Emma Seligman

Emma Seligman is a Canadian[1][2] film director and screenwriter. Seligman is best known for directing the comedy films Shiva Baby (2020) and Bottoms (2023).

Emma Seligman
Seligman speaks to the Boston Jewish Film Festival in 2020
Born
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma materNew York University
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, director

Early life and education

Seligman attended Northern Secondary School in Toronto. She[lower-alpha 1] grew up watching At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper wanting to "be Roger Ebert."[3] As a teenager, Seligman ran a now-defunct blog called Confessions of a Teenage Film Buff and contributed film reviews to The Huffington Post.[4][5] She studied film at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in May 2017.[1][2]

Career

While at NYU, she made short films including Lonewoods, Void and her senior thesis film, Shiva Baby. During this time, Seligman also interned at a variety of production studios. She also served on the Toronto International Film Festival's select youth committee, where she helped program films for the festival.[6][7]

Her thesis film, Shiva Baby, was selected for 2018 South by Southwest film festival. At the encouragement of the short film's star, Rachel Sennott, whom she befriended during the audition process, Seligman began developing it into a feature, where Sennott would reprise her lead role.[8] The feature-length version of Shiva Baby was set to premiere at 2020 South by Southwest, but the premiere was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The film eventually premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.[10]

Shiva Baby was met with critical acclaim. Kristy Puchko of The Playlist wrote, "It's astounding this is Seligman's first film, [considering] how masterfully she orchestrates the tension and comedy,"[11] and Dana Piccoli for Queer Media Matters praised that "while Seligman is still a relative newcomer to the film world, she handles Shiva Baby like an experienced pro."[12] In 2022, the film won the John Cassavetes Award from Film Independent, at the time designated for productions with budgets of $500,000 or less.[lower-alpha 2][13]

Seligman reunited with Rachel Sennott for her second feature film, Bottoms, a teen sex comedy in which two high school lesbians start a fight club in order to attract their cheerleader crushes. Seligman had the idea for the film while still at Tisch, and began working on it with Sennott there.[9] The film headlined the SXSW film festival on March 11, 2023.[14] Aisha Harris of NPR praised the film writing, "Sennott and Seligman strike both a sweet and an abrasive tone that's tricky to pull off, though they do so quite handily."[15]

Seligman's work often focuses on sexual themes, particularly women's relationship to sex. Regarding this choice, she has stated:

Women decode sexual messaging from a young age, from eight years old to twenty-two years old. They have to process what sex means, what it can do for them, what it should do for them, what they’re supposed to do for it. Technology, for example with porn or dating sites, has made the sexual messaging more confusing, and I’m interested in how women figure it out.[1]

She has discussed her filmmaking process as a very collaborative experience, and enjoys being able to discuss her work with her actors.[1]

Personal life

Seligman was raised in a Reform Judaism Ashkenazi community in Toronto, and had her Bat Mitzvah ceremony on Masada in Israel.[16] She briefly moved to Los Angeles in 2021, but now resides in Bushwick.[17][9]

Seligman uses both she/her and they/them pronouns. She formerly identified as bisexual, but as of 2023 considers herself "just gay."[18]

Seligman is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace.[19][20]

Filmography
Year Title Notes Ref.
2018 Void Short film [1]
2018 Shiva Baby Short film
2020 Shiva Baby Feature adaptation of 2018 short [10]
2023 Bottoms Feature film

