Zoey Martinson is a multifaceted creative force, excelling as both a writer and director in the realms of comedy and genre storytelling. Her impressive theatrical credits include writing and directing Off-Broadway and international productions.
In the world of feature films, her debut effort, The Fisherman, garnered significant attention as an official selection at the 81st Venice Biennale Film Festival. This Ghana-shot film showcased Martinson's unique voice and quirky sensibilities, setting the stage for her future projects.
For television, she has made notable contributions, including writing and directing episodes of Incomplete on Hulu's and Disney+'s Bite Size Halloween, which earned a nomination for the 2023 NAACP Image Award. Her work on The Wave for MTV/Paramount+ and Ziwe on Showtime S2, as well as her role as writer on season 2 of Betty on HBO Max, further solidify her reputation as a talented and versatile director.
Martinson's short film, Cupids, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and went on to run on BET and CBS, earning a nomination for the 2022 NAACP Image Award as part of the 8:46Films initiative. She has also directed "Uthandiwe" for South Africa's DSTV MzansiMagic and was a part of the ABC/Disney Discovers Talent program.
Her award-winning short film, La Oposición, played at the Casa Mexico Program at SXSW, and she was selected as one of the 10 Female Directing Finalists featured on Issa Rae's Project Greenlight on Max. Additionally, she was named a Warner Brothers Discovery Director Class 2023/24.
Before pursuing her Master's degree, Martinson worked as a humanitarian aid worker in refugee camps across West Africa. She is the co-founder and Executive Producer of Smoke & Mirrors Collaborative, and her impressive resume is marked by numerous awards and nominations, including Diversity at Cannes, the Pan African Film Festival, and the African Movie Academy Award.
