Rolla Selbak is a renowned Sundance alumna, exceling as a multifaceted writer and director in the film and television industry. As a triple minority, she stands out in the filmmaking world, being a queer, Palestinian American woman. Her work is distinguished by the prominent portrayal of strong female characters, reflecting her unique perspective as an Arab immigrant who relocated from Abu Dhabi to the United States following the first Gulf War.
Selbak's cinematic endeavors often tackle socially relevant issues, seamlessly weaving together thought-provoking and unifying themes. Her impressive credits include writing and directing "Choke", a gripping narrative about a rising MMA fighter who conceals her Syrian refugee status from her small American town, starring the talented Jessica Damouni.
Furthermore, Selbak made history by helming the internationally acclaimed feature film "Three Veils", a groundbreaking production that courageously confronts homosexuality within the Muslim-American subculture. Her most recent project, the dramedy TV series "Ya Bint", co-created with Dina Shihabi, is currently in development at Disney's Freeform, promising to be an exciting addition to her already impressive body of work.
