Director Gabe Klinger Talks 'Daring' Casting and 'Luxury' of Working With Producer Rodrigo Teixeira on 'Isabel'

Klinger's second fiction feature, 'Isabel,' marks his return to Brazil and reunites him with the Berlinale festival.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Director Gabe Klinger discusses his sophomore fiction feature 'Isabel,' which marks his return to Brazil and his reunion with the Berlinale festival. The film stars Marina Person as a 50-something sommelier who dreams of opening her own wine bar, and was produced by Rodrigo Teixeira's RT Features. Klinger cites Éric Rohmer and Luis Sérgio Person as major influences, and praises the 'daring' casting of Person, who is known more as a TV presenter than an actress. Klinger also discusses the 'luxury' of working with producer Teixeira, who gave the director full creative freedom.

Why it matters

Klinger's return to fiction filmmaking in Brazil after a decade, as well as his collaboration with producer Rodrigo Teixeira, who has worked on acclaimed films like 'I'm Still Here,' represent significant developments in the director's career. The 'daring' casting of Marina Person, who is not a conventional actress, also signals Klinger's ambition to bring a fresh perspective to the film.

The details

Klinger's 'Isabel' was shot on 16mm film and developed in a London lab to echo the artisanal nature of natural wines, which are a passion of the film's protagonist. The director cites Éric Rohmer's 'The Green Ray' and Luis Sérgio Person's 'São Paulo, Incorporated' as major influences on the film's naturalistic, realistic tone. Person, who is the daughter of the director of 'São Paulo, Incorporated,' collaborated extensively with Klinger on shaping her character and the script, earning a co-writing credit.

  • Klinger first attended the Berlinale festival as part of Berlinale Talents in 2004.
  • 'Isabel' is premiering at the Berlinale in 2026.

The players

Gabe Klinger

The director of 'Isabel' and 'Porto,' who is celebrating his return to fiction filmmaking in Brazil and his reunion with the Berlinale festival.

Marina Person

The lead actress of 'Isabel,' who is known more as a TV presenter than an actress, and who collaborated extensively with Klinger on shaping her character and the script.

Rodrigo Teixeira

The producer of 'Isabel' through his company RT Features, which has produced acclaimed films like 'I'm Still Here.'

Luis Sérgio Person

The director of the seminal 1965 drama 'São Paulo, Incorporated,' which was a major influence on Klinger's 'Isabel.'

Éric Rohmer

The French filmmaker whose 'The Green Ray' was a major influence on the tone and style of Klinger's 'Isabel.'

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What they’re saying

“Marina was a daring proposition. A lot of people asked me why I cast her, given that Marina isn't a conventional actress. It is almost like working with a non-actor. Acting isn't a regular practice for her. It's not her routine. Still, I feel Marina incorporates the essence of the city of São Paulo.”

— Gabe Klinger, Director (Variety)

“Gabe gave me complete freedom when we worked together on the story. Then, when I got a copy of the final script, my name was on the front page. It wasn't something I asked for but Gabe was very generous because it is unusual to have directors giving actors writing credit.”

— Marina Person, Actress (Variety)

“Every time Rodrigo and I meet, we talk about films, and not just our films. One day, we got talking about 'Isabel.' We realized we weren't getting any public funding for the film. We tried everything. So he said: We have a little money left from another project. It all happened very quickly and working with him was a luxury in the sense that he completely trusted us. He only visited the set once. He did not interfere in our creative process at all.”

— Gabe Klinger, Director (Variety)

What’s next

Klinger's 'Isabel' will have its world premiere at the 2026 Berlinale film festival.

The takeaway

Gabe Klinger's return to fiction filmmaking in Brazil with 'Isabel' represents a significant milestone in his career, as he reunites with the Berlinale festival and collaborates with acclaimed producer Rodrigo Teixeira. The 'daring' casting of Marina Person, who is not a conventional actress, signals Klinger's ambition to bring a fresh perspective to the film, which is influenced by the works of Éric Rohmer and Luis Sérgio Person.