Sameh Zoabi was born and raised in Iksal, near the city of Nazareth. He graduated from Tel Aviv University with a dual degree in Film Studies and English Literature. He later received a Fulbright Fellowship to study Filmmaking at Columbia University, earning an M.F.A. in 2005.

Sameh’s work has been shown in many international film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Locarno, Sundance, Karlovy Vary, and the New York Film Festival. A selection of his notable work includes a short film titled Be Quiet (2005), for which received a prize at the Cinéfondation 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. Soon after, Sameh wrote the original script of The Idol (2015), which had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.