Samy Burch

Biography

Samy Burch was born and raised in West Los Angeles, growing up immersed in the entertainment industry. Her mother, Jackie Burch, is a veteran casting director, and her father worked in film development. Burch attended the Archer School for Girls before pursuing higher education at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Writing, where she met her future husband and frequent collaborator, filmmaker Alex Mechanik. Burch’s career began in the casting department, where she worked on major productions such as The Hunger Games (2012) and its sequels. She credits her time as a casting assistant for honing her writing skills, particularly in creating meaningful dialogue for even the smallest roles. Throughout the 2010s, she wrote, directed, and produced several award-winning short films, including Bev (2016) and Crown Prince (2017). Her breakout success came with the 2023 feature film May December, directed by Todd Haynes. The satirical drama, starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, was inspired by the tabloid scandals of the 1990s. Burch’s sharp, tonally complex script earned her widespread acclaim and a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the 96th Academy Awards.

Known For

Social & Reach