Emilio Martínez-Lázaro

Emilio Martínez-Lázaro Torre (born 1945) is a Spanish filmmaker known for directing box office hits such as The Other Side of the Bed (2002) and Spanish Affair (2014).

Emilio Martínez-Lázaro was born in Madrid in 1945. He studied in a Jesuit school and later began studies in Industrial Engineering and then in Physical Sciences in Madrid.

His first association with cinema came when he joined the Escuela de Argüelles, a group of independent filmmakers. He made his first short film, Circunstancias del Milagro/The Circumstances of the Miracle, in 1968; re-edited in 1972 and retitled El Camino del Cielo/The Road to Heaven, it was shown at several international film festivals. He made his first feature, Pastel de Sangre/Blood Cake, in 1971. Martínez-Lázaro entered the television industry in 1974, directing episodes of numerous television series, and since then has continued to work in both venues. His debut as solo feature film director, What Max Said, shared a Golden Bear at the 28th Berlin International Film Festival with García Sánchez's La Trucha/The Trout. In addition to directing, Martínez-Lázaro has established himself as a noted screenwriter.