Ep 59 – Rolla Selbak (Filmmaking, Identity, and the Power of Palestinian Storytelling)

"She’s a Palestinian-American filmmaker who’s breaking boundaries in Hollywood, amplifying Arab and queer voices, and using cinema as a form of resistance.”In Episode 59 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Rolla Selbak, the award-winning Palestinian-American filmmaker, activist, and podcaster whose work challenges stereotypes and reclaims the narrative for marginalized communities through the power of storytelling.Rolla first made waves with her debut feature film Three Veils, the first Arab-American lesbian feature film, which she wrote, directed, and produced. The film broke new ground for Middle Eastern representation and earned international acclaim for its courage and honesty. She’s also the creator of the Safina Filmmaker Project, an initiative that supports and uplifts independent Arab and Palestinian filmmakers around the world, and the host of the Safina Filmmaker Lounge Podcast — available on Apple Podcasts — where she features conversations with filmmakers redefining Arab cinema.Beyond her creative work, Rolla is a passionate advocate for inclusive filmmaking, authentic representation, and creative freedom in spaces that have long silenced Palestinian and Arab voices.This episode celebrates not just cinema — but the courage to tell your story when the world tries to erase it.🎥 Rolla Selbak’s Work:Three Veils → https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470173/CHOKE (Short film) → https://vimeo.com/rollaselbak/chokeFinjan (Short film) → https://vimeo.com/rollaselbak/finjan Safina Filmmaker Project → https://www.safinafilmmakerproject.com/about Safina Filmmaker Lounge Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/safina-filmmaker-lounge/id1785331690 🌍 Rolla Selbak’s Social Media:Rolla Selbak Official → Website https://www.rollaselbak.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rollaselbak/Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #RollaSelbak #ThreeVeils #SafinaFilmmakerProject #SafinaFilmmakerLounge #PalestinianFilmmaker #ArabCinema #QueerCinema #WomenInFilm #PalestinianStorytelling #FreePalestine #ArtAsResistance #FilmmakersForPalestine #DecolonizeTheScreen #ArabRepresentation #PalestineWillBeFree