.
According to Qatar News Agency, Salles highlighted the intrinsic connection between cinema, culture, and identity, drawing from his passion for photography, which led to his documentary and feature filmmaking. Throughout his work, he has consistently explored the spirit of humanity, a lesson he attributes to photography masters who engaged deeply with communities before capturing their stories. Salles strives to infuse this spirit into his films, using dynamic improvisation and working with non-actors who often exceed expectations.
Salles, a prominent figure among the first generation of filmmakers in Brazil’s post-dictatorship era, made his mark with his debut feature, Foreign Land, which examined Brazil’s political upheaval and displacement. His subsequent film, Central Station, won the Golden Bear at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival, a success he credits to the nurturing environment of the Sundance Institute. Salles sees a similar spirit of collectiveness at Qumra, underscoring the importance of cultural institutions like the Doha Film Institute in fostering new voices and emerging themes.
He emphasized the value of authenticity in filmmaking, noting that a well-structured script serves as a foundation for improvisation, akin to jazz music. For The Motorcycle Diaries, Salles collaborated with non-actors and undertook the actual journey to connect with South American cultural identity. He advocates capturing unplanned moments in cinema, suggesting that what is unseen can be as informative as what is visible. Salles advised young filmmakers to engage audiences by leaving elements open to interpretation, distinguishing cinema from television.
Reflecting on his recent work, I’m Still Here, Salles described the film as layered with memories of Brazil’s military dictatorship, highlighting themes of resilience and resistance. He likened cinema to ancient artistic expressions like cave paintings, emphasizing its role in capturing and preserving cultural memory. Salles concluded with a message on the responsibility of cinema to counter injustices and memory erasure, calling it an extraordinary tool of resistance, regardless of the medium used to create it.
The session, moderated by Richard Pena, included clips from Salles’ works, offering a comprehensive view of his evolution as a filmmaker and his enduring commitment to humanism.