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Entertainment • Film

Shiva Baby

Shiva Baby is a 2020 comedy film written and directed by Emma Seligman, in her feature directorial debut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Shiva Baby is a 2020 comedy-drama film written and directed by Emma Seligman in her feature directorial debut. The film stars Rachel Sennott as Danielle, a young bisexual Jewish woman who experiences mounting anxiety during a shiva gathering when she encounters her ex-girlfriend and sugar daddy. A co-production between the United States and Canada, the film premiered in 2020 and received a theatrical release in 2021.

Plot

The film centres on Danielle, a college student who attends a shiva with her parents and becomes trapped in a series of awkward social encounters. Her ex-girlfriend, sugar daddy, and his family all appear, intensifying the pressure on her.

Production

Shiva Baby was written and directed by Emma Seligman and developed from her 2018 short film of the same name. It marked her feature directorial debut.

Cast

The principal cast includes Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Polly Draper, Fred Melamed, Danny Deferrari, and Dianna Agron. The film centres on Danielle and the people whose presence complicates the shiva.

Release

The film premiered on the festival circuit in 2020 and was later released theatrically in 2021. Sources list its runtime at roughly 77 to 78 minutes.

Reception

The film has been described as a comedy-drama and an LGBTQ+ film, with reviewers emphasising its anxious, claustrophobic tone. It was noted for its tight real-time structure and darkly comic approach.

Key facts

  • Based on a 2018 short film of the same name by Emma Seligman.
  • The story unfolds in real time at a single location.
  • Rachel Sennott leads the cast as Danielle.
  • The film is a Canada–United States co-production.
  • Emma Seligman is a Canadian filmmaker.
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Canadian context

Shiva Baby is relevant to Canadian readers because it is a Canada–United States co-production in some sources and was made by Canadian-based filmmaker Emma Seligman, who is Canadian.

Frequently asked questions

What is Shiva Baby about?
It follows Danielle at a shiva, where she unexpectedly encounters her ex-girlfriend and sugar daddy while trying to navigate family expectations.
Who directed Shiva Baby?
Emma Seligman wrote and directed the film.
When was Shiva Baby released?
It premiered in 2020 and received a theatrical release in 2021.
Who stars in Shiva Baby?
Rachel Sennott stars as Danielle, alongside Molly Gordon, Polly Draper, Fred Melamed, Danny Deferrari, and Dianna Agron.
Is Shiva Baby based on anything?
Yes. It was expanded from Seligman’s 2018 short film of the same name.

References

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11317142/
    Supports: Release year, plot premise, and runtime information.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva_Baby
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, feature debut, and basic synopsis.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shiva_baby
    Supports: Genre, runtime, release date, and synopsis.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/shiva-baby-movie-review-2021
    Supports: Plot details and adaptation from the short film.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7819110/
    Supports: Existence of the 2018 short film that preceded the feature.