Rolla Selbak is a Palestinian-American filmmaker, writer, and director whose work has pushed boundaries of representation for Arab, Muslim, and queer characters. Our delightful discussion included the unexpected beginnings of her film career, navigating pushback and censorship, building empathy through storytelling, and the importance of trash TV.
Heads Up: Her latest project, CHOKE–about a rising MMA star hiding her refugee status and sexuality in a South Carolina town–is available for free streaming online! Also stay tuned for her upcoming film Finjan!
Content Warning: discussion of film plots includes suicide