Oscar® Qualifying Sevap Mitzvah by Sabina Vajraca: A Woman Risks Her Life to Save Her Friend

Los Angeles, CA. The inspiration for Director and writer Sabina Vajraca’s SEVAP MITZVAH is from a true story. During WWII in Bosnia Zejneba Hardaga risked her life to save Jews from being rounded up by Nazis. Including her friend Rifka and their family. 50 years later the tables turns, and it was Rifka’s turn to save Zejneba from being a hunt. This phenomenal short film has is a selection for the OSCAR-qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival.

Logline: During WWII in Nazi-occupied Bosnia, a Muslim woman risks everything to save her Jewish friends. 50 years later the tables have turned. Inspired by a true story.

Director and writer Sabina Vajraca was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, she immigrated to the US in 1994 as a war refugee. Since then, she has accomplished a lot as a director/producer.

Watch Official Trailer for SEVAP MITZVAH directed by Sabina Vajraca

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Sabina’s critically acclaimed feature documentary Back to Bosnia premiered at AFI and screened over 30 festivals worldwide winning Director’s Choice at the Crossroads Film Festival. and is featured in the top 100 of the greatest films directed by women by the BBC. It’s currently streaming on multiple platforms, including Amazon. Most recently she co-directed a Warner Bros./USC feature period drama VOODOO MACBETH.

Producer Kerim Masovic started his filmmaking journey over a decade ago. He founded Kontraplan in 2019 with his two frequent collaborators, Neven Samardzic and Sasa Pesevski. Some of the many projects Kerim has worked on include DEATH IN SARAJEVO, FULL MOON, SO SHE DOESN’T LIVE, MAY LABOR DAY, and MAJNUNI. Most recently producing SEVAP MITZVAH.

The Beautiful cinematography that captures the essence of this story was created by Alen Alilovic. SEVAP MITZVAH will be screening at the Allen Theatre on Thursday, March 30^th, 2023, at 2:30 pm.

SEVAP/MITZVAH has qualified to be considered for a 2024 Academy® Award 

Upcoming Festivals
– Aladerri FF (Chicago, IL) –  September 22nd-24th
– Joyce Forum Jewish Film Fest (San Diego, CA) –  October 12th-14th
– Sedicicordo (Forli, Italy) – October  16th-24th
– Ojai Film Festival (Ojai, CA) –  November 2nd-19th
– Lake County Film Festival (Grayslake, IL) –  November 2nd-13th

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