João Moreira Salles

Directing

João Moreira Salles

Born 1962-01-01 · Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

João Moreira Salles (Rio de Janeiro, born 1962) is a Brazilian documentarian and president of the Instituto Moreira Salles. In 2006, he founded the magazine Piauí. He has also taught courses on documentary at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and Princeton University.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

Nelson Freire poster
6.8

João Moreira Salles' "Nelson Freire" is a film-documentary about the great Brazilian pianist, who is certainly among the five great pianists of the world today. Nelson Freire is a quite discreet / shy person and João Salles respected this feature of his personality. During almost two years he followed the pianist around the world to compose a film, made of 31 thematic sections to cover the many aspects of the life of this genius of the piano.

Nelson Freire

2003

Nelson Freire poster
6.8

João Moreira Salles' "Nelson Freire" is a film-documentary about the great Brazilian pianist, who is certainly among the five great pianists of the world today. Nelson Freire is a quite discreet / shy person and João Salles respected this feature of his personality. During almost two years he followed the pianist around the world to compose a film, made of 31 thematic sections to cover the many aspects of the life of this genius of the piano.

Nelson Freire

2003

In the Intense Now poster
7.6

A personal essay which analyses and compares images of the political upheavals of the 1960s. From the military coup in Brazil to China's Cultural Revolution, from the student uprisings in Paris to the end of the Prague Spring.

In the Intense Now

2017

In the Intense Now poster
7.6

A personal essay which analyses and compares images of the political upheavals of the 1960s. From the military coup in Brazil to China's Cultural Revolution, from the student uprisings in Paris to the end of the Prague Spring.

In the Intense Now

2017

Krajcberg - O Poeta dos Vestígios poster
NR

A touching documentary about artist Franz Krajcberg who moved from his home country to Brazil and started a life of environment activist.

Krajcberg - O Poeta dos Vestígios

1987

Creatures of the Mind poster
NR

Sidarta Ribeiro, a Brazilian neuroscientist, explores how dreams and other forms of access to the unconscious can transform human experience. In his research, he proposes combining the ancestral knowledge of indigenous peoples and people of African origin in Brazil with scientific knowledge, as well as a scientific reevaluation of experiences with hallucinogens.

Creatures of the Mind

2025

China, o Império do Centro poster
NR

A portrait of conteporary China from Tai-chi-chuan to chinese arts.

China, o Império do Centro

1987

China, o Império do Centro poster
NR

A portrait of conteporary China from Tai-chi-chuan to chinese arts.

China, o Império do Centro

1987

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Santa Cruz

2000

Intermissions poster
7.9

Intermissions follows Lula during the hectic election campaign for the presidency in 2002. Lula gave filmmaker João Moreira Salles and his crew complete access, and the result is an intimate documentary of what went on behind the scenes. Sometimes, Lula is afraid that he will lose his freedom as president. Combined with Lula's candor, the film's observational style provides some very special insight into one of Brazil's most popular leaders.

Intermissions

2004

Futebol poster
NR

A three-part documentary about Brazilian soccer—from the players who reach the top to those who don't make it there.

Futebol

1998

Master, a Building in Copacabana poster
8.1

The daily lives and routine of 37 families living in a huge 12-story building in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: their drama, aspirations, intimate revelations, loneliness, dreams...

Master, a Building in Copacabana

2002

My Foreign Land poster
NR

For the Suruí, an indigenous people in western Brazil, there was a lot at stake in the 2022 presidential elections. Under incumbent President Bolsonaro, logging and mining companies were given free rein in their territory. His opponent Lula, on the other hand, pledged to protect the Amazon and uphold Indigenous rights. Tribal leader Almir and his daughter, the young activist Txai Suruí, are each followed during their campaign in the final month before the elections. While Txai travels abroad to raise awareness about the destruction of the rainforest, Almir campaigns across the state of Rondônia, seeking support for his congressional bid.

My Foreign Land

2025

My Foreign Land poster
NR

For the Suruí, an indigenous people in western Brazil, there was a lot at stake in the 2022 presidential elections. Under incumbent President Bolsonaro, logging and mining companies were given free rein in their territory. His opponent Lula, on the other hand, pledged to protect the Amazon and uphold Indigenous rights. Tribal leader Almir and his daughter, the young activist Txai Suruí, are each followed during their campaign in the final month before the elections. While Txai travels abroad to raise awareness about the destruction of the rainforest, Almir campaigns across the state of Rondônia, seeking support for his congressional bid.

My Foreign Land

2025

Poema Sujo poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Poema Sujo

2010

Santiago poster
7.5

Documentary about Santiago, a peculiar man who used to work for the director and his parents as a butler. The material was filmed in 1992 but, for some strange reason, the director felt he couldn't edit it and put it aside. In 2005 he remembers the unfinished film and starts its edition.

Santiago

2007

Santiago poster
7.5

Documentary about Santiago, a peculiar man who used to work for the director and his parents as a butler. The material was filmed in 1992 but, for some strange reason, the director felt he couldn't edit it and put it aside. In 2005 he remembers the unfinished film and starts its edition.

Santiago

2007

News from a Personal War poster
7.8

A documentary about urban violence in Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Policemen, drug dealers, and shantytown dwellers get trapped in a daily war that knows no winners.

News from a Personal War

1999

News from a Personal War poster
7.8

A documentary about urban violence in Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Policemen, drug dealers, and shantytown dwellers get trapped in a daily war that knows no winners.

News from a Personal War

1999

I Owe You a Letter About Brazil poster
8.0

César Benjamin was arrested in August 1971 during student protests against the Brazilian military dictatorship. Although he was a juvenile, he was tried as an adult and sentenced to 13 years in prison. Thanks to the ardent campaigning of his mother Iramaya, working closely together with the Swedish branch of Amnesty International, he was released five years later.

I Owe You a Letter About Brazil

2019

Chico, or the Country of the Lost Delicacy poster
NR

A look into the 25 years of career of famous musician Chico Buarque and his influence in Brazilian culture.

Chico, or the Country of the Lost Delicacy

1989

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Jorge Amado

1996

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Jorge Amado

1996

Narcissus Off Duty poster
6.8

Brazilian singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso reflects on his imprisonment in 1968, during the military dictatorship.

Narcissus Off Duty

2020