Photo: Adam Chitayat / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Walter Salles, born on April 12, 1956 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a screenwriter, film director and film producer. That puts Walter Salles at 70 years old in 2026. Education on record includes University of Southern California. Recorded honors include Order of Cultural Merit (Brazil). Credited works include Central Station, The Motorcycle Diaries and I'm Still Here.
My Take
Salles is, to me, one of cinema's great quiet humanists. Central Station and The Motorcycle Diaries share a gift for shrinking the distance between strangers, finding tenderness in journeys rather than spectacle. That he returned with the acclaimed I'm Still Here decades later proves his eye hasn't dulled with age. There's a Rio-bred warmth in how he frames people, and his past as a racing driver hints at a restless, observant spirit. I value directors who trust silence and faces over noise, and Salles does exactly that. He remains, in my view, the conscience of Brazilian filmmaking.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Walter Salles
- Name (Japanese)
- ウォルター・サレス
- Reading
- うぉるたー・されす
- Born
- April 12, 1956 (age 70)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Monkey
- Origin
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Occupation
- screenwriter / film director / film producer / racing automobile driver / director
2. Background
- University
- University of Southern California
Awards & achievements
- Order of Cultural Merit (Brazil)
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Central Station | — | |
| Notable work | The Motorcycle Diaries | — | |
| Notable work | I'm Still Here | — |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Walter Salles born?
Born April 12, 1956 (age 70).
Where is Walter Salles from?
Walter Salles is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What does Walter Salles do?
Walter Salles works as screenwriter, film director, film producer, racing automobile driver, director.
What is Walter Salles known for?
Notable works include Central Station, The Motorcycle Diaries, I'm Still Here.
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