Steph Martinez is a queer Latine director and actor whose work has earned recognition on the international festival circuit, with projects screening in Edinburgh, Tokyo, and Cannes. Often regarded as an emerging indie filmmaker, Steph is committed to telling bold, character-driven stories that center underrepresented voices.

Most recently, Steph completed their first feature film, Cowboy, a coming-of-age drama about a queer professional rodeo bull rider who comes out and must rediscover a sense of self, community, and love for the sport that shaped him. The production brought together an exceptional cast and crew composed primarily of women, LGBTQ+ creatives, and Latine artists, reflecting Steph's commitment to fostering inclusive filmmaking both on and off set.

Steph also directed more than 40 episodes of IndieFlix's award-winning comedy series BOTHERED, created by Julie Phillips. The series won Best Comedy Series at the We Make Movies International Film Festival and Best Comedic Actor at Micheaux Film Festival.

Expanding into genre filmmaking, Steph recently directed the fantasy action short Artemis & Cassandra, a story of a vampire and a witch who fall in and out of love across a millennium. Teaming up with Co-Director Veronica Smith and Director of Photography Neil Watson, they developed precise blocking and visual compositions that echoed the characters' intertwined past lives. The film has enjoyed a successful festival run, including a screening at the Latina Independent Film Extravaganza hosted by Josefina López.

In addition to filmmaking, Steph is a professional actor and an active volunteer with Young Storytellers, where they collaborate with local elementary schools to bring students' original screenplays to life through live performances. Helping young writers see their stories realized on stage remains one of the most rewarding aspects of their work.

Their work is driven by a belief that the future of the industry lies in greater inclusion, authentic storytelling, and creating opportunities for diverse artists to thrive.

Highlights:

Netflix’s We Have a Ghost

Lifetime films: Sins in the Suburbs & Rooming with Danger

Lead in Katherine Connor Duff’s Pay Deferred, about three female extras battle for one speaking line on a horror film set.

Rag & Bone, directed by Ella Bourne

Director of Sitting in Silence and Fault, two short films about love lost and the power of female friendship.

In Frankie Kevich’s The Commedia, Steph gets to play a terrifying yet beautiful Italian speaking clown. This wild and hilarious short is currently in its festival run.

Sony Cine’s Get Away made its way through the film festival circuit in 2023 and won over 30 awards. Some of the coolest awards being The American Pavillion 2025 Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes and the “Wes Craven Award” at the Catalina Film Festival.

Steph gets to show her bad guy side in The Aftertaste, a feature film directed by Chelsea Alden.