Wikipedia

Samy Burch

Samy Burch is an American screenwriter. She is known for writing May December (2023), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Samy Burch
Born
Los Angeles, California
EducationNew York University Tisch School of the Arts
OccupationScreenwriter
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2023)​
RelativesMolly Burch (sister)

Early life and education

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Burch was raised in West Los Angeles and attended the Archer School for Girls.[1][2] She was exposed to the film industry at an early age through her parents; her mother worked in film casting while her father worked in film development.[3] Her sister is singer Molly Burch.[4]

In 2009, Burch graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a bachelor's degree in Dramatic Writing.[5]

Career

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Early in her career, Burch worked in casting, writing audition materials for actors.[6] She also wrote and directed a series of short films with her now-husband, Alex Mechanik.[7]

Burch completed the screenplay for May December, her first feature film, in 2019. The script was inspired by recollections of the 1990s tabloid culture of her youth, particularly the case of Mary Kay Letourneau. Director Todd Haynes first read the script in 2020 and the completed film premiered on May 20, 2023, at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.[3]

Burch wrote the screenplay for the Warner Bros. family comedy movie Coyote vs. Acme, based on a 1990 Ian Frazier humor piece that first appeared in The New Yorker. It was shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery in November 2023, who reversed its decision a week later after public backlash, but in February 2024, was expected to be deleted and claimed as a tax write-off.[8][9] On March 10, 2024, Burch told IndieWire at the 96th Academy Awards that the film might still be released and conversations were still ongoing.[10]

In May 2024, Variety reported that Late Fame, a Kent Jones film starring Willem Dafoe and Sandra Hüller with a screenplay by Burch, would begin shooting that fall in New York City.[11]

Personal life

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In 2023, Burch married Alex Mechanik, with whom she developed the story for May December. The pair met while studying film at NYU and currently reside in Los Angeles.[1][12]

Filmography

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Year Title Notes
2013 All You Can Eat Short film;
Co-directed with Alex Mechanik
2016 Bev
2017 Crown Prince
2023 May December Writer
N/A Coyote vs. Acme Writer
2025 Late Fame Writer

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2023 New York Film Critics Circle Best Screenplay May December Won [6][13]
Gotham Awards Best Screenplay Nominated [14]
Boston Society of Film Critics Best Screenplay Runner-up[a] [15]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Screenplay Runner-up [16]
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Original Screenplay Won [17]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Best Original Screenplay Nominated [18][19]
Boston Online Film Critics Association Best Screenplay Won[b] [20]
Indiana Film Journalists Association Best Original Screenplay Runner-up[c] [21][22]
San Diego Film Critics Society Best Original Screenplay Nominated [23][24]
Online Association of Female Film Critics Best Original Screenplay Runner-up[c] [25]
2024 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Original Screenplay Nominated [26]
Best Female Screenwriter Nominated [26][27]
Columbus Film Critics Association Best Original Screenplay Nominated[c] [28][29]
Georgia Film Critics Association Nominated [30]
North Carolina Film Critics Association Nominated [31]
DiscussingFilm Critic Awards Won [32]
Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Nominated [33]
National Society of Film Critics Best Screenplay Won [34]
Utah Film Critics Association Best Original Screenplay Nominated [35][36]
Seattle Film Critics Society Best Screenplay Nominated [37][38]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Best Original Screenplay Nominated [39][40]
Austin Film Critics Association Best Original Screenplay Nominated[c] [41]
Denver Film Critics Society Best Original Screenplay Nominated [42][43]
Critics' Choice Awards Best Original Screenplay Nominated [44]
North Dakota Film Society Best Screenplay Nominated[c] [45]
Portland Critics Association Nominated [46]
Satellite Awards Best Original Screenplay Nominated [47]
Independent Spirit Awards Best First Screenplay Won[c] [48]
Academy Awards Best Original Screenplay Nominated [49]
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Original Screenplay Nominated [50]

Notes

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  1. ^ Tied with Nicole Holofcener for You Hurt My Feelings.
  2. ^ Tied with David Hemingson for The Holdovers.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Shared with cowriter Alex Mechanik.

