Ariana Martinez is a film critic and MA student in Film Studies at the University of Iowa. While earning a BA in Film at the University of Central Florida, they completed an undergraduate thesis on cinematic depictions of queerness during the AIDS crisis. Ariana has contributed to publications including Little White Lies, TheWrap, Polyester, Latina Media Co, and Little Village. Their research interests include the 1980s, queer theory, and depictions of romance in cinema. In 2023, Ariana was recognized by GALECA: The Society for LBGTQ Entertainment Critics for “approaching daunting societal themes in film and TV with humor, flair, and perspective" in their video essays and freelance work.