From cinema to photography was an easy jump and he came from Nova Friburgo to study Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro or to do Architecture, but his destiny and preference was always the movies.

In 1960, with Cidade Ameaçada, he won several awards and became one of the most respected filmmakers in Brazil, a position he would consolidate with Assalto ao Trem Pagador, in 1962.

Roberto was also president of the Sindicato Nacional da Indústria Cinematográfica and the first filmmaker to direct Embrafilme.

In TV Globo made, in 1965, Câmara Indiscreta; later directed the miniseries A Máfia no Brasil, As Noivas de Copacabana, Contos de Verão and Maria Moura Memorial; besides the programs "Você Decide", Brava Gente (1996), Sob Nova Direção and Faça a Sua História.

Roberto Farias died in Rio de Janeiro on 14 May 2018, at age 86, during an inpatient treatment for cancer.