Awards and nominations
See also: List of accolades received by Shiva Baby
Year Association Category Work Result Ref(s).
2018 South by Southwest Best Narrative Short Shiva Baby Nominated [21][22]
2020 Denver Film Festival American Independent Award Shiva Baby Special mention: New Comedic Voice [23]
Filmmaker Magazine 25 New Faces of Indie Film 2020 Listed [24]
Miami International Film Festival Jordan Ressler First Feature Award Nominated [25]
Outfest Best Screenwriting Won [26]
Out on Film Best First Film Runner-up [27]
TIFF Critics Poll Best Screenplay Runner-up [10]
Variety
Presented at the Mill Valley Film Festival		 10 Screenwriters to Watch Listed [28][29]
2021 The Braddies Best Debut Listed [30]
Chicago Film Critics Association Milos Stehlik Breakthrough Filmmaker Award Nominated [31]
Detroit Film Critics Society Breakthrough Won[lower-alpha 3] [32]
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards Best First Film Nominated [33]
Gotham Independent Film Awards Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award Nominated [34]
Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards Best Filmmaker Nominated [35]
Best Screenplay Nominated
IndieWire Critics Poll Best First Feature Fourth [36]
The Jewish Week 36 Under 36 Listed [37][38]
The New York Times Best Directing (Comedy) Won [39]
The ReFrame Stamp Narrative Feature Listed [40][41]
2022 Apolo Awards Best New Director Nominated [42]
Best Adapted Screenplay Won
Austin Film Critics Association Best First Film Nominated [43]
Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films Best Original Screenplay Nominated [44]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – First-Time Feature Film Nominated [45]
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards Best Debut Feature Nominated [46]
Independent Spirit Awards John Cassavetes Award Won[lower-alpha 4] [47]
Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Debut Feature Nominated [48]
Toronto Film Critics Association Best First Feature Runner-up[lower-alpha 5] [49]

See also

Notes
  1. Seligman uses both she/her and they/them pronouns. This article uses she/her pronouns for consistency.
  2. The criteria for the John Cassavetes Award have since expanded to include films budgeted at $1,000,000 or less.
  3. Shared with Woody Norman for C'mon C'mon.
  4. With Kieran Altmann, Katie Schiller and Lizzie Shapiro for Shiva Baby.
  5. Shared with Passing and Pig.

