Bassam Jarbawi began working as a photographer during the second Palestinian Intifada. His photographs produced several exhibits and his first documentary, Frequency (2004). Jarbawi completed his B.A. in Communication and Political Science at Macalester College and earned his M.F.A. in Screenwriting and Directing at Columbia University in New York. During his studies at Columbia, he produced and directed short films and music videos in Palestine, the United States, and several other countries. His short film Roos Djaj (Chicken Heads), premiered at New York Film Festival, screened at Sundance Film Festival, and won Best Film at the Columbia University Film Festival, Sonoma Film Festival, and Dubai International Film Festival, to name a few.

Post graduation, Jarbawi worked in digital distribution in New York and has recently moved back to the Middle East to focus on his own film production. His first feature, Solitaire King, was part of the Rawi Screenwriters’ Lab (2011) and recently participated in the Dubai Film Connection through the support of Rawi and the Sundance Institute. Solitaire King recently received a development grant from the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture.