Sameh Zoabi was born and raised in Iksal — a Palestinian village near the city of Nazareth. He graduated from Tel Aviv University with a dual degree in film studies and English literature. Zoabi then received a Fulbright Fellowship to study filmmaking at Columbia University, earning an M.F.A. in 2005. Zoabi's work has been shown in many international film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin, Locarno, Sundance, Karlovy Vary, and New York. One of Zoabi's best-known works is the short film BE QUIET (2005), which won a prize at the Cinefondation Selection of the Cannes Film Festival. His feature film debut MAN WITHOUT A CELL PHONE (2010) won several audience awards as well as the Golden Antigone at the 2011 Montpellier Film Festival. His second feature film UNDER THE SAME SUN (2013) tackled the possibility of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Most recently, Zoabi wrote the original script of THE IDOL (2015), which was directed by Hany Abu Assad and held its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.