References
  1. "Interview with Emma Seligman". FEMFILMFANS. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  2. Mikel, Ryan (March 19, 2018). "Tisch Alumna Talks Sugar Babies, Shivas and SXSW". Washington Square News. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  3. ""That Was When I Felt Like I Had Made It": Emma Seligman's Big Break". Canadian Business. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  4. Q with Tom Power. (September 8, 2023). Emma Seligman just wanted to make a teen sex comedy with queer girls front and centre, retrieved October 16, 2023
  5. Seligman, Emma (September 18, 2012). "REVIEW: 'Spring Breakers'". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017.
  6. "Shiva Baby". NYU. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  7. "Shiva Baby". tisch.nyu.edu. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  8. Seligman, Emma (April 1, 2021). "How Rachel Sennott Changed My Life". Talkhouse. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  9. Handler, Rachel (August 25, 2023). "Power Bottoms: The NYU classmates behind the most delightfully dumb comedy". Vulture. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  10. Blauvelt, Christian; Kohn, Eric (September 21, 2020). "TIFF 2020 Report Card: Critics Rank the Best Films and Performances". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  11. Puchko, Kristy (March 25, 2020). "'Shiva Baby' Delivers A Hilarious Symphony Of Tension And Humiliation-Based Comedy [Review]". theplaylist.net. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  12. Piccoli, Dana (August 26, 2020). "Outfest 2020: A young bisexual woman confronts her past and present in the very funny, "Shiva Baby"". Queer Media Matters. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  13. Halabian, Layla (August 22, 2023). "Emma Seligman's Hollywood". Nylon. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  14. "2023 SXSW Film Festival Lineup". SXSW. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  15. "'Bottoms' is an absurdist high school sex comedy that rages and soar". NPR. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  16. Goi, Leonardo (April 8, 2021). "The Current Debate: The Jewishness of "Shiva Baby"". MUBI. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  17. Weiss, Keely (April 2, 2021). "How Director Emma Seligman Made 'Shiva Baby' an Anxiety-Inducing Trip". Harper's BAZAAR. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  18. Pener, Degen (June 18, 2023). "Emma Seligman Directed 'Bottoms' Because She "Wanted to See Superficial, Horny, Messy Teenage Girls Who Happen to Be Queer"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  19. "Letter signed by over 300 Jewish leaders refusing to choose between Jewish safety and the movement for Palestinian liberation". Mehbooba. June 2, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  20. "Tilda Swinton among 2000+ artists calling for Gaza ceasefire". Artists for Palestine. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  21. "2018 SXSW Film Festival Selections: Narrative Shorts [Video]". SXSW. November 26, 2018. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  22. "Shiva Baby". SXSW 2018 Schedule. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  23. Awards Watch (November 13, 2020). "The Denver Film Festival (DFF) has announced the Awards Winners of the 43rd edition". Filmfestivals.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  24. Luers, Erik (April 5, 2021). ""Fish is Expensive to Keep Purchasing and Replacing": Emma Seligman on Shiva Baby". Filmmaker Magazine. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  25. Miami Film Festival (2020). "SHIVA BABY". Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
    Miami Film Festival (2020). "Jordan Ressler First Feature Award". Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  26. Kleinmann, James (September 11, 2020). "TIFF 2020 Film Review: Shiva Baby ★★★★★". The Queer Review. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  27. Out on Film (October 8, 2020). "Out On Film Announces 2020 Jury and Audience Awards". Georgia Voice. Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  28. MVFF (2020). "BEHIND THE SCREENS – Mill Valley Film Festival". Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  29. Countryman, Eli (September 24, 2020). "Variety Announces 10 Screenwriters to Watch for 2020". Variety. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  30. Bradshaw, Peter (December 16, 2021). "And the 2021 Braddies go to … Peter Bradshaw's film picks of the year". the Guardian. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  31. Tallerico, Brian (December 13, 2021). "West Side Story Leads the 2021 Chicago Critics Nominees". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  32. "The 2021 Detroit Film Critics Society (DFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  33. Neglia, Matt (December 15, 2021). "The 2021 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  34. Kay, Jeremy (November 30, 2021). "'The Lost Daughter' triumphs at 2021 Gotham Awards". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  35. Neglia, Matt (July 1, 2021). "The 2021 Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Midseason Awards Winners". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  36. Blauvelt, Christian (December 13, 2021). "2021 Critics Poll: The Best Films and Performances, According to 187 Critics from Around the World". IndieWire. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  37. Lapin, Andrew (December 23, 2021). "The top Jewish pop culture stories from 2021". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  38. Harris, Ben (July 12, 2021). "36 Under 36 2021". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  39. Zinoman, Jason (December 17, 2021). "Best Comedy of 2021". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  40. ReFrame Project (February 18, 2021). "Stamp Feature Film". Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  41. Business Wire (February 17, 2021). "ReFrame and IMDbPro Announce 2020 ReFrame Stamp Recipients Including: Birds of Prey, The Old Guard, Promising Young Woman, Wonder Woman 1984" (Press release). Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021. {{cite press release}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  42. Roures, Juan (March 2, 2022a). "Las mejores películas de temática LGTB del 2021: ganadores a los VII Premios Apolo de cine LGTB". Dos Manzanas. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  43. Austin Chronicle (January 4, 2022). "Austin Film Critics Association Announces 2021 Awards Short Lists". Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  44. Chlotrudis Society (2022). "2022, 28th Annual Awards". Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  45. Lewis, Hilary (January 27, 2022). "Directors Guild Reveals 2022 Feature Film Award Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  46. Rolph, Ben (January 4, 2022). "DiscussingFilm Critic Awards 2022: The Winners". DiscussingFilm. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  47. Earl, William; Chapman, Wilson (March 6, 2022). "Spirit Awards 2022: The Complete Winners List". Variety. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  48. Neglia, Matt (January 24, 2022). "The 2021 Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) Winners". Next Big Picture. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  49. Curran, Sarah (January 16, 2022). "Maggie Gyllenhaal's 'The Lost Daughter' Wins Big At Toronto Film Critics Association Awards". ET Canada. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.

Further reading
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