Martini's cinematic journey began in the vibrant city of New York, where he made his feature film debut as a co-writer, producer, and actor in the award-winning and critically acclaimed independent film, Smiling Fish & Goat on Fire, in 1999. This remarkable film, which was made on a shoestring budget of just $40,000, went on to win the prestigious Discovery award at the Toronto International Film Festival and The Audience Award at The Milan International Film Festival. The film's theatrical release through IDP/Stratosphere in 2000-01 marked a significant milestone in Martini's career.
Years later, Martini's screenplay, Lymelife, emerged as a labor of love, developed at the esteemed Sundance Filmmaker's Lab. This poignant and powerful film won the coveted International Critic's Award, also known as the FIPRESCI, at The Toronto International Film Festival. Lymelife's theatrical release in early 2009 was met with international critical acclaim, earning Martini a "Breakthrough Director" nomination from The Gotham Awards. Notably, Lymelife was produced by the legendary Martin Scorsese, a long-time champion of Martini's work.
