Cherien Dabis

Cherien Dabis (born 1976) is a Palestinian-American actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. She was named one of Variety magazine's 10 Directors to Watch in 2009, and in 2010 received a United States Artists (USA) Fellowship. In 2022, she was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series award for her work on the television series Only Murders in the Building. In March 2022, Dabis was named Laureate for Cultural Excellence by the Takreem foundation for her work on authentic Arab representation in Hollywood.

Early life Dabis was born in Omaha, Nebraska. of Palestinian descent, and her mother is from Salt, Jordan. Upon her return from trips to the Middle East, she would be asked if there were telephones and cars back in Jordan. and make films that represent her experiences as an Arab American, with a goal of changing the negative stereotypes in the film industry that contributed to the racism she experienced.

Education Dabis received her B.A. with honors in creative writing and communications from the University of Cincinnati and her M.F.A. in film from Columbia University School of the Arts in 2004.

Career Film Dabis defines herself as a humanist, and describes in her words, "after years spent working in Washington, D.C., I realized that I could reach more people and affect more change through fiction than politics." The DVD for Amreeka was released on January 12, 2010 with Make a Wish.

Dabis' second feature film May in the Summer screened at the opening night of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

Dabis's third feature film All That's Left of You had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film was selected as the Jordanian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.

Among Dabis' upcoming projects is a comedy of sorts. Ozark, The Sinner, and Only Murders in the Building.

Personal life Dabis is based in New York City. Golden Camera C.I.C.A.E. Award

Best Arabic Screenplay

Best Arabic Film

Goldeneye: Best International Feature Film Stockholm International Film Festival Bronze Horse Dubai International Film Festival Muhr Arab award: Best Film Gotham Awards Best Feature

Best Film

Best First Screenplay

Best Movie by a Woman Best Woman Storyteller Vancouver Film Critics Circle Best Director in a Canadian Film

Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Venice Film Festival

Dubai International Film Festival Muhr Arab award: Best Film 2015 No End in Sight Creative Capital Video installation

Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing (Comedy) Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards Best Directing in a Streaming Series, Comedy International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA) Best Directing for a Comedy Series Gold Derby Award Comedy Episode 2023 Mo Peabody Award Entertainment