Sabina Vajrača
Director | Writer | Philosopher
Sevap / Mitzvah
SEVAP / MITZVAH
Short Film | Period Drama
Status: In festivals
In 1941 Nazi-occupied Bosnia, a Muslim woman risks her life to save her Jewish friends and is saved by them in turn 50 years later.
Inspired by a true story.
Follow:
“A masterpiece” ~ Film Business
"Simply incredible" ~ Bain's Film Review
"Riveting, edge-of-the-seat gem" ~ The Word
UPCOMING SCREENINGS
2023 Ojai Film Festival (Ojai, CA)
November 7-19, 2023 | Tickets
***
2023 ECOCINE International Film Festival (Brazil)
November 3 - December 3, 2023 | More Info
***
2023 Passaggi d’Autore (Italy)
December 6, 2023 | 5:30pm | More Info
Director/Writer: Sabina Vajrača
Producers: Kerim Mašović, Sabina Vajrača
Executive Producer: Diana Sanela Jenkins / D Empire Ent.
Executive Producer: Azra Isaković
Co-Producer: Ivo Kaunitz
Director of Photography: Alen Alilović
Production & Costume Designer: Adisa Vatreš Selimović
Asst. Production & Costume Designer: Monika Močević
Props Master: Admir "Guma" Karkelja
Composer: Merima Ključo
Casting: Vanja Nikolić
Editor: Saša Peševski
Script Consultant: Richard Kletter
History Consultant: Eli Tauber
Book Illustrations by: Aurélie Tournois, inspired by
the works of Nesim Tahirović
CAST
Zejneba Hardaga: Helena Vuković
Bahra Hardaga: Sanela Krsmanović-Bistrivoda
Rifka Kabiljo: Magdalena Živaljić Tadić
Mustafa Hardaga: Adnan Hasković
Izet Hardaga: Muhamed Hadžović
Josef Kabiljo: Frano Mašković Mačak
Ivica: Rijad Gvozden
Older Zejneba Hardaga: Emina Minka Muftić
Older Rifka Kabiljo: Jasna Buha
Aida Hardaga: Snežana Vidović
JDC Representative: Reshad Strik
Translator: Amar Selimović
Benjamin Kabiljo: Darijan Mehmedpašić
Tova Kabiljo: Ela Selimović
Young Aida Hardaga: Uma Fijuljanin
Young Zejneba Hardaga: Dalia Kalamujić
Young Rifka Kabiljo: Reina Selimović
Bahra and Izet's Older Son: Aton Ilaj Kurt
Bahra and Izet's Younger Son: Omar Mahmutagić
Woman at the Marketplace: Asja Pavlović
AWARDS
2023 Centre Film Festival ~ Gratitude Award
2023 Sedicicorto Int'l Film Festival ~ Audience Award
2023 Flickers' Rhode Island Int'l FF ~ Jury Award: International Vision Award
2023 Cordillera Int'l Film Festival ~ Jury Award: Best Female Focus
OFFICIAL SELECTION
2023 Passaggi d’Autore (Italy) ~ December 2-7, 2023
2023 ECOCINE Int'l Film Festival (Brazil) ~ November 3 - December 3, 2023
2023 Lake County Film Festival (Grayslake, IL)
2023 Ojai Film Festival (Ojai, CA)
2023 Centre Film Festival (Phillipsburg, PA) ~ WINNER: Gratitude Award
2023 Joyce Forum Jewish Short Film Festival (San Diego, CA)
2023 Sedicicorto Int'l Film Festival (Italy) ~ WINNER: Audience Award
2023 Aladerri Film Festival (Chicago, IL)
2023 HollyShorts (Los Angeles, CA)
2023 Flickers' Rhode Island Int'l FF (Providence, RI) ~ WINNER: Flickers' Int'l Vision Award for breaking down cultural barriers through film
2023 Cordillera International Film Festival (Reno, NV) ~ WINNER: Best Female Focus
2023 Cleveland International Film Festival (Cleveland, OH) ~ PREMIERE
REVIEWS
Film Business: "A masterpiece ... not to be missed"
Film Threat: "The filmmaker does incredible work"
Hollywood Times: "A must-watch film"
Los Angeles News: "Writer-Director Sabina Vajrača is impressive"
UK Film: "Brilliantly realized ... impressive and worthy drama"
Take2Indie: "Transcendent story ... inspiring."
One Film Fan: "Absolutely inspiring"
The Word: "Riveting, edge-of-the-seat gem"
ARTICLES
Variety: "Humanitas Prize Toast"
Deadline Hollywood: "Humanitas Prize Winners"
MovieJawn: "6 recommended short films from this year's HollyShorts Film Festival"
INTERVIEWS
RealTV HollyShorts Red Carpet (VIDEO)
B'nai B'rith International (VIDEO)
AwardsDaily: "Director Sabina Vajrača On the Choice
The Jewish Chronicle: "Meet the Muslim and Jew who saved each other's lives in conflicts decades apart"
Authority Magazine: "Why & How Filmmaker Sabina Vajraca Is Helping
Classic Couple: "Filmmaker 5 with Sabina Vajraca: Sevap/Mitzvah"
Theatre FullStop: "Writer and Director Sabina Vajraca talks about her latest film SEVAP/MITZVAH"
IN BOSNIAN
N1 TV Interview (VIDEO): "Film Sabine Vajrače Sevap/Mitzvah među kandidatima za Oscar"
N1 TV Interview (VIDEO): "Istinita ratna priča poslužila kao inspiracija za film Sevap"
Klix Interview: "Stiže nam film koji isprepliće sudbine muslimana i Jevreja:
Evo zašto ga vrijedi pogledati"
Klix: "U centru Sarajeva osvanule nacističke zastave, snima se film o Drugom svjetskom ratu"
Klix: "Sabina Vajrača osvojila nagradu Claims Conferncea za film 'Sevap/Mitzvah'"
Oslobodjenje: "Film bosansko-američke režiserke Sabine Vajrače
Funded by the Claims Conference Film Grant
Additional Funding provided by
Fiscally Sponsored by the
