Maris Martinsons is an internationally acclaimed film director, screenwriter, editor, and producer, boasting a prolific career spanning multiple decades. Born in Latvia, Martinsons graduated from the prestigious Latvia Conservatoires in 1989 with a degree in drama theatre direction. Immediately, he began working as an independent director and producer for music videos, collaborating with Latvian musicians.
His groundbreaking work in the music video industry culminated in the creation of "This Is My Car," a music video by the band Jumprava, which won the best music video award in 1989/1990, marking a significant milestone in Latvian music and audiovisual history.
Martinsons transitioned to the television field, where he created numerous TV shows, music videos, and TV series, honing his skills as a director, screenwriter, and producer. Throughout his television career, he developed over 10 original TV series, each project bringing him closer to realizing his dream of creating a feature film.
In 2008, Martinsons' first feature film, "Loss," premiered and went on to participate in numerous film festivals, garnering official screenings and accolades. "Loss" became the first feature film from the Baltic region to win A-class film festival awards, including Best Director and Best Music, at the Shanghai International Film Festival (2008). The jury was led by renowned director Wong Kar Wai, and the film represented Lithuania in the Academy Awards as the Best Foreign Language film.
Following the international premiere of "Loss," Martinsons met the talented Japanese actress Kaori Momoi, who was impressed by his work and expressed her willingness to collaborate on future projects. Inspired by this encounter, Martinsons began writing a new story, "Amaya," specifically tailored for Momoi. The script was developed across multiple countries, ultimately concluding in Hong Kong.
Martinsons' subsequent feature films were created on a low budget, allowing him to maintain creative control and independence on set. His notable works include "Christmas. Uncensored" (2013),shot in Lithuania, "Oki - in the Middle of the Ocean" (2014),co-produced with Kaori Momoi in Los Angeles, and "Romeo n' Juliet" (2015),currently in post-production.
Person biography:
Maris Martinsons
