Esther Dere is a dynamic, Emmy-winning executive producer, director, and showrunner with nearly two decades of experience across genres and platforms. Her work has been recognized with an Emmy Award for Broken Horses (The New York Times Presents), an IDA Award for the jazz documentary Universe, and a Gracie Award for How to Fix a Pageant.
British-born and now based in New York by way of Los Angeles, Esther began her career in public relations, shaping campaigns for major consumer, lifestyle, and fashion brands.
Her film and TV work is defined by a commitment to exploring human nature and uncovering deeper truths about the world we live in. Esther’s producing and directing credits include Grass is Greener (Netflix), Empires of New York (CNBC), and multiple films for The New York Times Presents, where she served as showrunner and executive producer. Her contributions to the acclaimed FX/Hulu documentary series include The Legacy of J Dilla and Weight of the World (both of which she also co-directed), as well as The Sin Eater: The Crimes of Anthony Pellicano and Broken Horses.
A thoughtful and intentional leader, Esther excels at guiding creative teams through complex productions with clarity and compassion. She fosters environments where collaboration thrives, balancing hands-on direction with a commitment to empowering her teams to work independently at the highest level.
In addition to her work in film and television, Esther is a certified coach and meditation teacher with over 400 hours of training. These practices are foundational to her leadership approach, enabling her to build thoughtful, high-functioning teams where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to create their best work. She is represented by CAA.