Flying High: The Journey of 'Kites' and its director Walter Thompson-Hernández

Walter Thompson-Hernández joins us to discuss his film ‘Kites’, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. In our conversation, Walter reflects on the five and a half year journey that brought ‘Kites’ to life, describing how the project evolved organically rather than following a traditional scripted approach. Working without a strict script, Walter embraced a fluid storytelling method that allowed characters to shape their own narratives—a technique that mirrored the dynamic nature of the Rio favelas where the film is set.We dig into Walter’s collaborative process with cinematographer (and previous guest in the show) Michael ‘Cambio’ Fernandez. Together, they navigated the challenges of shooting in an unpredictable yet inspiring environment, working closely with local talent to ensure authentic representation.Walter also shares his philosophy on depicting the complexities of favela life without glorifying violence, instead focusing on hope and innocence—beautifully symbolized by the kites that dance throughout the film.(Photo credit: Kemal Cilengir)