2025 Annual Awards Interviews: Bella Zoe Martinez and Melissa Martinez-Areffi of “Once More, Like Rain Man”

Join host Olivia Lyle (@olivialyle1) for an exclusive interview with actress Bella Zoe Martinez and producer Melissa Martinez-Areffi, the powerhouse mother-daughter team behind Once More, Like Rain Man (USA). Captured by Kyle Reed (@thekylereed) at Regal LA Live, Los Angeles.

Once More, Like Rain Man was awarded Best Indie Short, Best Young Actress, and Best Original Screenplay of 2025 at IndieX Film Fest Annual Awards.

Directed by Sue Ann Pien and written by and starring Bella Zoe Martinez, the film follows a day in the life of Zoe, a young autistic actress navigating the challenges of auditioning in Los Angeles. Through a series of encounters and conversations, Once More, Like Rain Man offers a candid, character-driven exploration of how neurodivergent performers are often met with limiting roles and expectations—and how one individual pushes back against that narrative.

Filmed with sensitivity and emotional nuance, the story unfolds with realism and heart, anchored by Bella Zoe Martinez’s breakout performance—praised for its authenticity, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence.

Bella Zoe Martinez in *Once More, Like Rain Man*

Behind the scenes, producer Melissa Martinez-Areffi helped shape the project’s vision and tone, working closely with Bella to bring the script to life. Their creative partnership—rooted in lived experience and artistic courage—has been central to the film’s impact.

Watch the interview, and trailer, below to hear Bella and Melissa reflect on the journey behind Once More, Like Rain Man, and the power of telling stories that defy expectation.