We had the good fortune of connecting with Valentina Martelli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Valentina, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
In 2018, as I observed the rapid growth in the streaming and OTT platform market, as well as the increased demand for original international content, I saw the need for an industry event that combined the glitz of a festival with the learning and networking opportunities of a forum/conference. As an Italian, I was also extremely proud of the brilliant and innovative content coming from my home country, particularly in the TV arena. I decided to create the ITTV Forum and Festival, an event that combines screenings, teasers of new projects, industry discussion panels, networking opportunities, red carpet premieres, parties, and awards, all with the intent of fostering new relationships and collaborations between Italian and American media.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an Italian-American television journalist, screenwriter, director and producer. I am also the founder and Creative Director of ITTV Forum&Festival. In Italy, I worked as an investigative reporter and anchorwoman for RAI Italian National Television. I went from war correspondence on the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia to hosting the Daily News for Children and the noon news edition.
I moved to the U.S. in 2005 – for love – and since then I’ve been RAI’s on-camera correspondent in Los Angeles. I also founded IbiscusMedia, Inc. We’re an entertainment and media company focusing on international documentaries, film and television series, but more than anything we do entertainment consulting.
In 2019 I started Good Girls Planet, the company behind The ITTV Forum&Festival and the Showrunner Lab.
I’m also a board member of the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West and an advisor for Ecoflix, the first not-for-profit media group dedicated to saving animals and the planet.
These days I split my time between California and Italy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m Italian, therefore food and fashion are always part of my itineraries. When my friends visit they know we’ll always end up shopping and eating. I also have my go to places — iconic locations in LA and the surrounding areas.

So if you’re my friend and I’m picking you up from the airport, I’d take you straight to Desert Hot Springs. We’d do a long weekend at Two Bunch Palms so we can really relax and chat.
Once we’re back in town the first stop would be Angelini Alimentari in Beverly Grove, for cappuccino and croissant (make sure you have the one with apricot jam). Then a tour of the town: Getty Museum and Villa are a must.
We’d do lunch at the Farmer’s Market and dinner at Mother Wolf, a movie at Soho House and, of course, a hike in Fryman Canyon.
I also love open houses so I might drag you to one — by then you might not want to be my friend anymore!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my shoutout to my family. It might sound old school to say this, but my parents forged me, gave me inspiration, and motivated me. Sometimes they were hard on me but they were always supportive. My son is my biggest achievement. I became a mom at 17 but that never stopped me. Actually, it made me want to do more and be better. Last but not least, my husband. We both have passion for what we do, even if sometimes we’re too tired to talk about our days!

Website: www.ittvfestival.com

Instagram: ValMartelli

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentinamartelli/

Twitter: ValentinaInLA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valentinamartelliLA

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvJZS_Mst7-MufaWidfh_yQ

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