Torre Nilsson's first full-length film, El crimen de Oribe (1950), was an adaptation of Adolfo Bioy Casares's novel El perjurio de la nieve. In 1954 he directed Días de odio, based on Jorge Luis Borges's short story Emma Zunz. In 1956 he directed Graciela, based on Carmen Laforet's novel Nada, winner of Nadal Literary Prize 1944. He also directed films about icons of Argentine history and culture: Martín Fierro (1968), about the main character of Argentina's national poem; El Santo de la Espada (1970), about General José de San Martín; and Güemes: la tierra en armas (1971), about Martín Miguel de Güemes. It was entered into the 7th Moscow International Film Festival. His 1973 film Los siete locos won the Silver Bear at the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival.