Chris Martinez (director)

Martinez credited his exposure to a wide range of films from a young age to his father, who would take him to a local Betamax rental shop when he was younger to take home movies.^[13]

He studied business administration at the University of the Philippines Diliman before transitioning to a career in writing and film.^[14]

Before making his feature-length directorial debut, Martinez worked as a screenwriter. He wrote the screenplay for Bridal Shower (2004), an official entry to the 29th Metro Manila Film Festival, marking his first collaboration with director Jeffrey Jeturian.^[15][16] The following year, he re-teamed with Jeturian for Bikini Open (2005).^[2] In 2006, he contributed as a writer to the Chito S. Roño horror film Sukob.^[6]

In addition to his screenwriting work, Martinez directed the short film Bakas, an urban horror that won the Gawad CCP Award for Alternative Filmmaking.^[5][17]

He made his directorial debut in 2008 with the Cinemalaya drama film 100. The film received the Audience Award at the 4th Cinemalaya Film Festival, while Martinez won Best Director and Best Screenplay.^[18] The film was also screened at the Busan International Film Festival that year,^[19] where it won the Audience Award.^[20]

In 2012, Martinez wrote and directed the movie musical I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila!, which features a selection of songs by the Apo Hiking Society.^[21] The film competed internationally at the 8th Osaka Asian Film Festival and the Far East Film Festival.^[22][23] Martinez received nominations for Movie Director of the Year and Movie Screenwriter of the Year at the 29th PMPC Star Awards for Movies.^[24]

In 2014, Martinez wrote the screenplay and directed the dark comedy film The Gifted, which screen both locally and abroad.^[25] The film was invited to participate in the 17th Far East Film Festival.^[26]

Martinez served as writer and director of the 2016 comedy, Working Beks.^[27] He described the film as presenting a more varied portrayal of gay characters, moving away from the stereotypical effeminate roles that were often used for humor in earlier Philippine cinema.^[28]

In 2024, he wrote the screenplay for Espantaho, directed by Roño, which was an official entry to the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival.^[4][29] The following year, Martinez co-wrote the screenplay for Jeturian's UnMarry with Therese Cayaba.^[30] The pair earned the Best Screenplay award at the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival.^[31]

Martinez has acknowledged that he was inspired by director Wenn V. Deramas, particularly in crafting slapstick comedy. He stated that watching Deramas’ films taught him about timing and audience appeal, while also emphasizing that he has developed his own distinct style from the director.^[32] He has also cited Comedy Writing Secrets by Melvin Helitzer as an influence on his comedic approach, noting that it taught him that the most effective comedy is rooted in emotional pain.^[14]

Martinez has also mentioned Rene Villanueva as a mentor during his playwriting career.^[14]

Martinez is known for approaching film primarily through comedy, both in his roles as a director and a screenwriter. He described himself as a comedy director, saying that there is always a point to his comedy.^[3] In an earlier interview, he said that he prefers working in comedy, though he has also expressed openness to directing a more “painful” film.^[33]

His work frequently employs farcical situations, satire, and exaggerated character dynamics. His work as a writer on Ang Babae sa Septic Tank pokes fun at conventions of independent filmmaking in the Philippines.^[34][35] For the sequel, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2, Martinez’s script has been described as having rhythm. Director Marlon Rivera, who collaborated with him on the film, credited Martinez’s writing for the humor and character antics, and noted that Martinez is strict about actors following the script.^[36] The film continues the series’ satirical approach to Philippine cinema, which has been described as poking fun at commercial and formulaic filmmaking and exploring the tension between commercial value and film quality.^[37][38]

Writing for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rito P. Asilo noted that Martinez delivers a briskly paced comedic tone in The Gifted (2014) that balances humor with cautionary drama while exploring themes of love, friendship, and ambition.^[39]

In an interview discussing Here Comes the Groom (2023), Martinez explained that his preproduction work places emphasis on casting choices, and said that the sequel was “more pointed toward the conversation on gender identity.”^[40] His 2025 film Kontrabida Academy, which he wrote and directed, has been described as a satirical comedy that pokes fun at recycled tropes of Filipino soap operas.^[41][42]