Walter Salles Talks Gael Bernal García Reunion; Sócrates Soccer Doc & ‘I’m Still Here’ Oscar Triumph: ‘The Film Had To Speak For Itself’ – Qumra

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Walter Salles has revealed he is eager to work again with The Motorcycle Diaries star Gael Bernal García, and that an opportunity nearly arose ahead of his making Oscar-winning drama I’m Still Here. “We’ve been trying for a long time,” Salles told journalists at the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra event this weekend, saying they had worked on a project involving characters from different Latin American countries that had not come to fruition. “I developed it for Gael.

I would love to work again with Gael. He’s one of my closest friends and one of the persons I love most in life and in cinema as well, he was an incredible co-author of The Diaries,” Salles said of the Mexican star, whose recent credits include La Máquena and Holland. “I love the idea of cinema being done by a family, and Gael is certainly part of that family… we see each other all the time but we haven’t worked together as much as we want but… wait.”   Walter Salles touched down in Qatar for a whirlwind 48-hour stay as one of five Qumra Masters at the DFI’s annual project and talent incubator, giving a masterclass and advice to a selection of the 49 participating projects.

It was his final trip before heading back to Brazil for some much-needed R&R after six months on the awards trail with Oscar-winner I’m Still Here.

Salles said his next work priority would be completing his five-part documentary about the life of 1980s soccer star and pro-democracy activist Sócrates (Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira), for a launch in Brazil at the end of the year. “I haven’t stopped since… Venice so I hope my family hasn’t changed the lock on the door,” he joked. “I’m going to take a few weeks and then I’m entering the editing room.” The series