Rally Kats

Director Statement

I started photographing at an early age as a way to explore the world — chasing light, people, and places that sparked my curiosity. That instinct for storytelling has guided me ever since, evolving from still photography into a growing focus on filmmaking.

I’m based in Los Angeles and split my time between California and Mexico, drawing inspiration from both cultures and landscapes. As an avid surfer, the rhythm of the ocean shapes how I see and move through the world — from the quality of light on the water to the way time slows down in certain moments. That sensibility flows naturally into my visual work.

What began as a solitary pursuit has become a deeply collaborative process, and I value the way many voices, experiences, and places come together to create a single frame or sequence. I’m drawn to minimalism — not as an aesthetic, but as a way of thinking. For me, every choice matters: the way I light a scene, compose an image, or shape a narrative. It’s about removing what isn’t essential to reveal what truly is.

Whether working on a photograph or a film, my goal is the same: to create work that feels honest, intentional, and alive.

Director Bio

David Martinez is a filmmaker and photographer based between California and Mexico, drawn to people, places and the small details that give a story its character. His background in photography continues to shape his filmmaking, with a stripped-back visual style built around light, landscape and honest moments. David is also a TMFF alumnus. His film Slowly Going Faster screened at TMFF in 2025, and he returns this year with Rally Kats, another story rooted in motorcycles, travel and the people drawn to both.