References

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  1. ^ a b Wong Macabaso, Lisa (November 20, 2023). "First-Time Screenwriter Samy Burch on the Slippery Story of May December". Vogue. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  2. ^ n.a. "Archer Alumni Stars Shine Bright as Awards Season Kicks Off: Samy Burch '05 and Gracie Abrams '18". Archer School for Girls. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Braun (October 30, 2023). "SPOTLIGHT November 2023: Samy Burch, Screenwriter, MAY DECEMBER". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  4. ^ n.a. (December 2, 2018). "Girl to Know: Molly Burch". DNA MAG. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  5. ^ n.a. "2023 GOTHAM AWARD NOMINEES". Tisch School of the Arts. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Jones, Marcus (December 4, 2023). "Screenwriter Samy Burch on Building to That Final 'Funny Punchline' of 'May December'". Indiewire. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  7. ^ n.a. "Samy Burch". IMDb. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 9, 2023). "'Coyote Vs. Acme': Warner Bros Shelves Finished Live-Action/Animated Pic Completely As Studio Takes $30M Tax Write-off". Deadline. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Dick, Jeremy (February 9, 2024). "Coyote vs. Acme's Latest Update Spells Very Bad News for Looney Tunes Movie". CBR. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Perella, Samantha Bergeson,Vincent; Bergeson, Samantha; Perella, Vincent (March 10, 2024). "'Coyote vs. Acme' Writer Samy Burch Says Film May Still Be Released: Conversations Are 'Ongoing,' but We'd Be 'Heartbroken' If It's Shelved". IndieWire. Retrieved March 11, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Keslassy, Elsa. "Willem Dafoe, Sandra Huller Co-Star in Kent Jones' 'Late Fame,' Reteaming 'May December's' Samy Burch, Killer Films; Package to Launch at Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  12. ^ Douglas, Edward (November 29, 2023). "May December Screenwriter Samy Burch on Collaborating with Todd Haynes on the Timely Netflix Drama". Above the Line. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  13. ^ n.a. "AWARDS". New York Film Critics Circle. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  14. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (October 24, 2023). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'All of Us Strangers' Tops Movie List; Ryan Gosling Gets 'Barbie' Nom With Budget Caps Removed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  15. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 10, 2023). "2023 Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC): 'The Holdovers' Wins Best Film, Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  16. ^ Davis, Clayton (December 10, 2023). "'The Zone of Interest' Wins Best Picture at Los Angeles Film Critics Awards, Four Women Take Acting Prizes (Full Winners List)". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  17. ^ n.a. "THREE FILMS WIN THREE HONORS EACH AT 2023 CHICAGO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION HONORS". Chicago Film Critics Association. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  18. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 8, 2023). "The 2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  19. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 13, 2023). "Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards: 'Oppenheimer,' Bradley Cooper, 'Godzilla Minus One' Top Winners". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  20. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 17, 2023). "Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) Awards: 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Named Best Picture, 'Oppenheimer' Wins 5". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  21. ^ n.a. "2023 Award Nominees". Indiana Film Journalists Association. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  22. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  23. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 15, 2023). "The 2023 San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  24. ^ n.a. (December 19, 2023). "2023 San Diego Film Critics Society Award Winners". San Diego Film Critics Society. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  25. ^ n.a. (December 21, 2023). "AWARDS Online Association of Female Film Critics 2023 Awards – Winners". Online Association of Female Film Critics. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  26. ^ a b n.a. "2023 EDA Awards Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  27. ^ n.a. "2023 EDA Award Winners". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  28. ^ n.a. "Awards 2023 Nominees". Columbus Film Critics Association. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  29. ^ n.a. "Awards 2023". Columbus Film Critics Association. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  30. ^ n.a. "2023 Awards". Georgia Film Critics Association. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  31. ^ n.a. "Oppenheimer Awarded in a Record-Breaking Ten Categories by North Carolina Film Critics Association Best of 2023". North Carolina Film Critics Association. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  32. ^ Rolph, Ben (January 6, 2024). "DiscussingFilm Critic Awards 2024: The Winners". DiscussingFilm. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  33. ^ n.a. (January 6, 2024). "Awards: Our 2023 Winners". Greater Western New York Film Critics Association. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  34. ^ Lewis, Hilary (January 6, 2024). "'Past Lives' Named Best Picture by National Society of Film Critics". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  35. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 16, 2023). "The 2023 Utah Film Critics Association (UFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  36. ^ Painter, Ryan (January 6, 2024). "Utah Film Critics Association 2023 Award Winners". KUTV. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  37. ^ Anderson, Erik (January 3, 2024). "Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Nominations: 'Poor Things,' 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Lead". AwardsWatch. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  38. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 8, 2024). "The 2023 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  39. ^ n.a. "San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle". SFBAFCC 2023 AWARDS. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  40. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 9, 2024). "The 2023 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  41. ^ Anderson, Erik (January 4, 2024). "Austin Film Critics Association Nominations (AFCA): 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' 'Oppenheimer' Lead with 10 Each". AwardsWatch. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  42. ^ Jamieson, Doug (January 6, 2024). "Barbie and Poor Things Lead Denver Film Critics Society Nominations". Filmotomy. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  43. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 12, 2024). "The 2023 Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  44. ^ Davis, Clayton (December 13, 2023). "Critics Choice 2024 Nominations: 'Barbie' Breaks All-Time Record With 18 Noms". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  45. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 15, 2024). "The 2023 North Dakota Film Society (NDFS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  46. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 15, 2024). "The 2023 Portland Critics Association (PCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  47. ^ n.a. "IPA Reveals Nominations for the 28th Satellite™ Awards". International Press Academy. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  48. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 5, 2023). "Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: Best Feature 'American Fiction', 'May December', 'All Of Us Strangers', 'Passages', 'Past Lives' & 'We Grown Now' — Live". Deadline. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  49. ^ Gonzalez, Shivani (January 23, 2024). "Oscar Nominees 2024". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  50. ^ n.a. "2024 Writers Guild Awards Nominees". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
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