EMILY ESPERANZA

writer/Director

Coming from an arts and photography background, Emily Esperanza began making films after a near-death experience at 16. At 17, and as the youngest student to ever be accepted into the institution, Esperanza attended the Prague Film School on scholarship. Esperanza went on to study at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago on a Presidential Merit Scholarship. An advocate for rebellious voices in cinema and firm believer in the community of cinema, Esperanza founded and ran a Chicago-based DIY screening series called ‘Wretched Nobles’ for 6 years.

In 2016 and again in 2018, Esperanza received recognition as one of Chicago Newcity’s ‘Film 50: Chicago’s Screen Gems’. Esperanza and their work has been featured in numerous publications including American Art Collector Magazine, Moviemaker Magazine, OUT Magazine, PAPER Magazine, Filmmaker Magazine, and Rolling Stone. Esperanza’s latest film, Make Out Party, is currently touring festivals and recently won a Jury Award for “Most Innovative Short Film, Award for Excellence” at the 23rd Annual TWIST Seattle Queer Film Festival in 2018 and “Best Production Design” at Las Vegas Queer Arts Festival 2018.