On Jan. 25, please join us online or at Friends Place on Capitol Hill for a screening of Director Sabina Vajrača’s film, Sevap/Mitzvah. Following the screening of this short film (20 minutes), we will hold an open discussion.
Film Synopsis
Zejneba Hardaga was never one to cower in the face of injustice, even within her strict Muslim community. So, when she realizes Sarajevo’s Jews are being rounded up by Nazis, putting her friend Rifka and Rifka’s family in danger, she risks everything to save them.
Fifty years later, during the Bosnian War, it’s the Muslims who are being hunted down, and Rifka must find a way to rescue Zejneba and her family in turn. Inspired by a true story.
About the Director
Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sabina Vajrača immigrated to the United States as a war refugee and started her career in NYC theatre.
Her first film, the critically acclaimed feature documentary Back To Bosnia, premiered at the AFI Fest and played at over 30 festivals worldwide, winning Director’s Choice at Crossroads. It was featured in BBC’s top 100 of the greatest films directed by women and is available on Amazon.
Since then, she wrote, directed, and produced commercials, music videos, and over a dozen films, including the multiple-award-winning Variables and the Warner Bros./USC feature period drama Voodoo Macbeth. She also assisted writer/director Max Mayer on his feature drama Adam, starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne (2009 Sundance), and shadowed directors on “Madam Secretary” and “9-1-1.”
Sabina received numerous awards for her work, including the Humanitas Prize, DGA SFA Grand Prize, Alfred P. Sloan Grant, Claims Conference Grant, and nominations for the Student Oscars and Student BAFTA.
She’s a member of Film Fatales, Women in Film, and BAFTA, and an alumna of Ryan Murphy’s Half Directing Mentorship, Hayama Residency, and Almanack Screenwriters. Sabina holds an M.F.A. in Film and TV Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
