Nino Martínez Sosa is an award-winning Cuban-American film director. He was born in Havana, Cuba and moved to the United States at the age of seven. After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in film production, Nino began his career working on short films and music videos.
Nino is best known for his narrative feature films, which explore themes of identity, family, and culture. His debut feature film, The Other Side of the Street (El Otro Lado de la Calle), earned him an Artistic Achievement Award at the Havana Film Festival in 2004. The film follows the story of a Cuban family as they grapple with the effects of the US embargo.
Nino’s second feature film, The Lost City (La Ciudad Perdida), premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2005. The film focuses on a Cuban-American man who returns to Cuba to reunite with his estranged family. The film earned Nino the honor of Best Director at the Havana Film Festival.
In 2012, Nino released his third feature film, Sugar (Azucar). The film follows the story of a Cuban-American family struggling to make ends meet in the United States. The film explores the themes of nostalgia, family, and identity, while also addressing the political and economic issues of the Cuban-American experience. Sugar was nominated for both an Independent Spirit Award and a Gotham Award for Best Feature Film.
Nino has also directed a number of documentaries, including The Cuban Dream (La Sueña Cubana), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2011. The film follows the journey of three Cuban-American families as they navigate the complexities of the Cuban-American experience. The film earned Nino a nomination for Best Documentary at the Havana Film Festival.
Nino’s work has been praised for its authentic portrayals of the Cuban-American experience. His films have been screened in festivals around the world, including the Sundance Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Berlin International Film Festival.
Nino is currently in post-production on his fourth feature film, a romantic drama set in modern day Cuba. He is also developing a television series for HBO. Nino continues to explore themes of identity, family, and culture in his work, highlighting the complexities of the Cuban-American experience.
