Edwards A. Martínez Cruz
Writing
Biography
Edwards A. Martínez Cruz is a filmmaker from Caguas, Puerto Rico, active in the island’s film community since 2013. He is the co-founder of Producciones Tabaquero, LLC, where he has produced short films and music videos over the last decade. His films explore identity, culture, and memory within and beyond Puerto Rico, using intimate narratives and a dynamic visual style that incorporates natural lighting, long takes, and subtle sound design. As a writer and director, he has worked on *Alex y Fabio Ya No Están* (2013), Las Lágrimas Negras (2014), Enganche (2015), and Sin Forma, Como Agua (2019), all of which have been recognized at festivals such as the Oaxaca Film Festival and the San Diego Latino Film Festival. His most recent project is the surreal YouTube series Terrario de Desvelados (2023). He was also a finalist in the Johnnie Walker Keep Walking Films initiative (2024) with his Caribbean folk horror script Panteón de un Rumor.
Known For
Bebo, a teenager from a coastal Puerto Rican town, lives with his brother in a public housing complex. They fish for a living, but growing desperation drives them to illegal dealings that promise easy money. When a job goes wrong and blood is spilled, Bebo flees with Lola, a wealthy girl seeking to escape her troubled reality. As they navigate the labyrinthine mountains, they encounter remnants of a fading way of life, contrasting with the violence that follows them. As hitmen close in, Bebo must confront his choices and decide if redemption is possible, or if the sea will be their final escape. A portrait of the Puerto Rican experience that dives into the complexities of identity, resilience, and colonial legacy, the film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it was honored with Best Cinematography, Best New Director, and the Jury Award. It was also nominated for the prestigious Spirit Awards, solidifying its place as one of the most celebrated Puerto Rican films.
This Island
Ricky, a 30-year-old police officer, rents a hotel suite beyond his means because he is celebrating a role he will play in a big Hollywood movie. He decides to spend money on alcohol and food while spending the entire night recording Instagram Live videos for his "fans," showing them the room and talking about what he will be doing in the movie. The night slowly unravels as various people call him, some to congratulate him, others to reprimand him for his negligent behavior.
Asterion: or, (if you mess with the bull...)
A fragmented story of unrequited love in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the last colony on Earth, Puerto Rico.
Terrarium of the Sleepless
The end of a friendship between two fellow musicians torn by the harsh realities of adulthood in the Puerto Rican art scene.
Anacrusis
A lonely doctor takes a wounded vagrant to his house only for the man to experience the manifestations of the doctor's dark past.
The Obsidian Tears
Explores the voyage of a Puerto Rican photographer to New York for the first time, as he embarks on journey to forget.
NuevaYorkino
A character study of Puerto Rican struggling rapper Negro Gonzalez, a portrait of his island, a beautiful land tarnished by US colonization and an ode to the unbreakable spirit of Puerto Rican artists.
Shapeless, Like Water
A couple's relationship is explored from beginning to end, showing how love can be tested and how far one is willing to go for love.
Alex and Fabio Are No Longer Here
A man must come to terms with his violent background in the eve of his child's birth.
Enganche
Ofelia receives a call from her ex-wife, Maité, announcing she's in labor. On their way to the hospital, they resume the unfinished issues of their past and deal with the uncertainties of motherhood.
January
The Hurricane Maria represented a historic event for the island of Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican spirit at the helm of this natural disaster was shattered beyond repair. And from the rumble the Puerto Rican spirit will be reborn again. Omar Iloy makes a desperate call to the wounded spirit of the island, a call for hope and help.