Edwin Martinez is a Puerto Rican documentary filmmaker born and raised in the Bronx. His films shine a spotlight on ordinary people rewriting the rules of power for themselves and those around them, challenging social structures from the ground up. His work has screened theatrically and on major television, news and streaming outlets.

His most recent film, IFP Lab supported, PERSONAL STATEMENT premiered as the opening night film of 2018 AFI Docs and broadcast on America ReFramed. His award-winning first feature documentary TO BE HEARD was named a New York Times critics pick and “one of the best documentaries of the year. ”He has also worked as a producer, editor or cinematographer on many feature documentaries including EL EFECTO CLEMENTE (ESPN), LAS MARTHAS (PBS), RACHEL IS (PBS), CITY OF TREES (PBS), and Webby award winning mini series THE MESSY TRUTH.

Edwin is a Concordia Fellow, Firelight Media Lab Fellow and JustFilms Fellow. He earned a Master’s in Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education as a Gates Millennium Scholar. He works to develop innovative strategies for creative co-authorship with both film participants and his students as an Assistant Professor of Film in the SUNY Purchase Film Conservatory.

FILMOGRAPHY

The Monster and the Storm  (in post-production). Producer, Director
Documentary fantasy about a Godzilla performer on a journey to heal loss of his late father.

The Last Doo Wop (in post-production). Director, Cinematographer, Editor
Feature documentary about the last days of a local neighborhood deli .

Decade of Fire . Cinematographer, Story Consultant
Feature documentary re-writing the story of the fires that burnt down the South Bronx in the 1970's, dir. Vivian Vázquez Irizarry & Gretchen Hildebran.

Personal Statement . Co-director, Editor, Cinematographer
Feature documentary about three NYC students trying against all odds to get into college, dir. Julie Dressner– 2019 Emmy Nomination, PBS Broadcast.

SAABA . Cinematographer, Consulting Editor
Six-part digital docu-series about a community-based attempt to fight violence in Burkina Faso in the Sahel region of West Africa.

Out of My Head: The Migraine Project . Cinematographer
Feature documentary about the history and mystery of migraine, dir. by Jacki Ochs, Susanna Styron.

The Messy Truth . Supervising Editor, Editor episode 3
2017 election 3-part web series hosted by Van Jones, dir. Brandon Kramer, picked up by CNN.

City of Trees . Editor
Feature documentary about struggling to create a green economy in Southeast D.C., dir. Brandon Kramer, PBS Broadcast.

The Clemente Effect / El Efecto Clemente . Producer
Feature documentary about baseball player Roberto Clemente, dir. Mario Diaz, ESPN broadcast.

To Be Heard . Producer, Director,  Cinematographer, Editor
Award winning feature documentary about 3 Bronx teenagers struggling to transform their lives, ITVS funded, PBS broadcast, theatrical release.

Las Marthas . Cinematographer
Feature documentary about the Martha Washington Society in Laredo, TX., dir. Cristina Ibarra, PBS broadcast.

The Scars of Stop & Frisk . Director, Cinematographer, Editor
New York Times “Op-Doc” on the NYPD "Stop, Question, Frisk" policy's impact on NYC youth, created for Open Society Foundation.

It Hurts . Director, Editor
PSA on music piracy created for the National Crime Prevention Council and US Department of Justice, broadcast nationally on CBS, FOX.

Heather Jones Island Dreams . Cinematographer
A Caribbean fashion designer fulfills a life dream by debuting her clothing in Italy, dir. Erin Ploss-Campoamor

Blow Out. Cinematographer
MFA Thesis film, Columbia University, dir. Berkeley Brady– in post-production.

Oscar de la Renta Tribute . Cinematographer
Short documentary about Oscar de la Renta for Carnegie Hall, dir. Richard Kaufman.

Transition Youth Project . Producer, Cinematographer, Editor
Promotional video created for United Way Allegheny County.

Op-Ed: First Words . Producer, Cinematographer, Editor
New York Times online video of Bronx teenagers response to Obama's inauguration.

No You Can't . Editor
Web parody of Will-I-Am's "Yes We Can" video, created for Billionaires for Bush.

Rachel is . Cinematographer, Editor
Feature documentary about a young woman with developmental disabilities finding a new home, dir. Charlotte Glynn, PBS broadcast.

GEAR UP/ENLACE . Producer, Editor
Various organizational and fundraising videos for The Bronx Institute's GEAR UP and ENLACE programs.

Mercy Corps/NetAid . Producer, Cinematographer, Editor
Various organizational videos including HS students lobbying for the Global Campaign for Education.

G.W. Hates Santa . Director, Cinematographer, Editor
Campaign video for the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Hispanacea . Cinematographer
Short parody of Univision's news program Primer Impacto. dir. Fulana

Leave No Soldier . Cinematographer
Feature documentary about veterans healing their wartime psychological traumas. dir. Donna Bassin.

Dean and Me: Roadshow of an American Primary . Cinematographer
Feature documentary about Howard Dean and the Democratic party, dir. Heath Eiden.

The Circuit . Cinematographer
Television documentary on the gay rodeo circuit. Broadcast on Viacom's LOGO.

What Alice Found . Cinematographer
Award winning feature film about truck stop prostitution. dir. A. Dean Bell.

Eyes Open . Director, Cinematographer, Editor
Short documentary about a young woman's fight with cancer.

Beyond the News: Parenting Adolescents . Producer, Cinematographer
Educational video on parenting, Mennonite Media Ministries.