Emma Seligman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emma Seligman
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Seligman in 2020
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| Born | May 3, 1995 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupation | Screenwriter, Director |
Emma Seligman (born May 3, 1995) is a talented Canadian film director and screenwriter. She is well-known for directing the movies Shiva Baby (2020) and Bottoms (2023).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Emma Seligman was born in Toronto, Ontario, on May 3, 1995. She grew up in a Jewish family in Toronto. She went to Northern Secondary School there.
When she was a teenager, Emma loved movies. She even had a blog called Confessions of a Teenage Film Buff. She also wrote movie reviews for The Huffington Post. She wrote one review when she was just seventeen years old!
Emma studied film at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She finished her studies in May 2017. After graduating, she stayed in New York. She worked as an intern at a film production company called Animal Kingdom.
Emma Seligman's Film Career
While at NYU, Emma made several short films. These included Lonewoods, Void, and her final project, Shiva Baby. She also interned at different film studios. She even helped choose films for the Toronto International Film Festival as part of a youth committee.
Making Shiva Baby
Emma's short film, Shiva Baby, was chosen for the 2018 South by Southwest film festival. Her friend Rachel Sennott, who starred in the short film, encouraged Emma to make it into a full-length movie. Rachel Sennott's funny and sometimes awkward style helped turn Shiva Baby into a comedy.
Emma also got ideas from horror and thriller movies. This helped her make the film feel "claustrophobic," meaning it felt very closed-in. The full movie Shiva Baby was supposed to premiere at the 2020 South by Southwest festival. However, it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film later premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.
Shiva Baby received great reviews from critics. Many people were impressed that it was Emma's first feature film. In 2022, the movie won the John Cassavetes Award. This award is for films made with a smaller budget. Emma has said she wants to keep making movies with interesting female characters.
Directing Bottoms
Emma Seligman worked with Rachel Sennott again for her second movie, Bottoms. This film is a comedy about two high school friends. They start a fight club to try and get closer to their crushes. Emma had the idea for Bottoms while she was still at NYU. She started working on it with Rachel Sennott then.
Emma was inspired by her favorite teen romantic comedies. She also liked the idea of combining those with superhero or buddy movies. The music for Bottoms was created by the singer-songwriter Charli XCX. To promote the film, Emma appeared on the cover of New York Magazine with the stars Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri. Bottoms was a main film at the SXSW film festival on March 11, 2023. Critics praised the movie for its unique and funny style. Emma's ideas for the film came from classic high school comedies like Bring It On, Mean Girls, and Grease.
Emma's films often explore how young women understand relationships and growing up. She has said that making movies is a team effort. She enjoys talking about her work with the actors. As her career continues, Emma wants to keep telling "weird" and unique stories. She hopes to make more films about queer and Jewish experiences on a bigger scale.
Personal Life
Emma Seligman uses both "she/her" and "they/them" pronouns. She lives in Bushwick, New York.
Emma has shared her support for Palestinians. She believes in helping them during the Israeli occupation.
Her favorite Jewish movies include Yentl, Keeping the Faith, and Fiddler on the Roof. She feels these movies helped her on her own filmmaking journey.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Void | Short film |
| 2018 | Shiva Baby | Short film |
| 2020 | Shiva Baby | Feature adaptation of 2018 short |
| 2023 | Bottoms | Feature film |
Awards and Recognition
Emma Seligman's films have received many awards and nominations.
- In 2018, her short film Shiva Baby was nominated for Best Narrative Short at South by Southwest.
- In 2020, Filmmaker Magazine named her one of the "25 New Faces of Indie Film." She also won Best Screenwriting at Outfest for Shiva Baby.
- In 2021, she won a Breakthrough award from the Detroit Film Critics Society. The New York Times also recognized her for Best Directing (Comedy).
- In 2022, Shiva Baby won the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award at the 37th Independent Spirit Awards. This is a special award for films made with a small budget.
See also
In Spanish: Emma Seligman para niños
