Private Project

Esme, My Love

When Hannah notices the symptoms of a terminal and painful illness in her aloof daughter, Esme, she decides to take her on a trip to their abandoned family farm in a desperate attempt to connect before they have to say goodbye.

  • Cory Choy
    Director
  • Laura Allen
    Writer
  • Cory Choy
    Writer
  • Cory Choy
    Producer
  • Elizabeth Watson
    Producer
  • Audrey Grace Marshall
    Key Cast
    "Esme"
    The Flight Attendant (HBO)
  • Stacey Weckstein
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Psychological Thriller, Magical Realism
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 45 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 24, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    125,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Hot Springs International Women's Film Festival 2022

    Finalist
  • Maryland International Film Festival 2022
  • Richmond International Film Festival 2022

    Best Cinematography
  • Cannes World Film Festival 2022

    Best First Time Feature Filmmaker, Best Cinematography, Best Suspense / Thriller Feature
  • Transparent Film Festival 2022
    NYC
    WINNER: Best Director, Best Score Nominated: Best Film, Best Actress
  • Manhattan Film Festival 2022
  • Festival of Cinema NYC 2022

    Best Director
  • Something Wicked Film Festival 2022

    Best Actress: Stacey Weckstein
Director Biography - Cory Choy

Cory Choy is an Emmy Award-winning sound mixer, producer, owner of Silver Sound in NYC, eternal optimist/believer in the human spirit, husband to Rachel, and father to Grace and Jakob. "Esme, My Love" is his feature length narrative directorial debut. He is currently working on an animated feature length musical, "The Champion," with, of all people, his mother.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

How far would you go to prevent someone you love from suffering?

Inspired by true events and rooted in a family's history and lore, "Esme, My Love" explores the relationship between mother and daughter -- a suspenseful meditation on love, loss, duality, family and magic.

Director's Statement re: Women In Film:
I recognize that women are underrepresented in film, both on and off screen. And while I didn't set out with this explicit intention, I am very proud to have made a movie exploring the relationship between parent and child that stars only women (one of whom is a little girl), was co-written and co-edited by women, with cinematography by a woman, and features a score composed by women.