Cherien Dabis: Filmmaking & Resistance | Sumud Podcast

This week on the Sumud Podcast, we’re joined by Emmy-nominated filmmaker, writer, and actress Cherien Dabis—a bold storyteller whose life and work explore the power of identity, resistance, and the stories we carry.

Born in Nebraska to Palestinian parents and raised in small-town Ohio, Cherien came of age during the first Gulf War, a time when neighbors turned on her family overnight. This political awakening eventually shaped her groundbreaking work, from Amreeka and May in the Summer to directing award-winning episodes of Only Murders in the Building and starring in Netflix’s Mo.

Her latest feature, All That’s Left of You, tells the Palestinian origin story through the lens of one family across generations. Filmed during the current war, the production was forced to flee Palestine mid-shoot. But what emerged, as Cherien tells it, was “a film made from grief, love, and sheer determination.”

🔑 In this episode, we explore:

➡ Growing up Arab in America post-Gulf War

➡ Turning generational trauma into cinematic truth

➡ The fight to humanize Palestinians in Western media

➡ Acting in Mo, directing Meryl Streep, and resisting Hollywood erasure

➡ The making of All That’s Left of You

🎬 This video is for educational purposes only. It provides historical, cultural, and political analysis to inform and inspire.

⏱ Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: Cherien’s Journey

02:44 – Death Threats & Racism During the Gulf War

05:21 – Making Amreeka: From Family Trauma to Sundance

09:07 – First Visit to Palestine & Strip Searches at Age 8

16:39 – Columbia Film School, Stereotypes & Censorship

22:16 – Creating Make-A-Wish in Ramallah

30:54 – Filming All That’s Left of You During War

40:05 –The Emmy Nomination

44:50 – May in the Summer

48:41 – Mo Amer’s Show: Improvisation, Comedy & Catharsis

55:40– Legacy, Visibility, and Love for the Community

📲 Follow Cherien Dabis: @cheriendabis, @allthatsleftofyoufilm

🎙 Follow our host: @dredhasan

Mo Amer Show: @moamer

🌐 More from the podcast: https://sumudpod.com

#Palestine #SumudPod #CherienDabis #AllThatsLeftOfYou #Storytelling #MoAmer #Netflix #NetflixMENA #DecolonizeHollywood #ArabVoicesMatter #Palestinian

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