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).^[1]

Emilio Martínez-Lázaro was born in Madrid in 1945.^[2] 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,^[3] What Max Said, shared a Golden Bear at the 28th Berlin International Film Festival with García Sánchez's La Trucha/The Trout.^[4] In addition to directing, Martínez-Lázaro has established himself as a noted screenwriter.